WHAT
The exhibition features ceramics and works of art from the collection of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. As its name suggests, the items presented are selected not only because they are exquisitely-made, but because they are decorated with stunning eye-catching colours. Besides reflecting the personal taste of their owners back in the ancient times, the exhibition provides a context for their designs, which was influenced by religious beliefs, rules and etiquette, and which shaped the aesthetic trend of the times.

WHY
Once used as daily wares, artefacts often feature colours and patterns comparable in style and beauty to the modern designs of today. In ancient China, a scheme of ‘five prime colours’ was commonly adopted, consisting of blue, red, yellow, white and black, which featured prominently in everyday life. The exhibition not only allows visitors to appreciate the inherent beauty of the objects on view, but also provides a deeper understanding of their original purpose and use.