懷故創新:香港藝術史研究的歷史與現狀

Abstract

As for the context of the rise and development of the art history of Hong Kong, it is closely related to the specific space and time. Spatially, sitting back to Mainland China, its Pearl River estuary, the best transportation route is adjacent to the South China Sea to the outside, and it has an advantage, connected to the world. Also, thanks to this geographic advantage, it had been developed into one of the British territories overseas for about 100 years since the U.K. occupied Hong Kong Island in the early 19th century, was returned to China in 1997 and became a special administrative region. These are unusual histories, too. The different governing policies between the Chinese and British governments and a trial of strength between the two countries on the issue of Hong Kong historically had profound impacts on Hong Kong society. Hong Kong’s unique geographic location and historical background related studies of art history to mainland China and world topography deeply and subtly. The department that provided research on art history for the first time in Hong Kong was opened at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The establishment of the Chinese University of Hong Kong broke the ironclad rule that had permitted only one higher education institute in British territories overseas and started research on art history in Hong Kong, centering around ancient Chinese culture and art intending to spread traditional Chinese culture, e.g. Giving classes in Chinese. The department that has been developed for nearly half a century now develops a new exploration, emphasizing the identity of the mainland and its cultural identity with a cultural attitude to go to the world, relying on the mainland. Thus, the Chinese University of Hong Kong Department of Fine Arts and the Chinese University of Hong Kong Art Museum understood the unique tradition and strong point of research on art history in Hong Kong and presented advanced pluralistic orientation and rich achievements based on that, conducting analysis in connection with local universities, museums, and art institutions and systematically introducing the main process in which research on art history in Hong Kong continued from early academic years to a mature stage.