New immersive Mona Lisa exhibition opens at Hong Kong Heritage Museum

One of the world’s most famous paintings, the Mona Lisa, is making a virtual landing in Sha Tin this spring. While the original lady with the smile remains firmly behind bulletproof glass in Paris, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is launching ‘Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance’, an immersive digital experience that offers a deep dive into Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece alongside a collection of rare Renaissance art.

Opening on May 1, the exhibition is split into two sections. The first, titled Meet Mona Lisa, is a multimedia journey created in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif. The installation is divided into six chapters, where Mona Lisa herself will narrate and guide visitors through her history – from her beginnings as a private commission to her status as a global cultural icon. For those who fancy themselves as part of the portrait, there’s also an interactive chroma key photo booth where you can snap pics against the painting’s background landscape.

Past that mysterious smile of Mona Lisa, the second section of the show moves into the glorious age of the Renaissance, bringing together over 100 historical treasures from leading European institutions. A definite highlight is the four original manuscripts of the human body and faces by da Vinci, marking the first time these specific pages have been displayed in Hong Kong. The gallery space also features Renaissance paintings, sculptures, and everyday objects on loan from the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana and the Musée national de la Renaissance, as well as works by mainland artist Xu Lei and items from the Hong Kong Heritage Museum’s own collection.

The exhibition is a highlight of this year’s French May Arts Festival and will take over three thematic galleries on the first floor of the museum. Best of all, it’s completely free to enter. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance runs from May 1 to July 27 at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from 10am to 6pm on weekdays (except Tuesdays) and until 7pm on weekends and public holidays.

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