The Emerging University 1970-74

archaeology, wo r k i n g closel y w i t h othe r unit s o f th e Institut e o f Chinese Studie s an d th e Depa r tmen t o f Fine Art s o f the University . Wh i le Chines e ar t histor y i s the na t u r a l field o f activity, archaeolog y has recentl y com e t o th e for e w i t h loca l excavation s bein g conducted. Ot her curren t researc h interest s includ e th e f o l l owi n g subjects: 1. Kwa n g t u n g ar t an d cultur e i n th e M i n g an d Ch ' i n g period s 2. Bronz e seal s o f th e Ch ' i n an d Ha n period s 3. T r ad e potter y o f South-eas t Asi a Wh i le effort s w i l l b e mad e t o coordinat e thes e researche s w i t h th e overall p l a n unde r th e Institut e o f Chines e Studies , th e A r t Galler y w i l l als o mak e it s con t r i bu t i o n t owa r d th e f ound i n g o f a graduat e p r og r amme b y th e Depa r tmen t o f Fin e Art s o f th e Un i ver s i t y . As a n activ e agenc y i n presentin g specia l exhibition s o f Chinese art , th e A r t Galler y provide s a valuabl e servic e t o ar t lovers i n Ho n g Kong . I nc l ud i n g th e i naugu r a l exh i b i t i on , wh i c h ranged f r o m oracl e bone s t o rar e book s an d f r o m porcelai n t o Chinese pa i n t i n g an d calligraph y an d wa s opene d o n Septembe r 27, 1971 , no les s t ha n seve n exhibition s hav e bee n moun t e d w i t h i n the shor t perio d o f tw o year s rangin g ove r a variet y o f subjects : 1. Th e Open i n g Exh i b i t i o n 2. B i b l i og r aph i ca l an d othe r materia l relatin g t o th e Dr ea m o f th e Re d Chambe r 3. Th e Ch'in——th e seve n strin g zithe r 4. Lo k Tsa i Hsie n collectio n o f calligraphi c couplet s 5. Chines e carve d jade s 6. Landscap e painting s b y Kwa n g t u n g artist s o f the M i n g an d Ch ' i ng period s 7. Wa h Kw o n g collectio n o f Ch ' i n g porcelai n W i t h on e exceptio n th e exhibition s wer e al l loa n exhibition s an d accompanying catalogue s wer e publishe d w i t h th e p r i n t i n g cost s defrayed b y privat e donors . Mos t o f the ar t object s wer e o n displa y for th e firs t time . Visitor s cam e awa y f r o m th e exhibition s overwhelmed by th e wealt h o f ar t object s i n Hon g K o n g wa i t i n g onl y to b e organize d an d pu t o n view . T o describ e thes e exhibition s a s eye-opening event s wou l d no t b e a n overstatement . Howeve r, a n ar t galler y mus t no t rel y o n privat e loan s bu t make acquisition s o f it s own . Th r oug h th e coordinate d ha r d wo r k of th e Ch i a rma n o f th e Managemen t Commi t t e e an d th e Cu r a t o r , an Acqu i s i t i o n Fun d Committe e wa s f orme d i n 197 3 an d wa s 5 6