HONG KONG.- The Indra and Harry Banga Gallery of City University of Hong Kong is presenting its second phase of the exhibition “The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures”. Commencing with four authentic zodiac heads from the Yuanmingyuan in the first phase, the exhibition will enter its second phase with a complete set of 12 zodiac head sculptures in collaboration with Singapore’s Asian Civilisations Museum, to recreate the exquisite design and ingenuity of the fountain in the Western architecture of the Yuanmingyuan.

Created for the movie CZ12: Chinese Zodiac, the 12 zodiac head sculptures were vividly crafted to faithfully replicate the original ones from the Yuanmingyuan. As a continued exploration of East-West cultural exchanges, art technology and heritage conservation, Phase II of the exhibition invites visitors to closely admire the striking design of all the zodiac heads, which were lost overseas for over a century, as if they are touring around Haiyantang (Hall of Calm Seas), Yuanmingyuan. From the 12 zodiac head sculptures, to the replicas of the early European clocks, the armillary sphere and hydro-mechanical astronomical clock tower from the Song dynasty, the exhibition illustrates the meticulous design and East-meets-West technology of the Great Fountain.

In addition, the exhibition demonstrates the dynamic cultural exchanges between the East and the West in the areas of art, culture, architecture, lifestyle, and science and technology from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Other exhibits include nearly 40 bronze artefacts from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, and the Han dynasty; as well as several pieces of painted enamel vases and famille rose porcelain from the Qing dynasty, such as the brush holder with famille-rose flower-and-bird design on a turquoise ground designated for Empress Dowager Cixi, and facsimiles of animal paintings by the Italian Jesuit Giuseppe Castiglione, who designed the 12 zodiac bronze heads during the Qing dynasty, exemplifying the integration of Chinese and Western art. Since the Qianlong Emperor favoured archaism, he exhorted his court and craftsmen to produce objects in emulation of archaic bronze vessels such as ding, zun, hu, and gu. In particular, Phase II highlights several pieces of archaistic bronze and earthenware such as Yixing teapots and vessels that were attributed to the design of early animal-shaped bronzes. These exhibits introduce the functions of early bronze vessels and trace the history and innovation of Chinese ritual bronzes.

Along with the physical display, the exhibition features a variety of immersive experiences, innovative art technologies, and other innovative interactive methods. The exhibition gives visitors a dynamic understanding of world heritage conservation, art technology and historical change, showcasing the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery’s innovative achievements in integrating art, science and digital technology, and promoting broader community engagement.

“The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures” is presented by the Indra and Harry Banga Gallery of CityU. The exhibition also features treasures from the collection of exquisite porcelain and ancient Chinese bronzes on loan from various museums, including the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the University Museum and Art Gallery of The University of Hong Kong, and the Art Museum of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, among others, in order to trace the history and development of rituals and ceremonies in the Qing Dynasty and other ages in China.

The Indra and Harry Banga Gallery was established in 2016 with a primary focus on exploring the intersection of arts, sciences, and technology. Over the years, the Gallery has gained recognition for its unique exhibitions: the cross-cultural works of the Italian painter Giuseppe Castiglione, working at the Imperial Chinese court; Leonardo da Vinci: Art & Science, Then & Now, with the Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana, bringing original da Vinci artworks to Hong Kong for the first time; Art Machines: Past/Present, focusing on the ongoing collaboration between art and technology in the age of digital media, with the School of Creative Media at CityU; Atlas of Maritime Buddhism, tracing the way Buddhism travelled along “Maritime Silk Road” from India to Southeast Asia with both digitalised and physical Buddhist artifacts; and most recently, Hunters, Warriors, Spirits: Nomadic Art from North China, offering a history of 3,000 years of nomadic art; and most recently, Amber: Baltic Gold, highlighting significant moments in the artistic history amber over the past 4,000 years.

Indra and Harry Banga Gallery of City University of Hong Kong
“The Grand Gathering of the Century: Zodiac Heads from the Yuanmingyuan and Important Treasures”
September 5th, 2023 - November 30th, 2023