Experience Multimedia Immersive Experience of "Mona Lisa" at Hong Kong Heritage Museum Starting Tomorrow

Hong Kong Heritage Museum offers multimedia immersive experience of "Mona Lisa" and showcases Renaissance treasures

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1) until July 27. Offering visitors a dual experience for one exhibition - taking audiences on a journey through time and exploring the famous "Mona Lisa" painting, as well as featuring art treasures from various French and Italian cultural institutions, which reveal the glorious age of the Renaissance.

Addressing the opening ceremony held today (April 30), the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, remarked that this exhibition is undoubtedly a highlight of this year's French May Arts Festival. Through an immersive digital journey, complemented by outstanding artworks on loan from exceptional museums and art institutions, visitors can step inside the frame and experience new life from classical heritage. By bringing "Mona Lisa" to visitors' doorsteps, the exhibition offers the community and visitors a unique opportunity to engage with art in a way that is interactive, educational, and deeply moving.

Other officiating guests included the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe; Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Nicholas Hunsworth; Co-chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival Ms Pansy Ho; the Vice President of the Grand Palais Immersif, Mr Vincent Larnicol; the Chief Curator of Italian Painting of the Sixteenth Century of the Musée du Louvre, Mr Vincent Delieuvin; the Curator and Art Historian of the Musée national de la Renaissance, Dr Matteo Gianeselli; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam.

Mona Lisa "narrates" the stories behind her mysterious smile

The first section of the exhibition "Meet Mona Lisa", is centred on Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the "Mona Lisa". The Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif specially created a multimedia immersive experience for Hong Kong. Composing the extraordinary journey of this portrait spanning more than 500years into six chapters, Mona Lisa herself narrates the captivating stories behind that mysterious smile of hers, in a monologue.

Leonardo da Vinci's precious original manuscripts showcase the captivating charm of the Renaissance

The second section "Portraying the Renaissance" highlights a selection of Renaissance art treasures from several renowned museums and cultural institutions, including the Musée national de la Renaissance and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, in diverse forms of art such as paintings, prints, sculptures, decorative art, and everyday objects. Most exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including four precious Leonardo da Vinci manuscripts, and works by other artists of the Renaissance period, for example, "The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist" by Luca Penni, "The Crucifixion" by Noël Bellemare, and Michelangelo Buonarroti's "The Rebellious Slave" (plaster reproduction cast using moulds).

Exhibits from the HKHM collection and paintings by Chinese Mainland artist Xu Lei that echo Renaissance art are also on display, enabling a dialogue across time and space and highlighting the influence of this cultural movement that originated in 14th century Europe. Furthermore, the museum lobby features a giant 5-metre animated installation that blends Hong Kong-style neon elements with classic art symbols to create a unique Hong Kong version of the "Mona Lisa".

A series of talks, film screenings, public guided tours and tactile experience workshops will be held during the exhibition, allowing visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the "Mona Lisa" and the captivating charm of Renaissance art. The first talk will be held on May 1 at 3pm at the Theatre at the HKHM. The speaker, Mr Delieuvin, will visit Hong Kong to share his insights on "Why 'Mona Lisa'? Discover What's So Special About the Most Famous Painting in the World".

To ensure a better visiting experience, crowd control measures for the exhibition will be implemented with flexibility. In the event of overcrowding, timed admission ticketing may be arranged. Visitors are advised to follow on-site notices and to stay updated through the HKHM's official website, Instagram or Visit HKMuseums on Xiaohongshu.

The exhibition will be held at Thematic Galleries 3, 4 and 5, 1/F of the HKHM. Admission is free. The exhibition is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the French May Arts Festival, jointly organised by the HKHM and the French May Arts Festival. The title sponsor is the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, with support from the Consulate General of France in Hong Kong. For details of the exhibition and activities, please visit hk.heritage.museum/en/exhibitions/monalisa2026.html.

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "Leonardo da Vinci Dwelling in Huang Gongwang's Mountains" by Mainland artist Xu Lei. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "Firenze Breakfast with Omega 3 Egg" by Holly Lee. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows four Leonardo da Vinci manuscripts of the human body and faces, which is on display in Hong Kong for the first time. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "The Crucifixion" by Noël Bellemare. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist" by Luca Penni on the left, and the "Venus and Cupid" by Jacob de Backer on the right. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows an interactive installation of the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows an interactive installation of the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the immersive multimedia display of the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows the immersive multimedia display of the "Meet Mona Lisa" section. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows officiating guests touring the exhibition. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Hong Kong Heritage Museum is staging "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition starting from tomorrow (May 1). Photo shows guests at the giant 5-metre animated installation at the museum lobby. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The opening ceremony of "The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance" exhibition was held today (April 30) at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM). Photo shows officiating guests the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law (centre); the Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, Mrs Christile Drulhe (fourth left); Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Nicholas Hunsworth (fourth right); Co-chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival Ms Pansy Ho (third left); the Vice President of the Grand Palais Immersif, Mr Vincent Larnicol (third right); the Chief Curator of Italian Painting of the Sixteenth Century of the Musée du Louvre, Mr Vincent Delieuvin (second left); the Curator and Art Historian of the Musée national de la Renaissance, Dr Matteo Gianeselli (second right); the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan (first left); and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Mr Brian Lam (first right). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs teams up with Mainland and Macao Customs to combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipment activities

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from April 13 to April 24, during which inspections of goods across the three places and destined for countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia were stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 23 cases and seized about 46 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones, bags, clothing, footwear and electronic products, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million.

Through intelligence analysis and detailed investigations, Hong Kong Customs in the operation detected 21 related cases at a number of local express couriers and logistics companies.

Meanwhile, Customs officers detected two cases at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port, seizing a batch of suspected counterfeit goods from two incoming lorries. Two male lorry drivers, aged 48 and 52, were arrested. An investigation is ongoing. The two arrestees have been released on bail pending further investigation.

Hong Kong Customs will continue to work closely with the Mainland Customs, Macao Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to vigorously combat cross-boundary counterfeit goods transshipping activities through intelligence exchanges and joint enforcement actions.

Under the Trade Descriptions Ordinance, any person who imports or exports any goods to which a forged trademark is applied commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Members of the public may report any suspected counterfeiting activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 80 80 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs conducted an enforcement operation with the Mainland and Macao Customs from April 13 to April 24, during which inspections of goods across the three places and destined for countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia were stepped up, with a view to combating cross-boundary and transshipment counterfeiting activities. During the operation, Hong Kong Customs detected 23 cases and seized about 46 000 suspected counterfeit goods, including watches, mobile phones, bags, clothing, footwear and electronic products etc, with a total estimated market value of about $16 million. Photo shows the suspected counterfeit goods seized. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases