Hong Kong art exhibitions to catch this week

Head to the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) to find our city’s first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Mughal art. The Mughal empire was one of the world’s most powerful kingdoms that encompassed much of modern-day Indian, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, ruling from the 16th to the 17th centuries. Though they ruled a mainly Hindu population, the Mughals were Muslim with Mongol origins, and were known for their rich culture and architecture – the Taj Mahal is one such legacy from this empire. Over 100 artefacts from the golden age of the Mughal dynasty, from paintings and jewellery to weaponry, architectural segments, and even some rare surviving textiles from this period are now on show – Hong Kong is this exhibition’s only Asia venue after its London premiere in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Under the rule of three emperors, the Mughal court greatly fostered artistic development and embraced cross-cultural influences, shown here in jade pieces that have incorporated motifs from the Chinese court. Highlights include a casket with mother-of-pearl inlays, a thumb ring from Emperor Akbar’s reign with western enamelling that shows the Mughal court’s hybrid aesthetic, and a beautiful dagger sheath and hilt lavishly decorated with gold and red gemstones. ‘Treasures of the Mughal Court’ runs until February 23, 2026, and tickets are priced from $150 which also grants access to HKPM’s thematic exhibitions in galleries one to seven.

Kiang Malingue’s Hong Kong headquarters is currently hosting a collection of recent works by Liu Yin – remember her peach paintings with bright manga eyes at Art Basel? This show is a continuation of Liu’s exploration of nature beginning with her ‘Spring’ series in 2023, which portrays human emotions in greenery, flowers, fruits, and bodies of water. She continues to paint shojo manga eyes over nature, turning the environment into sentient beings. Among the bright, joyful works, there are also some quieter portrayals of nature at nighttime, where the peaches and a moon above a pond are more solemn and reflective. Don’t miss the intense and more powerful Waves and Rocks, which clearly take inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e works. This exhibition is running until September 13.

Villepin gathers four visionary artists – Zao Wou-Ki, Fernando Zóbel, Lê Phổ, and Kang Myonghi – for a group exhibition of works that celebrate endurance in the face of uncertainty, exile, migration, and reinvention. This marks the first time Zóbel’s works will be exhibited in Hong Kong, as well as the first significant exhibition of Lê Phổ in the city, and their pieces will be juxtaposed with Kang’s delicate, pensive works and Zao’s abstract musings. We’re particularly excited to see Lê Phổ’s art – the France-based Vietnamese artist’s quiet women and gardens capture the gentle Vietnam that lives in his mind and memories, infused with a longing for home.

A good dose of laughter is a great remedy for the stressors of hectic urban life, which is why comedic comics have been so well-received since they appeared in Hong Kong in the early 20th century. By the 1950s, local comics truly began to take off, giving rise to iconic characters like Old Master Q, My Boy, and Sau Sing Chai. Visitors can see beloved comic works spanning from the 50s to modern-day characters used in our everyday group chat stickers.

Local artist Chang (formerly referred to as Ernest Chang) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of his gallery, The Stallery, with an exhibition exploring the conflicts between time, technology, and life. Chinese scholar’s rocks are typically prized for their natural resemblance to things – ‘Artifice’ overlays the heresy of modern-day symbols onto the purity of natural rock forms, and asks if this strips away its artistic value. To match these rocks, the gallery has been transformed into a Zen garden with pebbles on the floor, artificial grass, and even a traditional Chinese bridge. This exhibition is running until August 31.

The latest special exhibition at M+ showcases Cantonese art in the 20th century, highlighting this period’s significance in visual and artistic modernism within China and beyond. The port cities of Guangzhou and Hong Kong were the centres for radical new ways of thinking about art and its purpose during China’s modern revolution. Cantonese artists moved on from the classical ink paintings to create prints, photography, and even cartoons that were more accessible to all. After the founding of the PRC, Guangdong artists in mainland China used art to shape their national image through social realism and propaganda, while Hong Kong artists embraced international movements. Explore over 200 works from institutional and private collections, many of which are on public display for the first time, and see the connections and disconnections between the two groups of Cantonese artists before and after 1949. From now until July 13, tickets to access all of M+’s special exhibitions run for $240, but starting July 15, all entry to the museum will be under a single-price ticket at $190.

M+ is hosting this adaptation of Trevor Yeung’s solo show that represented our city at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Drawing inspiration from his surroundings that include pet shops, seafood restaurants, public fountains, feng shui arrangements, and more, Yeung examines the relationship between humans and aquatic systems. See pet fish shops and filtration systems that are abandoned and devoid of aquatic life, and a defunct fountain in a European courtyard. The exhibition runs from June 14 to October 12, and entry is $120.

New York-based curator and scholar Jie Xia has curated a collection of works from leading post-war and contemporary artists for Ben Brown Fine Arts. Invoking the heat and sultry haze of summer, this exhibition explores travel and the rituals of seasonal escape paired with nostalgia and longing. See pieces from a diverse group of global artists including Miquel Barceló, José Parlá, Ena Swansea, Nabil Nahas, Enoc Perez, Tseng Kwong Chi, Vik Muniz, Gerhard Richter, Hilary Pecis and Milton Avery. Through paint, photography, and collages, this exhibition looks at how we construct and consume the idea of paradise, and what we hope to find when we get there.

Set amidst the greenery and historical landmarks of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center are Lee Kuang-Yu’s sculptures that are inspired by Eastern philosophy and natural aesthetics. Using his distinct ‘open void’ sculptures, Lee’s cubist- and surrealist-inspired pieces blend into the environment seamlessly. These nine sculptures make up his first large-scale solo show in Hong Kong, where his works are complemented by modern architecture and our city’s lush nature.

This exhibition is interesting in that instead of highlighting art, it is a look at the martial culture of the Qing court through weaponry, military equipment, scientific instruments, and more. Nearly 190 military artefacts are on loan from The Palace Museum in Beijing, including helmets, archery sets, swords and sabres, and equestrian gear, along with paintings, textiles, and books. ‘The Art of Armaments’ highlights the Manchu rulers’ emphasis on martial traditions, continually improving their weapon-making techniques, and their dedication to hunting and drills – these set the foundation for military rituals in China as well as the development of their fleets and coastal defence.  Look out for treasures such as a Qianlong-era replica of a helmet used by Nurhaci, the Jurchen khan emperor of the Later Jin dynasty, or the sabre gifted to Prince Gong by the Daoguang Emperor. Since there are so many artefacts, the exhibition will be presented in four rotations, each lasting about three months. Visitors can access this exhibition with a general admission ticket (priced from $70 to $90), or any special exhibition ticket (ranging from $150 to $180).