Gardens are arcadias for self-discovery, leisure havens for the ordinary people, stages of power for rulers, tasteful displays for wealthy merchants and spiritual homes for scholars. While the design and style of Chinese and Western gardens from ancient to modern times vary, they all reflect the core value of a garden: a serene retreat filled with natural beauty, where people can relax and reflect.
The exhibition, Blooming: The Art of Gardens in East and West, is an unprecedented Hong Kong showcase of 106 selected paintings and artefacts from The Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palace of Versailles in France and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Curated around a central theme of garden landscaping, activities in garden and appreciation of artworks inspired by garden culture, the exhibition takes the audience on a journey through the grand gardens of kings and nobles, including Emperor Qianlong of China and King Louis XIV of France. It also highlights romantic gardens portrayed by master artists like Claude Monet, Zhang Daqian and Wen Zhengming, to explore a stunning variety of gardens and the cultural significance behind their designs.
More details:
(source: https://hk.art.museum/)
PROGRAMME
Speaker: An English-speaking docent assigned by the Hong Kong Museum of Art
Date: Saturday, 6 June 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Venue: The Special Gallery, 2/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Admission: $100 for members, $150 for guests /non-members
Registration: Please email <membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk> and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe's payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($100):
https://buy.stripe.com/5kQ8wQ08Y1S0c5ddcl5EY3b
Non-member / Guest ($150):
https://buy.stripe.com/5kQdRa08YbsAb190pz5EY3c
Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 5 June 2026.