5th March 2026 – (Hong Kong) Gardens have long served as sanctuaries of reflection and pleasure, showcases of taste and learning, and instruments of prestige—from imperial courts to merchant villas. Though Chinese and Western designs diverge across eras, they share a unifying ideal: a tranquil refuge shaped by nature’s beauty.
This spring, Hong Kong hosts an ambitious cross‑cultural survey celebrating that ideal. Bringing together 106 exceptional paintings and artefacts, the exhibition features loans from The Palace Museum in Beijing, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Palace of Versailles in France and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. The showcase traces garden design, life within gardens and artworks inspired by garden culture, guiding visitors through the great landscapes of emperors and kings—including China’s Qianlong Emperor and France’s Louis XIV—alongside romantic visions by Claude Monet, Zhang Daqian and Wen Zhengming. The result is a richly layered dialogue on how gardens express power, poetry and personal retreat.
Presented with support from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, The Palace Museum in partnership with the Art Institute of Chicago, and The Hong Kong Jockey Club, with exclusive sponsorship from the Institute of Philanthropy, the exhibition invites audiences to find fresh inspiration in the meeting of East and West—and to imagine their own ideal garden life.
Date:
24th April 2026 – 29th July 2026
Venue:
The Special Gallery, 2/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art
Fee:
Free admission