The Emerging University 1970-74

fortunately successfu l i n th e purchas e o f th e Jen Yu - we n collectio n of paintings an d calligraphy b y Kwa n g t u n g artists . The Jen Yu -we n collection i s the mos t extensiv e o f its k i n d an d cover s a field hithert o not f u l l y explored . No t onl y i s i t w i t h i n th e researc h capab i l i t y o f the A rt Galler y bu t i t ha s also a l ocal context . W i t h th e Jen collectio n the A r t Galler y ha s acquire d a n i nd i v i dua l i t y o f its own . The reactio n o f th e Ho n g Ko n g commun i t y t o th e appea l o f the Acqu i s i t i o n Fu n d Commi t t e e ca n on l y b e describe d a s overwhelming. Donations i n cas h an d i n k i n d continu e t o flow in . Ano t her ver y impo r t an t collectio n i s on e o f bronz e seal s presente d by th e Le e f ami l y , consistin g o f about 30 0 small seals , mostl y da t i n g f r om th e H a n an d Pr e -Ha n periods . Als o presente d b y th e Le e f ami ly i s a r ubb i ng o f a long los t H a n stele , th e Huan- sha n Temp l e Stele. Th e r ubb i n g wa s mad e i n th e Sun g perio d an d ha s passe d t h r ough th e hand s o f successiv e we l l - know n collector s sinc e th e 18th century . Ot he r valuabl e donation s includ e painting s b y th e Yangchow master s o f th e Ch ' i n g Dynasty . Altogethe r thes e item s w i l l f o r m th e nucleu s o f th e Gallery' s permanen t collection . Various collector s hav e donate d abou t 2,00 0 volumes o f work s on Chines e art , purchase d i n Ch i n a an d Japa n an d f o rmi n g a reference l i b r a r y wh i c h i s t empo r a r i l y house d i n th e Institut e o f Chinese Studie s an d w i l l eventuall y b e comb i ne d w i t h th e Centra l A r t L i b r a r y i n th e Un i ver s i t y L i b r a r y Bu i l d i ng . Th e referenc e l i b r a ry w i l l b e o f immens e valu e fo r th e developmen t o f teachin g and researc h i n th e fine art s p r og r amme . Persons w i t h th e necessar y experienc e an d skil l no t bein g readily available , th e A r t Galler y ha s t o recrui t an d t r a i n it s ow n technicians an d artisan s t o staf f it s photographi c archives , t o design an d construc t it s specia l l i gh t i n g equ i pmen t an d exhibitio n cabinets an d t o moun t an d preserv e Chines e paintings . Th e photographs o f th e ar t collection s o f Hon g K o n g take n b y th e A r t Galler y togethe r w i t h th e catalogue s o f th e exhibition s w i l l serve th e purpos e o f exchang e w i t h othe r museums . I n shor t th e A r t Galler y aim s t o b e a compac t an d self-sufficien t gallery , comparable i n qua l i t y w i t h an y othe r museu m i n thi s region . Depar tment of Ex t r amu r al Studies The stronges t l i n k betwee n th e Un i ver s i t y an d th e commun i t y is th e Depa r tmen t o f Ex t r amu r a l Studie s ( EMSD ) . I t i s conceive d of no t onl y a s a n a r m o f th e Un i ver s i t y bu t als o a s a n instrumen t for t ak i n g th e puls e o f th e commun i t y an d thereb y diagnosin g it s strengths an d weaknesses . Th e progres s o f th e E M S D is , therefore , a reflectio n o f the developmen t o f the commun i t y itsel f and i s ofte n the f u l f i lmen t o f it s urgen t demands . The E M S D ha d a modes t beginnin g w i t h on e singl e cours e i n 57