Photos | Not to be missed: Dunhuang exhibition at HK Heritage Museum

"The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Dunhuang: Enchanting Tales for Millennium" exhibition being held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will end on Nov. 21 (Monday). Members of the public should grasp the final opportunity to visit the not-to-be-missed exhibition at the HKHM, located at 1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin.

The Dunhuang Caves are a world-renowned repository of Buddhist art relics, with a history and culture spanning over 1 000 years. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the HKHM joined hands with the Dunhuang Academy for the third time to organise this large-scale exhibition, enabling visitors to experience the worldly and heavenly aspirations of ancient forebears in their pursuit of the true, the good and the beautiful in the Buddhism realm of Dunhuang. The public response to the exhibition has been overwhelming and encouraging since its opening in August.

The exhibition showcases 50 precious exhibits, including artefacts, reproductions of silk paintings and a replica cave, spanning over 1 000 years from the Northern Wei period to the Ming dynasty. Members of the public can appreciate over 100 murals selected from more than 60 Dunhuang Caves, which feature a multitude of themes and artistic styles that traverse dynasties and geographical regions. Highlight exhibits include a 1:1 replica of Yulin Cave 25, which exemplifies the finest of cave murals. Built in the mid Tang dynasty, the Yulin Caves come second only to the Mogao Caves in terms of scale among the Dunhuang Caves. In particular, Yulin Cave 25 is one of the exceptional few constructed during the early years of Tibetan rule in Guazhou. The cave inherits the finest artistic style of the high Tang, while bringing new exotic flavours from the Tibetan culture. It is graced with a rich array of magnificent murals with vivid depictions and vibrant colours, making it an unusual blend among similar caves of its times. Other precious exhibits include the painted gilt-bronze head of Mahavairocana, which is a grade-one national treasure; illustrations of the "Sutra of the Medicine Buddha" of Mogao Cave 148; and "Ksitigarbha with the Ten Kings of Hell".

This exhibition is enriched with art-tech elements, bringing a rich and diverse sensory experience to the audience to feel the uniqueness of Dunhuang culture. The curatorial team depicts the passage of parenthood in raising offspring as a tribute to filial piety, through the immersive digital programme featuring the illustration of the "Sutra of the Profundity of Filial Love", a silk painting dated from the Northern Song dynasty and discovered in Mogao Cave 17. Another highlight is the immersive digital display of "Somewhere Out There" which enables visitors to take a closer look at a selection of landscape scenes extracted from classic murals with an aesthetic perspective and explore the ancient aspiration for man and nature living in harmony.

The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the Dunhuang Academy, and is jointly organised by the HKHM and the Dunhuang Academy with support from the Friends of Dunhuang (Hong Kong). The exhibition is under the exclusive sponsorship of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), and is one of the many initiatives supported by the HKJC's approved donation of $630 million to the HKSAR Government to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, demonstrating that the HKJC is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society, all in support of creating stronger communities together. For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit the website at hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid272.html or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the museums under the management of the LCSD for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the relevant requirements of the Vaccine Pass. According to the latest requirement on Vaccine Pass announced by the Government, all persons with their Vaccine Pass QR codes displayed in red or amber are not allowed to enter museums under the management of the LCSD.