Hong Kong Art Museum receives over 340 bamboo carvings from Dr Ho Mang Chek
Hong Kong's Deputy Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism spoke at the opening of a donation exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Dr Ho Mang Chek donated over 340 pieces from his 'Huae Jiaohui Lou' collection, including significant bamboo carvings, marking the largest such donation to a Hon
The Deputy Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hong Kong attended the opening ceremony and donation ceremony of the 'Between Bamboo and Ink – Huae Jiaohui Lou Collection Donation Exhibition' at the Hong Kong Museum of Art on 29 October 2026. During the event, Dr Ho Mang Chek donated more than 340 items from his 'Huae Jiaohui Lou' collection.
The donated items include bamboo carvings, wood carvings, paintings, calligraphy, rubbings and textiles. The bamboo carvings are the largest such collection donated to a Hong Kong museum in recent years. Dr Ho began building his private collection in 1997, spanning nearly three decades. Unlike typical collectors, he has not only gathered rare items but also studied bamboo carving craftsmanship, designing and supervising the production of bamboo and wood artworks himself.
Dr Ho has collaborated with calligraphers, painters, bamboo carvers and wood carvers to create refined pieces, promoting bamboo carving techniques and Chinese art in a distinctive way. Bamboo, symbolising the noble character of a gentleman in Chinese culture, has been celebrated in poetry and painting for centuries. Bamboo carving is now listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item, reflecting the excellence of traditional craftsmanship and literati aesthetics.
The Hong Kong SAR Government has been working to strengthen the city's role as a centre for cultural and artistic exchange between China and the world. Since the museum's renovation and reopening in 2019, it has received more than 4,700 donations, building a collection of over 20,000 items. In terms of bamboo carvings, the museum first received 200 pieces from Dr Yip Yee in 1985. Dr Ho's donation now complements that collection, filling a gap in modern bamboo carving research.
The Deputy Secretary expressed sincere gratitude to Dr Ho for his dedication to promoting Chinese culture and art, his efforts to preserve bamboo carving techniques, and his generosity in donating his collection for public benefit.
