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The following is issued on behalf of the Institute of Philanthropy

Exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy (“IoP”), organised by the Palace Museum in Beijing, and in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago, the “Rejoicing in Woods and Springs: A Journey through Garden Cultures in China and the Wider World” exhibition was launched yesterday (31 March) at the Tower Gallery, East and West Wing Galleries of the Meridian Gate in the Forbidden City. It will showcase rare artifacts and cultural treasures from across Asia, the United States and France. The exhibition will run until 29 June in Beijing, with subsequent plans to tour Suzhou, followed by Ningbo and Hong Kong through to July next year.

This exhibition is an important part of a five-year collaboration under a Memorandum of Co-operation entitled “Promotion of Chinese Culture and Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong” signed between The Hong Kong Jockey Club (“the Club”) and the Palace Museum. It aims to foster cultural exchange between the Mainland and Hong Kong and to nurture aspiring arts tech talent. The exhibition aligns with the Palace Museum’s 100th anniversary and is also one of a series of activities under the Club’s “With you. Then. Now. Always.” campaign to celebrate its 140th anniversary.

At the opening ceremony of the exhibition yesterday, officiating guests included Wang Xudong, Director of the Palace Museum; Lester Huang, IoP Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust; James Rondeau, President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago; and Elisabeth Maisonnier, Chief Curator of Heritage at the National Museum of the Palaces of Versailles and Trianon.

Director of the Palace Museum Dr Wang said the Palace Museum has systematically explored multi-faceted models to bridge cultural exchanges in innovative ways to foster dialogues between China’s rich culture with other international traditions, ever since the introduction of the Global Civilisation Initiative. This exhibition is envisioned not only to promote the sustainable development of cultural heritage but also to inspire and promote the construction of a global community of the shared future.

IoP Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Mr Huang noted this touring exhibition is exclusively sponsored by IoP and is a key activity under the five-year collaboration between the Club and the Palace Museum to promote Chinese culture and enhance international exchange through the integration of arts and technology. “It is a meaningful way to celebrate both the Club’s 140th anniversary and the Palace Museum’s 100th anniversary. It incorporates interactive digital technology to present fascinating garden cultures in China. I very much look forward to the exhibition being held in Hong Kong next year to broaden people’s understanding of national history and culture, supporting efforts to develop Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.”

The exhibition features more than 200 Chinese and international exhibits, with support from four overseas cultural institutions – the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Yale Center for British Art in the United States; and the Palace of Versailles, Museums and National Gardens Public Institution in France. The National Museum of China and Tianjin Museum also contributed exhibits.

Taking six activities (gatherings with friends; appreciation of art collections; sightseeing; meditation; flower appreciation; and playing music) that took place in the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City, the exhibition aims to explore the impact that human activities have on garden landscapes from different geographical regions and historical periods, and to contrast traditional Chinese and Western gardening philosophies.

In addition to physical exhibits, the exhibition will also feature digital content, allowing audiences worldwide to access and appreciate these horticultural treasures online soon after the exhibition has opened.

The touring exhibition will be staged at the Palace Museum until 29 June, after which it plans to tour Suzhou Museum and Ningbo Museum before stopping at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 2026.

IoP, a charitable organisation established by the Club and its Charities Trust, donated approximately HK$440 million (RMB￥371 million) to the “Promotion of Chinese Culture and Arts Tech Talent Development in the Mainland and Hong Kong” initiative to promote Chinese culture and values in Hong Kong, the Mainland and worldwide.  It supports the Central Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan.