The Hong Kong Maritime Museum (HKMM) announces the opening of Hong Kong’s Maritime Miracle: The Story of our City since 1945, running from 24 June to 30 October 2022. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the major sponsor of the exhibition. Coinciding with the 25thanniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR, the special exhibition will explore Hong Kong’s miraculous transformation from the ashes of World War II into a global maritime hub through 25 iconic exhibits. The exhibition leverages art and technology, and features a series of five newly produced short movies directed by award-winning filmmaker Heiward Mak. Through a pioneering fusion of history, art and science, the museum is committed to providing an all-round experience for the public to learn and communicate knowledge of maritime history and heritage.
Arranged chronologically, the exhibition will comprise five phases of the post-war maritime history: “Regeneration (1945-1948)”, “Back in Business (1949-1970)”, “The High Growth Years (1960s-1980s)”, “The Container Changed Everything (1972-present)”, and “The Future”. Starting with the display of a World War II bomb excavated in Happy Valley, the exhibition will invite audiences on a journey from the destruction to the rebirth of the city, made possible by the resilience of the maritime and Hong Kong communities.
Highlighted exhibits include:
‘Made in Hong Kong’ products, artefacts, personal memorabilia and historical photography on seafarers, Star Ferry, dockyards, and container terminals;
the display of a Star Ferry turnstile that had been used as a faregate in the 20th century;
the oil painting of Seawise Giant (later renamed Jahre Viking), the world’s largest ship ever built that cemented the city’s role as the centre of ship management operations;
an outdoor display of the only remaining ‘Dai Fei’ (speedboat) in existence, captured by the Hong Kong Marine Police and used for training purposes until the end of 2020; and
the silver medal won by swimmer Siobhán Bernadette Haughey from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Delivering a new immersive experience through the fusion of art and technology, visitors will be guided through the exhibition by a fictional character named Carmen So featured in a series of five short movies by Hong Kong-based filmmaker Heiward Mak, starring Yatho Wong, Alma Kwok, Nancy Kwai, Sing Lam, Miu Shan Tai and Mr. Jan as the leads. Through the eyes of the fictional Hongkonger in her twenties, the movies weave stories of love and family with the maritime developments in the city and highlight our everyday connections with the maritime world.
Moreover, the exhibition will feature interactive elements, including a motion-sensing game based on the Shikumisen finance system which was used by shipowners during the post-war period and an interactive projection wall about green shipping, as well as a virtual reality experience to view and locate bombs in Hong Kong during the World War II.
Exhibition Dates
24 June – 30 October 2022
Venue
Special Exhibitions and Events Gallery, Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Central Pier 8