The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Treasures of the Mughal Court from the Victoria and Albert Museum

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to fostering arts and culture to enhance the lives of the people in Hong Kong. We proudly support the establishment of the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), which offers special opportunities to explore national treasures. We also support some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes by HKPM in 2023 – 2032, highlighting artistic and cultural expressions from both China and beyond. 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Treasures of the Mughal Court from the Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition is the fourth major annual exhibition we have supported. Jointly organised by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, and HKPM, this exhibition is solely sponsored by the Club. It marks the first major collaboration between the organisers, and is Hong Kong’s first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to Mughal art.

Between the 1560s and 1660s, the Mughal dynasty (1526 – 1857) in South Asia experienced its “golden age” as one of the world’s most powerful imperial families at the time. This century witnessed the reigns of three remarkable emperors: Akbar (r. 1556 – 1605), his son Jahangir (r. 1605 – 1627), and his grandson Shah Jahan (r. 1628 – 1658). This exhibition showcases the extraordinary artistic achievements of the Mughal dynasty, focusing on the roles of the three emperors in shaping and developing the rich and diverse artistic traditions of the court, where cultural elements from South Asia, China, Iran, Europe and beyond converged. 

The exhibition presents approximately 100 spectacular loans from the V&A collection, supported by loans from Kuwait, the UK, Hong Kong, and other international collections, ranging from paintings to jewellery, architectural fragments, weaponry, textiles and ceramics.  

It also incorporates multimedia and interactive elements, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the world of the Taj Mahal, explore the tastes and personalities of the Mughal emperors and closely examine exquisite court miniature paintings. Tactile stations provide hands-on insight into the materials and craftsmanship techniques employed by Mughal artisans. 

We are committed to building an inclusive, creative and vibrant Hong Kong, where everyone can enjoy the benefits offered by cultural experiences and an improved quality of life through arts.