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Bringing the Best of Italian Art to Hong Kong Shaping the Human Body: Florentine Sculpture of the Italian Renaissance A Remarkable Exhibition of Renaissance Sculptures from the Renowned Bellini Collection

17 May 2018

 

The Marco Polo Society, the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau and the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong present Shaping the Human Body: Florentine Sculptures of the Italian Renaissance.

From May 18 through Aug 12, 2018, the Marco Polo Society, the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau and the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong will bring the best of Italian art to Hong Kong through a remarkable exhibition Shaping the Human Body: Florentine Sculptures of the Italian Renaissance. To be held at the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) of the University of Hong Kong, this exhibition highlights important Renaissance sculptures from the Bellini Collection of Florence, Italy, as well as examples from the McCarthy Collection in London.

The 10 masterpieces featured in the exhibition exemplify stylistic developments from the 14th to the 16th century. The Exhibition includes works by remarkable Renaissance artists Donatello, Francesco di Valdambrini, Luca della Robbia, Giovanni della Robbia, Gregorio di Lorenzo and Giovanni Francesco Rustici. The sculptures beautifully represent how the artistic representation of the human body changed during this period, influenced by scientific study and a move towards life-like depiction.

Rarely seen outside of Italy, the special collection is curated by Dr Florian Knothe, Director of the UMAG, and serves as a wonderful educational experience for the Hong Kong Community.

The Exhibition is free to all Hong Kong art enthusiasts and will be open Mondays - Saturdays between 09:30 and 18:00, and Sundays between 13:00 and 18:00. Throughout the event period, exhibition organiser UMAG will support the art experience with workshops and lectures open to the public.

The Exhibition will open with a gala private reception and cocktail at the University Museum and Art Gallery today (May 17). Special Guests will include: the Italian Consul General Mr Antonello de Riu, Marco Polo Society’s Ms Michelle Ong, Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation’s Ms Nikki Ng, as well as the HKU Museum Society’s Chairman Mrs Yvonne Choi, Collector Mr Luigi Bellini and Museum Director Dr Florian Knothe.

The Exhibition represents Principal Sponsor Marco Polo Society’s commitment to providing meaningful Italian artistic and cultural exchanges in Hong Kong, China and Macau. In cooperation with the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong and Macau, the Society is proud to support this memorable Exhibition and affiliated education programme in Hong Kong.

The Exhibition’s Major Sponsor is Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, a charitable organisation established in 2010 in memory of the late Mr Ng Teng Fong, founder of Sino Group. The Foundation is a steadfast advocate of education, youth development and community services. It has supported over 200 local non-government organisations and social enterprises. In addition to supporting good causes such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the National Gallery of Singapore and restoration of the Great Wall, the Foundation places great emphasis on education. It provides financial assistance for students from underprivileged families in Hong Kong and China through the Ng Teng Fong Scholarships. It also supports scholastic initiatives of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University in China as well as the National University of Singapore, Singapore University of Technology and Design and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

The event’s Community Outreach Sponsor is the First Initiative Foundation (FIF) that is committed to supporting art, culture and educational outreach in the Hong Kong Community. FIF works to uplift Hong Kong by providing global cultural connections and opportunities for local cultural advancement.

The exhibition’s Supporting Sponsor is the Hong Kong University Museum Society, a charitable organisation that supports cultural and educational events and has been UMAG’s principal supporter for 30 years.

For more images and captions of the exhibits, please click here.

Details of the Exhibition
Period: May 18, 2018 (Friday) to August 12, 2018 (Sunday)
Opening Hours:
09:30 – 18:00 (Monday to Saturday)
13:00 – 18:00 (Sunday)
Closed on University and Public Holidays
Venue: 1/F Fung Ping Shan Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam
Tel/Email: (852) 2241 5500 (General Enquiry) / museum@hku.hk
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.umag.hku.hk/en/

Connect with UMAG on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/umag.hku
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UMAG_HKU
Instagram: #FlorentineSculpture, #ItalianRenaissance, #UMAG
Weibo: @香港大學美術博物館UMAG

About University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong (UMAG)
UMAG was founded in 1953 as the Fung Ping Shan Museum. It was originally established as the Fung Ping Shan Library in 1932 in honour of its benefactor. For more information on UMAG, please click here.

Media enquiries
UMAG Senior Communications Officer Ms Elena Cheung, Tel: (852) 2241 5512, Email: elenac@hku.hk
UMAG Programme Assistant Ms Chelsea Choi, Tel: (852) 2241 5509, Email: cchelsea@hku.hk