The art of diplomacy: Hong Kong in the picture for Europe’s charm offensive as Uffizi, National Gallery bring masterpieces to city amid tense China ties
- Concurrent local exhibitions by Italy’s Uffizi and UK’s National Gallery rare treat for art lovers, underscoring cultural ties with China despite tensions
- Industry says showings can strengthen understanding, but analyst explains economic, foreign affairs still primary concerns despite art’s ability to build ‘friendship’
University student Cai Yijun spent an afternoon at the Hong Kong Palace Museum last month, mesmerised by European masterpieces she had previously only seen as digital images.
Among the big names were Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet and Van Gogh.
Taking in the details of the paintings and the use of colour to create a sense of dimension, the 29-year-old from mainland China said: “This is something you can’t appreciate online.
“It enabled me to understand the charm of these works and why they are so sought after.”
The exhibition, “Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery”, with 52 paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries by 50 artists and covering styles from the Renaissance to Post-Impressionism, opened on November 22 and is on until April 11 next year.
Over at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, another major exhibition opened last month with 50 works by Italian masters including Titian, Giorgione, Tintoretto and Veronese, on loan from the Uffizi Galleries in Florence.
