Islamic art exhibition in Hong Kong reveals historic China-Muslim links
A set of 18th-century porcelain pieces, decorated with Islamic motifs of crescent moons and stars and Koranic inscriptions, is part of a showcase of artefacts exhibited in Hong Kong, reflecting historic links between mainland China and the Islamic world, according to a visiting Qatari museum official.
In an interview with the Post, Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, director of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, said the exhibition also highlighted the 'good relations' between Qatar and the Hong Kong and mainland governments.
The MIA has one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of Islamic masterpieces.
The 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha' exhibition that opened last Wednesday at the Hong Kong Palace Museum serves as a bridge both culturally and politically, especially at a time when the city is seeking greater ties with the Muslim world amid intensifying Sino-US tensions.
It is the first major Islamic art exhibition in Hong Kong.
'You cannot escape or deny the soft power of art. When we bring the exhibition here, it's also a showcase of our good relations with Hong Kong and the Chinese governments,' Al-Nassr said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
10 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Islamic art exhibition in Hong Kong reveals historic China-Muslim links
A set of 18th-century porcelain pieces, decorated with Islamic motifs of crescent moons and stars and Koranic inscriptions, is part of a showcase of artefacts exhibited in Hong Kong, reflecting historic links between mainland China and the Islamic world, according to a visiting Qatari museum official. In an interview with the Post, Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, director of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, said the exhibition also highlighted the 'good relations' between Qatar and the Hong Kong and mainland governments. The MIA has one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of Islamic masterpieces. The 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha' exhibition that opened last Wednesday at the Hong Kong Palace Museum serves as a bridge both culturally and politically, especially at a time when the city is seeking greater ties with the Muslim world amid intensifying Sino-US tensions. It is the first major Islamic art exhibition in Hong Kong. 'You cannot escape or deny the soft power of art. When we bring the exhibition here, it's also a showcase of our good relations with Hong Kong and the Chinese governments,' Al-Nassr said.
South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Bring back the Hong Kong that eats together without table dividers
The other day, I had the pleasure of sitting down in a small local restaurant in Tai Wai to enjoy some dim sum with my wife and my son. It was a rather large table, and after a few minutes, another nice elderly couple came and sat across from us and ordered their meals. As we greeted each other, a conversation ensued. We didn't discuss anything too deep or life-changing, but our exchange was engaging and insightful and soon we were leaving, the experience having enhanced what was already a pretty good weekend meal with family. In contrast, although tables are also shared in the teahouse my family and I typically frequent, that restaurant still uses Covid-era dividers for shared tables . It occurs to me that this is one aspect where Hong Kong has yet to make a full comeback (like the few souls who still wear masks even when they are not sick) and needs to. It's not so much about letting the world know we beat Covid-19 and it didn't beat us; it's more about keeping an aspect of Hong Kong culture alive. Hongkongers have an amazing capacity for goodwill, kindness and building connections. Remember the public flats in the 1970s, when neighbours felt more like family members, or the local businesses and dai pai dong that once filled the streets in some of the more populated areas. People in this compact, robust city have always taken pride in caring for one another in ways I never knew possible. This type of engagement is a part of Hong Kong that cannot disappear for new generations. As parents or grandparents, we need to keep the tradition alive and underscore its importance to our children or grandchildren. Take down the barriers at the restaurant next time. Join another group at a large table if you can. Meet other interesting Hongkongers and be that much richer from the experience. These are experiences that make all of our lives richer.
South China Morning Post
19 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Old, alone and barely getting by: the plight of Hong Kong's most underprivileged seniors
Auntie Ha left her village in mainland China and moved to Hong Kong to join her son and his family. But not long after, they emigrated and left her alone in the city. To support herself, she got a job as a cleaner and she rents a subdivided flat in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong's poorest neighbourhood. Although in her 70s, Auntie Ha is unable to retire, because Hong Kong's basic old age allowance and social assistance are not enough for her to live on. Her story is one example of the lack of support and services for elderly people in the city, who live alone and must continue to work just to get by. Advertisement
