# Hong Kong Museum of Art

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) is the first and one of the main art museums of Hong Kong, located in located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, near the Victoria Harbour waterfront, providing a scenic view of Hong Kong’s skyline. It is a public museum managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong Government. HKMoA has an art collection of over 17,000 items, dedicated to preserving and showcasing Chinese and international art. Admission is free for permanent exhibitions. Its rival is the non-government-managed Hong Kong Arts Centre. These two museums are considered to be the top two art museums in Hong Kong that dictate the discourse of art in Hong Kong.
It has an extended branch, the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, at the Hong Kong Park in Central.

## History

The museum was established as the City Hall Museum and Art Gallery in the City Hall in Central by the Urban Council on 2 March 1962. This was split into the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Hong Kong Museum of Art in July 1975.
The Museum of History moved to Kowloon Park in 1983. Before leaving City Hall in 1991, the art museum occupied the 8th (rear portion), 9th, 10th, and 11th storeys of the High Block. These floors now house a public library. In 1991, it was moved to the present premises at 10 Salisbury Road, near the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Hong Kong Space Museum, in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The new museum was formally inaugurated by Governor Chris Patten on 11 September 1992.
The museum closed on 3 August 2015 for a $400 million expansion and renovation. It reopened on 30 November 2019.

## Collections

The HKMOA houses an extensive collection of over 17,000 items, spanning classical and contemporary art. The collection includes Chinese paintings, calligraphy, antique ceramics, and decorative arts, as well as works by Hong Kong artists and international pieces. The museum also collaborates with global institutions to host special exhibitions featuring renowned artists and historical artefacts.

## Permanent galleries

* Chinese Antiquities Gallery – Showcasing ceramics, bronzes, and decorative arts from different Chinese dynasties.
* Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Gallery – Featuring masterpieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
* China Trade Art Gallery – Displaying works that reflect Hong Kong’s history as a trading hub.
* Hong Kong Art Gallery– Dedicated to local artists and contemporary works.
* Special Exhibition Hall – Hosting international traveling exhibitions and thematic showcases.

## Exhibitions

The museum changes its displays regularly. The exhibitions in the museum are mainly of paintings, calligraphy and sculpture from Hong Kong, China and other parts of the world. It has cooperated with other museums as well.
From 25 May to 4 July 1962, the museum (then still named the Hong Kong City Hall Museum and Art Gallery) held the major exhibition, Hong Kong Art Today. It was significant as the first exhibition with Hong Kong art as its theme. The exhibition also reflected how naturalism in art had become passé and that abstract art was favoured at that moment in time.
Since 1975, the museum has hosted the Hong Kong Art Biennial Exhibition featuring the work of contemporary Hong Kong artists. It was renamed the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Biennial Awards in 2009.
In May 2009, Louis Vuitton wrapped the Hong Kong Museum of Art as part of its exhibition "Louis Vuitton: A Passion for Creation". The wrapping was done by artist Richard Prince, who used enlarged replicas of pulp-fiction novel covers. The installation was part of Hong Kong's annual French May Arts Festival. In an article Louis Vuitton Wraps Hong Kong Museum of Art by Constance Haisma-Kwok, it discusses a public art installation in Hong Kong, where luxury brand Louis Vuitton collaborated with artist Richard Prince to wrap the Hong Kong Museum of Art with enlarged replicas of pulp-fiction novel covers. This marked one of the city's first major public art initiatives. The installation transformed the museum’s exterior into a large-scale artistic statement, blending commercial branding with contemporary art. The article, published in WWD in May 2009, highlights the intersection of fashion, art, and urban culture through this unique collaboration. The initiative reflects the growing trend of luxury brands engaging in public art projects to enhance cultural prestige and visibility while also contributing to the local artistic landscape.

## Architecture and renovation

The Hong Kong Museum of Art underwent a significant renovation from August 2015 to November 2019, expanding its exhibition area by approximately 40%, from around 7,000 to about 10,000 square meters, and increasing the number of galleries from seven to twelve. This renovation aimed to upgrade the museum's facilities and enhance its exhibition space. The museum reopened to the public on November 30, 2019, featuring 11 new exhibitions and a collection comprising over 17,000 items. The redesign incorporated a more modern aesthetic, including large glass facades to enhance natural lighting. The new structure offers five floors of exhibition space, interactive zones, and improved visitor facilities.

### Exhibitions and programs

HKMOA regularly organizes art programs, educational workshops, and guided tours to engage the public. Special exhibitions often feature international partnerships with institutions such as the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Louvre. Additionally, the museum hosts contemporary art initiatives, fostering creativity within the local art scene.

