Scents from the past waft through Hong Kong show on Chinese fragrance culture

Lady Reclining on a Cage over a Censer by Chen Hongshu is one of two grade-one Chinese national treasures featured in the exhibition. Photo: Hong Kong Museum of Art

• Fragrance of Time at the Hong Kong Museum of Art explores the use of fragrances in China through 150-plus exhibits - and whiffs of scents

In ancient China, fragrances were not just for an extra spritz of glamour; royal temples burned incense as a sacred offering in religious rituals, lovers gifted each other aromatic embroidered purses for good fortune, and scholars took whiffs of agarwood for literary inspiration.

While most of these scents can only be imagined today, the Hong Kong Museum of Art and Shanghai Museum have done their best to retrace the diversity of Chinese fragrance culture in their co-curated exhibition "Fragrance of Time - In Search of Chinese Art of Scent".

Sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Shanghai Museum and Museum of Art have pulled together 109 and 51 sets of scent materials respectively. They show how deeply fragrances have been rooted in the religious, imperial, literary and artistic facets of Chinese culture.

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"In contemporary life, fragrance remains an indispensable part of our interactions. The art of scent goes hand in hand with the fundamental aspects of Chinese culture," says Chen Jie, deputy director of the Shanghai Museum.

The exhibition is divided into four sections - Botanical Aroma, Intimate Scents, Heavenly Fragrances and Worldly Perfumes.

Displays of ceramics, bronzes, lacquerware, bamboo carvings, and calligraphy help visualise the usage and aesthetics of Chinese scent from the Neolithic period to the late Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

The most famous pieces on show are two grade one national treasures from the Shanghai Museum, showing in Hong Kong for the first time: Lady reclining on a cage over a censer by Chen Hongshou, a painter of the Ming dynasty; and a gold-painted stone Buddha dating back to the Southern Liang dynasty (502-557).

The exhibition also features 13 grade two national treasures.

Another highlight is a hanging censer from the Qing dynasty made of light green jadeite. The carving of each interlocking ring and detailed floral ornamentation are reflective of a high level of craftsmanship.

A carved red lacquer incense box in the form of the imperial palace, which also dates to the Qing dynasty, expertly balances delicacy and grandeur.

It may be difficult to recall the scents that once emanated from centuries-old censers and incense burners. Aromatic scent corners have therefore been placed throughout the exhibition, where natural floral and herbal scents are emitted for a more immersive experience.

"The exhibition does not just appeal to the sense of sight, but also the sense of smell," says Maria Mok, director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art. "Through an aromatic experience, visitors can learn about Chinese history through scent [ ...] We hope to use this to bring new layers and perspectives to artistic appreciation."

Hong Kong, which literally translates to "Fragrant Harbour", once had a vibrant trade in fragrances. Hong Kong artists Max Cheng Chi-kin, Cherie Cheuk Ka-wai and So Wing-po, re-examine this history in interactive installations.

Cheng's A Story of Time Through Scents features nearly 50 herbs and other materials meant to evoke the scents of dawn, noon and dusk. These fragrances are dispersed through wave-shaped diffusers, and visitors can take away a sample of their favourite scents.

Cheng says: "This serves as an education corner for visitors to learn about the raw materials that make up the different fragrances featured in this exhibition."

This exhibition is part of "City in Focus: Shanghai", staged for the inaugural Chinese Culture Festival, and Shanghai Culture Week.

"Fragrance of Time: In Search of Chinese Art of Scent", The Special Gallery, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Monday to Wednesday and Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday to Sunday and public holidays 10am-9pm, closed on Thursdays. Ends October 16.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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