Hong Kong: Palace Museum to Launch Landmark Exhibition of Islamic Art Treasures
The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) will inaugurate a landmark exhibition titled “Wonders of Imperial Carpets: Masterpieces from the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha” on June 18, The Standard reported on Monday.
This marks the city's first large-scale presentation of Islamic art, bringing together 90 exceptional works from three major Islamic empires—Safavid Iran, Ottoman Türkiye, and Mughal India.
At the heart of the exhibition are 15 imperial carpets, described by organizers as the most majestic expression of Islamic art. These pieces, crafted under royal patronage, utilize luxurious materials such as silk, pashmina wool, and threads of gold and silver, dyed using rare substances gathered from across the globe.
Watch More:
Two highlights include the Shah Sulayman “Hunting” Carpet, a 450-year-old piece originally gifted by the Safavid monarch to the Doge of Venice, and the expansive 16-meter Kevorkian Hyderabad Carpet, created for the Mughal palaces in India. Both are considered significant examples of diplomatic artistry and craftsmanship.
In addition to the carpets, the exhibition will present notable historical artifacts. Among them is the Royal Quran of Shah Sulayman Safavi, commissioned for the eighth ruler of the Safavid dynasty.
Also on display are illustrated folios from seminal Persian literary works such as the Shahnama (Book of Kings), and an inlaid wooden gift chest from the Ottoman period.
The exhibit also explores long-standing cultural exchanges between the Islamic world and China, a relationship that dates back to the Tang dynasty. To illustrate this, Chinese artworks will be displayed alongside Islamic pieces, highlighting mutual artistic influence and trade.
Read More:
An augmented reality (AR) experience will allow visitors to create personalized digital self-portraits set against a backdrop of flying carpets. Additionally, a family-friendly Magic Carpet Adventure trail and a Carpet Studio learning area at the end of the exhibition will offer interactive experiences for guests of all ages.
Louis Ng Chi-wa, Director of the HKPM, estimated the exhibition could draw between 80,000 to 100,000 visitors. He expressed hope that the display would enhance public awareness and appreciation of Islamic cultural heritage. “This exhibition is not just about showcasing art,” Ng remarked, “but also about promoting cross-cultural understanding.”
Source: Agencies
