Jockey Club supports French May’s immersive Mona Lisa exhibition

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has been delighted to support the French May Arts Festival for 15 consecutive years, including this year’s opening programme – The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance. Focusing on the iconic Italian Renaissance painting, the Mona Lisa, the exhibition explores the creative spirit and aesthetic ideas of the Renaissance through a multi-media journey centred on this celebrated masterpiece. The narrative is further enriched by art treasures from leading European institutions. The exhibition will be on view at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum from 1 May to 27 July.

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

The opening ceremony for the exhibition was held today (30 April). Officiating guests included Rosanna Law, HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Manda Chan, HKSAR Government Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Nicholas Hunsworth, Club Steward; Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau, and other guests.

Rosanna Law, HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (centre); Manda Chan, HKSAR Government Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (1st left); Nicholas Hunsworth, Club Steward (4th right); Christile Drulhe, Consul General of France in Hong Kong and Macau (4th left); Pansy Ho, Co-Chairman of the Board of French May Arts Festival (3rd left); Vincent Larnicol, Vice President of Grand Palais Immersif (3rd right); Vincent Delieuvin, Chief Curator of Italian Painting of the Sixteenth Century of Musée du Louvre (2nd left); Dr Matteo Gianeselli, Curator and Art Historian of Musee de la Renaissance (2nd right); Brian Lam, Museum Director of Hong Kong Heritage Museum (1st right) and other guests at the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

Speaking at the ceremony, Club Steward Nicholas Hunsworth said the exhibition offers an unprecedented hybrid experience, blending centuries-old legacy with immersive technology, and culminating with the vision of Asian artists as a bridge between East and West. The Club’s support for the exhibition, together with its role as the exclusive sponsor of The Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programmes, reflects its commitment to nurturing talent, fostering arts appreciation and supporting cultural development in Hong Kong. It also aligns with the Central Government’s vision of developing Hong Kong into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as outlined in the National 15th Five-Year Plan.

Club Steward Nicholas Hunsworth delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition is a multi-media showcase that invites visitors to appreciate the Mona Lisa from a new perspective. Specially created for Hong Kong by the Musée du Louvre and the Grand Palais Immersif, the exhibition is narrated by the Mona Lisa herself through a monologue that reveals the captivating stories behind her mysterious smile. Selected treasures from the Musée National de la Renaissance of France, Pinacoteca Ambrosiana of Italy and Ateliers d’art Grand Palais RMN are also featured. Most of the exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including four original sketches and notes by Leonardo da Vinci alongside masterpieces from the Renaissance, including sculptures, paintings, drawings and engravings.

Selected exhibits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

In addition, the exhibition offers interactive multimedia displays that introduce Leonardo's painting techniques, playful games, as well as an immersive photo booth that allows visitors to step into the world of the Mona Lisa. These elements guide audiences to explore and appreciate the iconic Mona Lisa from new perspectives, while delving into the vision and spirit of innovation that defined the Renaissance. The exhibition also features three items from the collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, along with paintings by Chinese Mainland artist Xu Lei, presenting Asian artistic perspectives while illustrating the influence of 14th‑century European culture, thereby creating a narrative that bridges East and West. For further details please visit: https://hk.heritage.museum/en/exhibitions/monalisa2026.html

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

The Club’s Charities Trust is also supporting other programmes in the French May Arts Festival under the theme of “Re/naissance”, including Rendezvous @ Tai Kwun, which features Voûte, an outdoor performance in the Parade Ground by Cirque du Corbak of CNAC, France’s National Center for Circus Arts, which blends music, visual art and technology. In addition, a four-day artist-in-residence programme will promote cultural exchange and collaboration between French and local performers.

Selected exhibits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

Selected exhibits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

In addition, the long-established The Jockey Club Community Outreach and Arts Education Programmes will continue to provide enriching educational and outreach activities including guided tours, workshops, talks and screenings. As every year, the Club will provide support for accessibility services to make the festival more accessible to all.

Selected exhibits at The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

The Club’s support for the French May Arts Festival, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong Kong.

Guests tour The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Meet Mona Lisa & Portraying the Renaissance exhibition.

Penfold Park - built and managed by The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club) – has recently been upgraded to enhance the visitor experience. The opening ceremony of Pony World, one of its new community facilities, was held today (5 June) as part of the Club’s Year of the Horse Campaign. The facility offers an interactive equestrian experience that combines education and entertainment.

