The exhibition Gilded Glory: Chaozhou Woodcarving was jointly hosted by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government, and jointly curated by the Guangdong Museum and the Hong Kong Museum of History. The exhibition originated from the Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Exchange and Co-operation Development Plan 2014-2018 signed by Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, marking an important initiative to deepen cultural collaboration among the three regions.

The Guangdong Museum boasts a rich and comprehensive collection of Chaozhou woodcarvings. About 120 selected masterpieces were showcased, covering ritual vessels, architectural decorations, and furniture ornaments. Highlights included a gilt-lacquered diamond-shaped banquet box painted with “Wang Maosheng Offering Wine (Wang Maosheng Jin Jiu) ”, a miniature shrine “Choosing the Commander by Contest (Bi Wu Ding Shuai)”, a gilt-lacquered sedan chair, a polychrome relief corbel carving of “The Tale of the Lychee Mirror (Li Jing Ji)”, a gilt-lacquered openwork beam support with plum blossom and crab design, and a large gilt-lacquered openwork crab basket on loan from Mr. Gu Liuxi, a national representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage item “Chaozhou Woodcarving.”

The exhibition explored the practical applications, creative themes, and artistic features of Chaozhou woodcarving, guiding visitors to appreciate the regional customs and humanistic spirit of Chaoshan. The distinctive large crab basket by Mr. Gu Liuxi, a representative inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage item “Chaozhou Woodcarving,” is also featured. The exhibition also introduced Hong Kong’s inherited Chaoshan traditions through thematic interpretations of selected woodcarvings.

Rich multimedia applications, including an animated feature based on The Story of the Litchi Mirror, interactive storytelling programs, two interactive games, and a variety of audiovisual materials, enhanced visitor engagement and the exhibition’s educational appeal.

Highlights of the Exhibition