Appreciate Palace Museum treasures and put politics aside, top Hong Kong art expert urges
Former chief curator of city’s Museum of Art calls controversy over building local version of Beijing institution in West Kowloon unfortunate
Relics from the Palace Museum are exquisite treasures of humanity that should be appreciated from all angles except politics, a top Hong Kong art expert has urged.
“They are priceless treasures that are sought after around the world and deserve to be appreciated on their own cultural and aesthetic value,” said Tang, whose translation work on a book series for the Palace Museum published last month.
Politics should not enter into one’s appreciation of the treasures
“Those who are for or against the Palace Museum being in Hong Kong may have their points, but politics should not enter into one’s appreciation of the treasures.”
The decision-making process for the museum site in West Kowloon, which critics chastised for a lack of transparency and consultation, “does not alter the fact that they are national treasures and their presence in Hong Kong is a positive thing for the city,” he added.
“It was the first time for the five-metre scroll to be taken outside the mainland,” the former curator recalled. “Even with the State Council’s authorisation, there were last-minute hiccups such as whether it should be transported by plane or train to get to Hong Kong.”