Guests tour the newly constructed facilitates at the Penfold Park including its park office.

Officiating guests at the ceremony included Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Leonie Lee, District Officer (Sha Tin).

Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2nd left,); Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (middle); Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (2nd right); and Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (1st left); join Leonie Lee, District Officer (Sha Tin) (1st right) to officiate at the opening ceremony of Pony World.

Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, noted that the Jockey Club has launched a series of Year of the Horse activities aligned with the policy areas of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau. Among them, the opening of Pony World seeks to cultivate children’s interest in equestrian sports and raise awareness of animal care through a range of interactive experiences, appealing to both local residents and tourists while promoting the development of equestrian sports. She expressed her sincere thanks to the Club for delivering this educational and recreational facility for the public’s enjoyment.

Guests tour Pony World.

Guests tour Pony World.

Guests tour Pony World.

Officiating at the event, Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the Club worked closely with the Government on Sha Tin’s large-scale land reclamation and new town development, dating back to the 1970s, including the establishment of Sha Tin Racecourse and Penfold Park. The latter served as one of the venues for the equestrian events of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, marking a milestone in the development of equestrian sport in the city. He added that the completion of Pony World provides the public with an opportunity to learn about horses by combining education with entertainment. It adds a fresh dimension to Penfold Park and its legacy of community service and Olympic heritage, reflecting not only the Club’s mission to enhance facilities, but also its commitment to popularising equine sports.

Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said the completion of Pony World adds a fresh dimension to Penfold Park and its legacy of community service and Olympic heritage.

Close encounters with ponies

Occupying more than 7,700 square metres, Pony World will officially open to the public on 22 June, offering a wide range of equestrian experiences for families and school groups. Visitors can tour the stables, take photos with mini ponies, join interactive workshops and immerse themselves in hands-on learning at the activity zone. Children aged 3 to 14 can also enjoy pony rides. These close encounters aim to deepen the public’s understanding of horses and foster an interest in equestrian activities. Pony World is expected to serve around 17,000 visitors a year. (Please refer to the attachment for activity details).

Guests tour Pony World.

Children aged 3 to 14 can enjoy pony rides.

Children aged 3 to 14 can enjoy pony rides.

Visitors can learn about pony behaviour, care and their unique personalities from professional equestrian coaches in the interactive pony classroom.

The Penfold Park renovation and enhancement work has been underway since 2023. The first two phases have been completed, including upgrades to the park’s landscape and the introduction of various new supporting facilities, such as the Pet Zone, pathway lighting, covered seating areas, a newly constructed park office, toilets and Pony World. Phase Three will commence in due course, further upgrading park facilities and improving connectivity between the park and the Sha Tin Racecourse grandstands, to enhance the overall experience for visitors.

Visitors can learn about pony behaviour, care and their unique personalities from professional equestrian coaches in the interactive pony classroom.

Visitors can visit the stables for a behind-the-scenes look at where the ponies live and learn the basics of horse care.

Visitors can visit the stables for a behind-the-scenes look at where the ponies live and learn the basics of horse care.

As a world-class sports and entertainment organisation, the Club is committed to equine sports development in Hong Kong. Initiatives range across the retraining of retired racehorses to the operation of public riding schools and provision of high-level coaching and professional support to equestrian riders through the Hong Kong Equestrian Performance Plan, as well as technical and logistical support for major equestrian events. All this is made possible by the Club’s unique integrated business model of world-class racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution.

Visitors create magical moments with Shetland ponies.

Visitors create magical moments with Shetland ponies.

The activity zone offers a series of engaging activities designed to enhance the public’s understanding of ponies.

The Club’s Year of the Horse campaign is a year-long celebration of the close bond between horses and humans and the contribution racing makes to Hong Kong. It also promotes tourism as well as equine and sports development. Racing is not only the city’s favourite pastime, but also a symbol of its “can-do” spirit and stability under One Country, Two Systems. Through the success of Hong Kong horses on the international stage, the sport also brings pride to the community and global recognition to our city. None of this would be possible without the horse. For more information, please visit https://hkjc.com/YOTH.

Vivian Sum, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (4th left, front row); Lester Huang, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (middle, front row); Philip Lo, Steward of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (4th right, front row); Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing of The Hong Kong Jockey Club (3rd left, front row); and Leonie Lee, District Officer (Sha Tin) (2nd right, front row), join the Club’s Board of Management and other guests for a group photo.