An exhibition where you can see Monet’s Water Lilies in person: Hong Kong Museum of Art’s new “Gardens: Artistic Delights in Chinese and Foreign Cultures” is not to be missed
How moving would it be to see Monet’s Water Lilies up close in person!
Hong Kong Museum of Art is about to unveil a major new exhibition with an extraordinary lineup. For the first time, it brings together more than 100 treasures from institutions including the Palace of Versailles and the Art Institute of Chicago. With Monet’s Water Lilies and original works by Zhang Daqian on view, it’s a must-visit cultural destination this spring and summer.
This exhibition, titled “Gardens: Artistic Delights in Chinese and Foreign Cultures,” is a major event for Hong Kong’s arts scene. Most remarkable of all, it brings together collections from four world-class museums for the first time. Along with works from the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Palace Museum, more than 100 outstanding exhibits have been loaned from France’s Palace of Versailles and the Art Institute of Chicago. From delicate paintings, lacquerware, and sculptures to ceramics and glass art, seeing them all together feels like traveling the world in an instant and offers a glimpse of the lavish tastes of ancient emperors and Western aristocrats.
Exhibition highlights: Monet’s Water Lilies and major works by Zhang Daqian on view together
The most exciting highlights are undoubtedly these original works by master artists. The exhibition list includes Claude Monet and Zhang Daqian. Monet’s renowned oil paintings Water Lilies and Water Lily Pond are on view, offering an up-close look at the romance of light and shadow. You can also admire Zhang Daqian’s sweeping Eight Virtues Garden: Path of Welcome and Splashed-Color Landscape. Works by masters including Wen Zhengming, Ju Chao, and Ju Lian are also featured, bringing Chinese and Western artists’ visions of their own gardens to life.
Worried an art exhibition might be a little dull? There’s no need to be. The exhibition incorporates playful technology, bringing the ancient literati tradition of the Orchid Pavilion Gathering to the venue. Interactive installations let you experience virtual wine cups and take in the striking sight of flowers in full bloom. Even more fun, the exhibition has enlisted “super VIPs” as audio guides: Emperor Qianlong, France’s Sun King Louis XIV, and even Monet and Zhang Daqian will share the stories behind their own gardens through audio guides and interactive installations.
Exhibition hours and ticket details
Exhibition venue Special Exhibition Gallery, 2/F, Hong Kong Museum of Art, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Dates April 24, 2026 to July 29, 2026
Opening hours Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; weekends, 10:00 AM-9:00 PM (closed Thursdays)
If you’re still not ready to leave after the exhibition, don’t forget to pick up a limited-edition exhibition booklet. It comes with a cute DIY craft kit that lets you get creative: Choose your favorite elements online and design your own ideal garden. From Emperor Qianlong’s favorite pastimes of music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea to the garden aesthetics of Western aristocrats, the exhibition will leave you with plenty of inspiration to take home. This weekend, it’s decided.
Beyond this article, here are a few recent stories worth checking out:
- A tearjerker without playing the victim: 3 reasons why “My Remaining Love” is the most moving dating show of the year
- Ice cream lovers, take note: TEEMTONEfai marks its 10th anniversary with a new physical store on Upper Lascar Row, and the retro golden dragon decor is super photogenic
- Ambiguity leaves you feeling wronged: from cookie-jarring to breadcrumbing, the 5 big dating app trends of 2026 revealed
