The University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, is honoured to present Symbols of Identity: IKAT Textiles from Indonesia a highly focused exhibition highlighting the artistic virtuosity of weavers across the Indonesian archipelago. Building upon the Museum’s presentation of IKAT Textiles of the Indonesian Archipelago in 2017, and two new publication projects, including Noble Virtuosity: Hidden Asymmetry in Ikat Textiles from Sumba, the display reveals forms of asymmetric design that scholars so far have consistently overlooked or explicitly negated in the past. Today, investigations of early specimens reveal that high class weavers from these islands excelled in hiding tiny visual elements that disrupted expected symmetry in a way that was made to be overlooked. They exploited insights in the way we process visual information by simulating regularity, while deceitfully tying in elements that break it. Thereby they were so successful in their deceit that in academia it remained unnoticed for over a century.

The opening of the exhibition was held at UMAG on December 11. Officiating guests included the collector and author Dr Peter ten Hoopen, and UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe.

The exhibition displays the dyers’ virtuosity, as well as the playfulness and the element of ‘flow’ that inspired their work. This ode to the artists’ ingenuity aims to create a new global class of initiates and to inspire even greater admiration for their art. We thank the HKU Museum Society for supporting this remarkable exhibition.

香港大學美術博物館榮幸呈獻「文符交織：印尼伊卡的絣織意像」展覽，聚焦探索印尼群島織造者非凡的藝術造詣。延續2017年「生如錦繡：印尼群島的伊卡絣織」展覽的學術脈絡，並結合包括《印尼群島的伊卡絣織》的兩本全新研究專著，透過本展覽揭示以往一貫被忽視或明確否定的伊卡絣織不對稱美學。現今對早期伊卡織品的研究顯示，這些島嶼上的織造者擅長將微小圖案隱藏在織品中，巧妙地打破預期的對稱性。這些社會上層的織造者深諳視覺感知的奧妙，營造規律的表象，同時交織突破常規的巧思；其染織技藝之高超，令學術界逾百年未曾發現這種隱藏的意像。

展覽開幕於12 月 11 日舉行。主禮嘉賓包括收藏家及作家Peter ten Hoopen博士以及港大美術博物館總監羅諾德博士。

本次展覽呈現了印尼群島染織者的精湛技藝，以及流動的趣味靈韻如何激發他們的創作靈感。這不僅頌揚藝術家的巧思，並期望在全球拓展新的鑒賞者群體，開啟公衆對伊卡絣織藝術更崇高的敬意。我們衷心感謝香港大學博物館學會對本次精彩展覽的鼎力支持。 ...

The University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong, is honoured to present, Zhao Hai Tien—Cultivation: 50 Years of Painting, a comprehensive overview of Zhao Hai Tien’s artistic journey as a painter and her boundless explorations as a Hong Kong artist, both locally and internationally. Her work is distinguished by a poignant confluence of abstract expression, spiritual depth, and cross-cultural dialogue. From her early New York-inflected abstractions to the later meditative, calligraphic, and cosmic visual language, she has consistently infused her practice with vitality, reflection, and resilience—an enduring testament to her inquiry into identity, spirituality, and the cosmos.

The opening of the exhibition was held at UMAG on December 9. Officiating guests included the artist Zhao Hai Tien, UMAG Director Dr Florian Knothe and UMAG Associate Curator Dr Shuo Hua.

We extend our gratitude to Zhao Hai Tien and the private lenders who have generously lent their artworks to our exhibition, and thank the Hong Kong University Museum Society for its financial support.

香港大學美術博物館榮幸呈獻展覽「修持：趙海天繪畫五十年」，全面梳理趙海天的藝術和思想歷程，以及這位香港藝術家在本地和國際藝壇的無限探索。她的畫作以抽象表現、精神深度與跨文化對話的融合而聞名。從早期受到紐約現代藝壇影響創作的抽象畫作，到後來發展出融合了冥想、書法和宇宙意象的視覺語言──海天在創作中注入生命活力、反思和堅毅韌性。這彰顯其對身份、精神性及宇宙的持續探索。

展覽開幕於12月9日舉行。主禮嘉賓包括藝術家趙海天、港大美術博物館總監羅諾德博士，以及港大美術博物館副研究員華碩博士。

我們致謝趙海天及私人藏家慷慨借出藝術品，為這段藝術之旅獻出綿力，並衷心感謝香港大學博物館學會為本次展覽提供經費支持。
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Zhao Hai Tien—Cultivation: 50 Years of Painting
《修持：趙海天繪畫五十年》
📆 December 10, 2025 - March 1, 2026
🎟️ Free Admission 免費入場
📍 1/F, T. T. Tsui Building, UMAG, HKU, 90 Bonham Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
📍香港大學美術博物館 徐展堂樓1樓
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