Modern Artworks

An installation at Hong Kong Heritage Museum.

Rating: 3.5/5

For history lovers and people who adore France, the Virtually Versailles exhibit can be your escape for the day. It helps you get away from the monotony of everyday life and have a delicate taste of French culture. Held at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum and starting in April, this exhibition introduces the Versailles Palace to the Hong Kong audience, by providing a glimpse into its vastness and mysterious past. The Palace of Versailles and the French May Arts Festival have co-organised it to celebrate and promote the multiple vibrant facets of France. 

The exhibition serves its purpose of presenting the history of Versailles well. It starts by leading the audience into a series of events that contributed to the construction of the palace. Then, the audience are guided by texts on whiteboards and videos displaying the exterior and interior of Versailles. I learned about the significant changes to its structure, the historical figures who instigated these changes, and the roles that Versailles played throughout French history. 

The majestic palace also manifests in its cultural richness and numerous precious collections. Through the use of technology, the exhibition showcases artworks stored in Versailles in digital formats. The palace houses a diverse array of royal art, including portraits of kings and queens as well as intricate tapestries. The essence of the exhibition is to let the audience see and feel the fineness of French art. While the digital displays demonstrate the breadth of art collections in Versailles, they could hardly capture their forms and complexity. 

You should make sure not to miss the immersive installations, a major exhibition highlight. One section incorporates digital elements into interactive displays of the palace. For instance, participants can enjoy a two-minute bicycle ride in one of the palace’s gardens projected on a 180-degree screen. If cycling in the French-style garden is not your thing, you can also roam around the fancy ballrooms and famous halls inside the palace with VR goggles. Unfortunately, it was a busy day, so I didn’t line up for a try. 

Later, I discovered my favourite part of the exhibition, a mini cinema. It is a space with large screens on two walls. One shows videos of the Versailles from afar, and another one shows close shots of its features. It feels like being in the palace. It tickles your senses by simultaneously showing you a spectacular view of Versailles and pieces of details. It whetted my appetite and sparked my desire to see the palace one day. 

While the exhibition arouses my interest in visiting the palace and experiencing it firsthand, it is nonetheless still good enough and equally enjoyable for anyone who wants a light touch of Versailles. The exhibition continues throughout June.