AT THE opposite end of the Asian art spectrum, an exhibition is making its way to Hongkong that will draw interest from collectors, critics and those looking to expand their cultural horizons. Entitled Treasures of Asian Art, it features selections from the Mr and Mrs John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection. On its way from Japan, the exhibition will stop off at the Hongkong Museum of Art. The joint effort between The Asia Society and the museum marks the first liaison between the institutions, but hopefully not the last if museum curator Mr Laurence Tam has his way. He has envisioned such an alliance for some time and happily added the show to the museum calendar, despite a lack of funds for it. The society's Hongkong branch quickly found the US$250,000 (HK$1.95 million) needed to launch the show. The collection is outstanding for a number of reasons. The Rockefellers chose pieces that were not only antique, but rare. Representing more than 10 Asian countries, this is the first pan-Asian collection to grace the territory, if not the region. The collection also contains a wide variety of Buddhist art, the like of which has never been seen in Hongkong.
