Special Exhibition

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Unlocking the Secrets - The Science of Conservation at The Palace Museum

Exhibition Period: 14-12-2019 (Sat) — 18-3-2020 (Wed)   Built in 1420, the Forbidden City was the residence and court administration centre of 24 emperors in the Ming and Qing dynasties. It is a treasure trove of numerous historical works of literature and rare artefacts. The Palace Museum was established in 1925 and since that time it has not only helped to preserve the wooden architecture of the Forbidden City and functioned as a museum, but has also preserved the artefacts within that have significant heritage value. In addition to preservation and research, the museum is also committed to using traditional craftsmanship to restore damaged architectural and cultural objects that have been sealed in dust for many years, so as to bring them back their former glory. In recent years, the museum even set up a "Cultural Relic Hospital", which apart from promoting traditional craftsmanship has also actively introduced the use of different advanced cultural relic "diagnostic" equipment, including computed tomography equipment designed for scanning objects, high-resolution microscopes and various spectrometers, to study the objects more scientifically and thus greatly improve the effectiveness of the conservation. 2020 is an important milestone in the 600-year history of the Forbidden City. To mark this special occasion, the Hong Kong Science Museum is presenting "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Unlocking the Secrets - The Science of Conservation at The Palace Museum" exhibition, that tells the untold stories behind the cultural relic conservation work. The exhibition will display about 140 priceless artefacts, ranging from bronzes, clocks, textiles, thangkas, wood furniture, lacquerware, inlaid objects, ceramics and also hand-painted replicas of ancient paintings. Some of the exhibits are just recently conserved and have never been formally displayed. Alongside these objects, the exhibition will also feature several interactive exhibits. Through hands-on interaction, visitors can deepen their understanding of exquisite traditional Chinese craftsmanship as well as the scientific principles and technologies applied in objects restoration. Moreover, the exhibition will present the work of the Conservation Office in Hong Kong by showcasing intriguing restoration cases, including the conservation of the century-old "No. 313" train coach and the China trade painting "The Emperor Holding Court in the Imperial Winter Palace, Peking", visitors can learn more about the work and professional skills of conservators as well as their mission to preserve Hong Kong's heritage assets. Venue: G/F Exhibition Hall, Hong Kong Science Museum Admission Fee: $30, $21#, $15* (Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, fee including admission to the Permanent Exhibition Hall) $10, $7#, $5* (Wednesdays, free admission to the Permanent Exhibition Hall) $5 (Full-time students) #Special rate of Standard Ticket for groups of 20 people or more per visit *Applicable to people with disabilities (and one accompanying carer) and senior citizens aged 60 or above Free admission for Museum Pass holders and children under 4 years old accompanied by an adult with ticket No free admission on Wednesdays Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and The Palace Museum Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Science Museum, The Palace Museum and the Conservation Office Solely sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust