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South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's first major Islamic art exhibition set to open at Palace Museum
An exhibition featuring 90 works, including Islamic carpets, ceramics and manuscripts, from the 10th to the 19th centuries will open in Hong Kong on Wednesday amid government efforts to forge stronger ties with the Middle East. Advertisement The show, 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha', is hosted by the Hong Palace Museum and marks the Qatari institution's debut in the city. 'This exhibition showcases a millennium of cultural exchange between the Islamic world and China and sheds light on the historical roots of today's Belt and Road Initiative,' Hong Kong Palace Museum director Louis Ng Chi-wa said on Monday, referring to Beijing's scheme to grow global trade. Shaika Nasser Al-Nassr, director of the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), said dozens of national treasures would be on display and were chosen from a vast 12,000-piece collection. The show marked a 'significant moment' for the institution, she added. 'This collaboration reflects our belief that art has the power to connect culture and transcend borders,' she said, adding that they were committed to creating spaces that invited dialogue, curiosity and deeper understanding. The 17th century 'Kevorkian Hyderabad carpet' is among the exhibits. Photo: May Tse Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu led a visit to the Middle East earlier this year, following one in 2023, with the aim of driving more business and people-to-people ties amid escalating China-US tensions and geopolitical uncertainty.
Qatar Tribune
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
QM, HKPM to present Wonders of Imperial Carpets expo in Hong Kong in June
Tribune News Network Doha Qatar Museums (QM) has announced an upcoming exhibition 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, opening at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) from June 18 to October 6, 2025. Co-organised by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the HKPM, this landmark exhibition will be the first in Hong Kong to explore the rich artistic and cultural exchanges between Islamic and Chinese civilisations. Presenting approximately 100 extraordinary objects, including imperial carpets, ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork, and jades, Wonders of Imperial Carpets draws primarily from the renowned collections of MIA, complemented by objects from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the HKPM. The exhibition traces artistic exchanges between the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736), Mughal dynasty (1526–1857), and Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), and the dynamic cross-cultural connections shaped through diplomacy, migration, and trade over centuries. The exhibition is a legacy project of the Years of Culture initiative, a year-long programme of collaborations between Qatar and partner countries that seeks to nurture mutual respect and understanding by building long-term cultural, social, and economic ties. Shaika Nasser Al Nassr, director, Museum of Islamic Art, said: 'The Museum of Islamic Art is honoured to collaborate with the Hong Kong Palace Museum to bring these remarkable artefacts from our collections to new audiences. Dr Louis Ng, museum director of the HKPM, said: 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets marks the first time similar exhibitions is being staged outside of Qatar, incorporating a new curatorial concept and is enriched by the unique storyline of cultural exchange between China and the Islamic world. This approach demonstrates the HKPM's commitment to advancing dialogue among civilisations. 'The Islamic world, at different points in history, stretches from the Mediterranean in the West to Southeast Asia and further East — its art and culture continue to inspire societies and cultures across the world today. It is an immense privilege for us to present this special exhibition and share the captivating stories of the arts of the Islamic world with our visitors.' Wonders of Imperial Carpets features some of the finest carpets in the world, produced in Safavid Iran, Mughal India, Ottoman Türkiye, and China between the 16th and 18th centuries: Shah Sulayman 'hunting' carpet was a diplomatic gift from the Safavids to Francesco Morosini (1619–1694), one of the greatest sea captains of his time and leader of the Republic of Venice in the late 17th century. This magnificent 450-year-old medallion carpet is adorned with cloud-bands motifs and mythical creatures inspired by Chinese art. Kevorkian Hyderabad carpet is one of the longest Islamic carpets in a museum collection, measuring at almost 16 metres. Grand durbar (audience chamber) carpets were used at the Mughal court for ceremonial events. At the HKPM, this carpet will be shown in full, offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience its imperial grandeur. Çintamani prayer rug is decorated with an auspicious motif of three circles, known as çintamani ('wish-fulfilling jewel') in Sanskrit. Associated with good luck and power, the motif was very popular at the Ottoman court. Depicted at the centre of the rug is a prayer niche; at the bottom is an abstract representation of the Prophet's sandals. Carpet with flowers is a carpet made in Xinjiang region during the Qianlong period (1736–1795). Carpets with this type of floral patterns were used in the imperial palace. In the exhibition, displayed next to this imperial carpet from the Palace Museum will be a exquisite piece of Safavid silk fabric with golden brocade which features a similar design. Organised in four sections, Wonders of Imperial Carpets not only explores imperial carpet production across Safavid Iran, Mughal India, Ottoman Türkiye, and China between the 16th and 18th centuries, but also highlights the profound interconnections between different forms of Islamic art, from ceramics and metalwork to miniature painting and bookbinding. Visit to book tickets and know more about the exhibition.
