The Magnificent Palace - Imperial Architecture of the Forbidden City

The LEGO® model - designed by Andy Hung - is inspired by the architecture of the Forbidden City
The exhibition showcases some 100 exhibits including ancient building components

As 2015 marked the 90th anniversary of the Palace Museum, the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) co-presents with the Palace Museum, with the support of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Macao Foundation, Macao Government Tourism Office and Macao Daily News, a grand exhibition entitled The Magnificent Palace - Imperial Architecture of the Forbidden City, featuring cultural relics celebrating the beautiful and sophisticated architecture of ancient China. Showcasing nearly 100 exhibits, including 3D models, and ancient building components such as dougong brackets, glazed pieces, openwork screens, tablets and couplets, with corresponding references in pictures or video, the event illustrates a variety of artistic features of ancient Chinese architecture with rich cultural connotations.

The construction of the Forbidden City began in 1406 AD, in the 4th year of the Yongle period, in the Ming Dynasty. Incessant rebuilding and adding followed particularly in the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and in the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. The Forbidden City was influenced by the style of palace buildings of previous dynasties, with planning and layout following the traditional ritual regulations observed by all emperors, as well as ancient fengshui theory. The Forbidden City was designed to be the centre of the ancient city of Beijing, thus declaring its own importance.

Shown in four themed sections - namely, Glazed Glamour, A Miniature Universe, 'Gilded Windows, Embroidered Doors', and Literary Charms - the exhibition highlights the magnificent architecture of the Forbidden City from the perspective of general planning, design of individual structures, and colours of the buildings. Complemented by relevant illustrations or videos, this cultural feast vividly presents a comprehensive overview of the palaces' architectural features and styles.

Since 1999, MAM has been co-operating with the Palace Museum, presenting every year a grand exhibition featuring rare and valuable imperial relics, with this, the seventeenth exhibition, running from now to 13th March. The admission fee is MOP5 (Free on Sundays and Public Holiday, closed on Mondays) and there are guided appreciation and series activities.

For more information on the exhibition, please visit the MAM website:
www.mam.gov.mo/e/exhibition/1/detail/f1472cf8-71a6-4874-8d90-d06aa054bcef.


The Magnificent Palace - A Series of Activities

In order to enable the public to appreciate the exhibition from multiple perspectives, MAM has organized a series of complementary activities, including themed guided appreciation, demonstration of ancient construction techniques, LEGO® workshops, seminars hosted by experts from the Palace Museum, as well as a quiz offering prizes.

MAM has invited the first-ever Greater China LEGO® Certified Professional, Andy Hung, to design a small LEGO® model themed on the architecture of the Forbidden City especially for the workshop in conjunction with the exhibition The Magnificent Palace - Imperial Architecture of the Forbidden City. It offers participants a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy of building a LEGO® replica of architectural structure guided by a true professional. The last two free-admission workshop sessions start at 2:45pm and 3:45pm on 21st February on the Ground floor of MAM, with each session lasting one hour.

The theme of 'Painted Decorations on the Ceiling' in the demonstration of the ancient construction techniques will be held from 11th to 13th March (10:30am to 12:30pm, one session per day) on the 4th floor of MAM, with admission free. In addition, the last seminar 'On the Production, Development and Transformation of Tablets in Qing Imperial Buildings' will be held on 13th March from 3:00pm to 5:30pm on the 1st floor of MAM, and is also free of charge.

For activity registration and details, please visit:
www.mam.gov.mo/e/exhibition/1/detail/f1472cf8-71a6-4874-8d90-d06aa054bcef.