Gems from the Kiln Fire - Chinese Ceramic Art

Date: 3 November 2022 (Thursday)

Time: 7 pm

Venue: Chiang Chen Studio Theatre, PolyU

Speaker: Mr Tang Hoi-chiu

Former Chief Curator of the Hong Kong Museum of Art

PolyU Curator-in-Residence 2021/22

The art of Chinese ceramics has endured over five thousand years of history and is acclaimed as a sophisticated art form of human civilization.  The term “China” comes from the term “Chine” (Chinese ceramics) and Chinese ceramic art has had a profound influence throughout the world.  The talk will introduce the major categories of Chinese ceramic wares ranging from the Neolithic period to the Qing dynasty, such as: the rustic painted pottery wares and the Han dynasty wares; Tang dynasty ceramics that blend Chinese and western aesthetics; Song dynasty wares which are known for their serenity and purity; blue-and-white wares which are worldly acclaimed; the luxuriant and elegant imperial monochrome and polychrome wares of the Ming and Qing dynasty, and the provincial wares which carry distinctive regional characters.  How ceramic craftsmanship, mastery of techniques and unique creativity produced treasures from the fire in the kilns will be revealed, and lead you on a journey along the roadmap of ceramic art.

Biographical notes of Tang Hoi-chiu

Professor Tang Hoi-chiu was born in Hong Kong.  He obtained a BA from The University of Hong Kong in 1977 and a Graduate Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of Sydney in 1998. He started work at the Hong Kong Museum of Art in 1977 and in 1995 was appointed Curator (Modern Art). He was once deployed to be responsible for the re-provisioning of the Hong Kong Police Museum.  From 2008-2012 he served as Chief Curator and then Chief Curator (Special Projects) from 2012 - 2014 for the renovation of the Hong Kong Museum of Art, following which Professor Tang retired.  He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of the Division of Art and Humanities, School of Professional and Continuing Education, The University of Hong Kong; Adjunct Professor, Academy of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University; External Member, Culture Promotion Committee, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; and expert advisor for the Hong Kong Chronicles-Visual Arts Volume.  His expertise is in curatorship, Chinese art, ink art, Hong Kong art, art administration and museum management.

Professor Tang has served as adjudicator and adviser for various local and international art competitions, art fairs and exhibitions, including Ink Innovations and Crossovers – Retrospective Exhibition of Painting by Wucius Wong (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2016), Art Next Expo, and Ink Global (2017, 2022).  As Curator-in-Residence, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, he curated the exhibition From Naturalism to Artistic Realm - Exhibition of Sketches and Paintings of Gao Jianfu (2021), and New Rhythm of Line - Contemporary Hong Kong Ink Art for the Hong Kong Modern Ink Painting Society, 2022, among others.  He has won a number of professional awards and his writings and research papers have been widely published in journals, art publications and exhibition catalogues.

Important notes

1. The programme will be conducted in Cantonese.
2. Each applicant can register for up to 2 tickets for the Talk. First-come, first-served.
3. In view of the current COVID-19 situation, please maintain proper social distance and adhere to the necessary precautionary measures.
4. Limited wheelchair seats available, please contact us at 3400 2433 for reservation and arrangement.
5. We shall keep you posted should there be any changes to the Programme due to the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong.
6. Videos and photos will be taken during the Programme for PolyU’s archival or promotional purposes.

Enquiries: 3400 2433