Visual Arts

Once used as daily wares, artefacts often feature colours and patterns comparable in style and beauty to modern designs. The design of an artefact not only reflects the personal taste of its owner, but also reflects the owner’s religious beliefs, rules and etiquette. In ancient China, colours were classified into five categories, known as a scheme of “five prime colours”, comprising blue, red, yellow, white and black. The exhibition displays diverse exhibits including porcelains, lacquerware, textiles, glass and jade, and presents five historical figures as key opinion leaders, namely Emperor Qin, Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty, Emperor Yongle of the Ming dynasty and Emperor Qianlong and official Lang Tingji of the Qing dynasty, to represent the five colours and introduce how they influenced the selection of colours of the artefacts at their time. Selected modern artworks from the museum collection will also be displayed to connect the past with the present.