## Management, administration, and partnerships

The Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMOA) is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, which oversees its administration, funding, and strategic development. The museum operates under government policies aimed at promoting cultural heritage and contemporary artistic innovation. In recent years, HKMOA has strengthened its international presence through partnerships with renowned institutions such as the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Palace Museum in Beijing, fostering cross-cultural exchange and scholarly collaboration. These partnerships enable the museum to host world-class exhibitions and joint research initiatives, broadening public access to significant global artworks. Additionally, HKMOA actively collaborates with local universities and arts organizations, offering educational programs, artist residencies, and research opportunities that contribute to Hong Kong’s evolving cultural landscape.

## Controversies

The HKMOA has faced criticism regarding its curatorial independence and governmental oversight. Some scholars argue that the museum’s exhibitions are influenced by political sensitivities, limiting the display of certain contemporary artworks that may be considered controversial. Additionally, concerns have been raised over the prioritization of international collaborations over local artists, potentially overshadowing Hong Kong’s unique artistic identity Funding allocation has also sparked debate, with critics highlighting the imbalance between support for historical collections versus contemporary artistic innovation. These issues have led to discussions on the future direction of HKMOA and its role in representing Hong Kong’s evolving cultural landscape.

### Criticism

According to Vennes Cheng’s article, The Misrepresentation of Hong Kongness: The Revamped Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA) does not significantly reflect Hong Kong's evolving socio-political identity following its renovation from 2015 to 2019. Cheng argues that despite the renovation coinciding with political movements such as the Umbrella Movement (2014) and the Anti-China Extradition Movement (2019), the museum continues to present narratives that portray Hong Kong as a "fishing village turned financial hub" under the theme of "East meets West." Cheng suggests that museums play a role in shaping identity, but the HKMoA does not extensively address the impact of recent political activism, instead focusing on depoliticized and conventional representations. Exhibitions such as Ordinary to Extraordinary: Stories of the Museum and Classics Remix: The Hong Kong Viewpoint primarily emphasize traditional cultural symbols and colonial-era artworks rather than contemporary socio-political realities. While the museum features contemporary artists, Cheng argues that its curatorial approach diminishes the intended impact of certain works, such as performance-based pieces by Frog King, due to presentation choices. Cheng suggests that rather than reinterpreting Hong Kong’s history in response to its changing identity, the museum continues to emphasize long-standing themes, missing an opportunity to engage with contemporary perspectives on Hong Kongness.

## Public perception

The study Reference Effects and Customer Engagement in a Museum Visit by Noel Yee Man Siu, Tracy Junfeng Zhang, and Ho Yan Kwan analyzes the factors influencing visitor satisfaction at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA), with a focus on customer engagement and reference effects, particularly disconfirmation and self-identity. The research integrates Expectancy-Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) to identify these two factors as key mediators in the relationship between museum experience and satisfaction. Based on a survey of 465 visitors, the study finds that both knowledge-based and entertainment-based experiences significantly affect visitor satisfaction. Cognitive engagement was observed to reduce the impact of knowledge experience on disconfirmation and self-identity, whereas affective engagement increased the effect of knowledge experience while reducing the perceived role of entertainment. The findings indicate that museums may benefit from developing promotional strategies that establish psychological connections with visitors and implementing engagement techniques that balance information and entertainment. The study contributes to research on cultural consumption by examining how different dimensions of engagement influence museum experiences and suggests that effective museum management involves curating experiences that align with visitor expectations while preventing information overload.

## Satellites and offshoots

HKMOA has expanded its reach through satellite spaces and collaborative offshoots that extend its influence beyond its main location. The museum has partnered with various cultural institutions in Hong Kong, including the Oil Street Art Space (Oi!), which focuses on contemporary experimental art, and the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, which often co-hosts thematic exhibitions. Additionally, HKMOA has developed traveling exhibitions that tour different parts of Hong Kong and abroad, ensuring greater accessibility to its collections. Educational outreach initiatives have also led to partnerships with universities and independent galleries, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to art appreciation and curation. These offshoots contribute to HKMOA’s role as a dynamic institution that continues to engage with diverse audiences while maintaining its curatorial excellence.

## Transportation

The museum is within walking distance of both East Tsim Sha Tsui station and Tsim Sha Tsui station of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR). It is even closer to the Tsim Sha Tsui Ferry Pier, with services to Wan Chai and Central.

## Location and accessibility

The museum is located at 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It is accessible via the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station and Star Ferry. Visitors can also enjoy nearby attractions such as the Avenue of Stars and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.