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https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3014063/hong-kong-showcase-zhang-zeduans-classic-along-river-during Society
Hong Kong to showcase Zhang Zeduan’s classic Along the River During the Qingming Festival in immersive digital experience at AsiaWorld-Expo
- Interactive exhibition of 12th century classic, hailed as China’s Mona Lisa, includes virtual boat ride in the Song dynasty city it depicts
- A Journey Through Springtime Along the River is co-organised by Hong Kong Palace Museum and runs for four weeks this summer
Along the River During Qingming Festival is set to reach new audiences through an interactive experience in Hong Kong this summer.
A classic Chinese scroll painting from the Song dynasty by imperial artist Zhang Zeduan will be given a multimedia showcase at a Hong Kong exhibition that merges art and technology.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival will be on interactive display at the AsiaWorld-Expo in an event this summer organised by the Palace Museum and Phoenix TV, with Bank of China Hong Kong as the chief charity partner.
The exhibition, titled A Journey Through Springtime Along the River, will provide a digital translation of the traditional 12th century scroll painting, which has been referred to as China’s Mona Lisa.
Presented in seven parts, it includes a visual foray into its historical background and a three-dimensional presentation of the detailed features of the painting, which allows visitors to be part of an experimental landscape along a spatial narrative.
“We hope that this exhibition can give Hong Kong audiences a more sophisticated experience to better understand this classic Chinese painting,” said Raymond Fung Wing-kee, vice-chairman of Hong Kong Palace Museum.
Widely seen as among China’s most treasured works of art, it is famed for its depiction of day-to-day street life along the Bian River in Bianjing, which was the capital of the Northern Song dynasty.
A 4D rendering of the scroll, which is also hailed for the geometric accuracy of the cityscape it covers, was exhibited at the Palace Museum in Beijing last year, where the physical painting is based.
A virtual boat ride called Bian River Harbour is making a comeback in the upcoming show in Hong Kong.
The 180-degree spherical theatre display allows visitors to experience the Bian river in a three-dimensional manner by travelling through a time tunnel.
A Journey Through Springtime Along the River will also include a section known as the “open city”, which has eight core scenes that will feature various sections of the painting.
This interactive section will highlight the political, economic, cultural and social phenomena of the Song dynasty.
Raymond Fung, from Hong Kong Palace Museum, says the new exhibition will promote greater understanding of Zhang Zeduan’s works. Photo: Dickson Lee
“We have 10 contemporary designers and they will bring in innovative and interactive mechanisms so that our audience can immerse themselves in ancient culture from a modern context,” said Lily Lee, general manager of Phoenix Digital Technology.
Another new feature, the Song Dynasty Park, is an interactive zone for kids and adults to learn about Song culture through traditional culture practices, including handmade drawings, paintings and lantern riddles.
A Journey Through Springtime Along the River will run from July 26 to August 25.
Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Zhang Zeduan can be viewed in a digital format in Hong Kong from next month. Photo: Handout
Tickets will be available at www.cityline.com from June 12. Physical tickets will be on sale from June 13 at the Cityline box office at Tom Lee outlets, AsiaWorld-Expo and the MacPherson Stadium.
General tickets are sold at HK$10 (US$1.27) with free admission for children who are three years old or younger. For people interested in The Bian River Harbour showcase, tickets retail at HK$25.