Qatar Tribune
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Qatar Tribune
QM, Hong Kong Palace Museum present 'Wonders of Imperial Carpets'
DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) has announced an upcoming exhibition Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, opening at the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) from June 18 to October6. Co-organised by the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) and the HKPM, this landmark exhibition will be the first in Hong Kong to explore the rich artistic and cultural exchanges between Islamic and Chinese civilisations. Presenting approximately 100 extraordinary objects, including imperial carpets, ceramics, manuscripts, metalwork, and jades, Wonders of Imperial Carpets draws primarily from the renowned collections of MIA, complemented by objects from the Palace Museum in Beijing and the HKPM. The exhibition traces artistic exchanges between the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736), Mughal dynasty (1526–1857), and Ottoman dynasty (1299–1923), and the dynamic cross-cultural connections shaped through diplomacy, migration, and trade over centuries. Director of Museum of Islamic Art, Shaika Nasser Al Nassr said, "The Museum of Islamic Art is honoured to collaborate with the Hong Kong Palace Museum to bring these remarkable artifacts from our collections to new audiences. Wonders of Imperial Carpets highlights not only the exceptional artistry and craftsmanship of the Safavid, Mughal, and Ottoman dynasties, but also the profound links that have bound Islamic and Chinese cultures for centuries. Such collaborations are a true reflection of longstanding dialogues between our regions and serve as an important legacy of the Years of Culture initiative." Wonders of Imperial Carpets presents a pioneering collaboration between MIA and HKPM, a cultural landmark in Hong Kong, showcasing some of the most precious and iconic artefacts from MIA's renowned collection, many of which are being displayed outside of Qatar for the first time. The exhibition offers visitors an extraordinary opportunity to explore the richness and sophistication of Islamic art through its most celebrated masterpieces: "carpets". This is because, aside from architecture, carpets represent one of the largest and most enduring forms of Islamic artistic expression. For his part, Director of the HKPM, Dr Louis Ng said, "Wonders of Imperial Carpets marks the first time similar exhibitions is being staged outside of Qatar, incorporating a new curatorial concept and is enriched by the unique storyline of cultural exchange between China and the Islamic world. This approach demonstrates the HKPM's commitment to advancing dialogue among civilisations. The Islamic world, at different points in history, stretches from the Mediterranean in the West to Southeast Asia and further East, its art and culture continue to inspire societies and cultures across the world today. It is an immense privilege for us to present this special exhibition and share the captivating stories of the arts of the Islamic world with our visitors." Organised in four sections, Wonders of Imperial Carpets not only explores imperial carpet production across Safavid Iran, Mughal India, Ottoman Turkiye, and China between the 16th and 18th centuries, but also highlights the profound interconnections between different forms of Islamic art, from ceramics and metalwork to miniature painting and bookbinding. Wonders of Imperial Carpets marks a significant milestone in QM' ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and international collaboration. Through such partnerships, QM continues to share the richness of its collections with global audiences, fostering greater appreciation for Islamic art and heritage around the world. The exhibition is a legacy project of the Years of Culture initiative, a year-long programme of collaborations between Qatar and partner countries that seeks to nurture mutual respect and understanding by building long-term cultural, social, and economic ties. It is also one of the key collaborative achievements following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the HKPM and QM during the first-ever Hong Kong International Cultural Summit, organised by the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority last year.
