Roaring Guardians: The Mari-Cha Lion with Asian Traditional and Contemporary Art

Lions have been a symbol of courage, majesty and protection across centuries and regions. This exhibition explores the religious, imperial and vernacular significance of the lion symbol by presenting the remarkable Mari-Cha Lion, a rare mid-11th to mid-12th century South Italian bronze sculpture bearing Arabic decorations, on public view in Hong Kong for the first time, alongside a selection of Asian objects from the Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection, local museums and other private collections. Contemporary artworks by seven Asian artists— Khadim Ali, Sher Ali, Ho Tzu Nyen, Ranbir Kaleka, Kwan Sheung Chi, Vũ Dân Tân and Samson Young — will also be displayed to illustrate how the lion iconography is reinvented today. This exhibition highlights the malleability and endurance of the lion as a powerful cultural symbol.

This exhibition is led by in-house curator Dominique Chan and Assistant Curator Joyce Hei-ting Wong from Asia Society Hong Kong Center, with guest curator for the Mari-Cha Lion, Richard Camber, an independent scholar on medieval art.

Promotional Videos:

Sponsor: