{"id":237293,"date":"2026-06-18T12:11:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:11:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/?post_type=press&p=237293"},"modified":"2026-06-18T12:40:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T04:40:43","slug":"cuhk-library-presents-the-art-and-life-of-ye-lingfeng-special-exhibition-rare-manuscripts-and-letters-unveiled-for-the-first-time-free-admission","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/press\/cuhk-library-presents-the-art-and-life-of-ye-lingfeng-special-exhibition-rare-manuscripts-and-letters-unveiled-for-the-first-time-free-admission\/","title":{"rendered":"CUHK Library presents \u201cThe Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng\u201d special exhibition Rare manuscripts and letters unveiled for the first time Free Admission"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-237293","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"title_alt":"CUHK Library presents \u201cThe Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng\u201d special exhibition\r\nRare manuscripts and letters unveiled for the first time\u3000 Free admission","sub_title_alt":"","press_date":"20260618","keep":false,"details":"

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Library is presenting the \u201cForest of Books, Phoenix in Flight: The Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng\u201d exhibition from now until 31 December 2026. The exhibition features precious manuscripts, art catalogues, ex libris<\/em>, correspondence and photographs of the late renowned writer, bibliophile, and visual artist Ye Lingfeng, with some items shown to the public for the first time. Jointly presented by CUHK Library and the Hong Kong Literature Research Centre, the exhibition is open to the public free of charge.<\/p>\r\n

Ye Lingfeng (1905\u20131975) was a leading figure in modern Chinese literature and was also renowned for his distinctive visual art. During the war years, he moved from Shanghai to Hong Kong, where his deep and enduring attachment to the city inspired a prolific body of literary and artistic works, leaving a lasting impact on the development of local literature and art. The exhibition brings together treasured items generously donated or loaned by Ye\u2019s descendants, offering a comprehensive portrayal of his multiple identities as a novelist, essayist, editor, translator, collector and artist.<\/p>\r\n

The opening ceremony was recently held at the CUHK Library\u2019s Exhibition Area. Officiating guests included Mr Terry Yip<\/strong> Chiu-chun<\/strong>, representing Ye\u2019s family; Mr Hui Tik<\/strong>-c<\/strong>heung<\/strong>, a respected local author; Professor Irwin King<\/strong> Kuo-chin<\/strong>, CUHK\u2019s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education); Professor Max Tang <\/strong>Xiaobing<\/strong>, CUHK\u2019s Dean of Arts; Professor Wong Nim<\/strong>-y<\/strong>an<\/strong>, Director of the Hong Kong Literature Research Centre, CUHK; and Ms Patti Cheung Po-chun<\/strong>, Associate University Librarian of CUHK. The ceremony was attended by members of the cultural and academic communities, including Professor Ambrose King Yeo-chi<\/strong>, former vice-chancellor\u00a0of CUHK, and film director Ms Ann Hui On-wah<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

In his speech, Professor King expressed sincere gratitude to the Ye family: \u201cWe are deeply grateful to Ye Lingfeng\u2019s descendants for their generous donation, which has enabled these precious items to find a permanent home in the CUHK Library for scholars and the public to access. This exhibition allows us to trace Ye Lingfeng\u2019s journey from multiple perspectives: from Shanghai to Hong Kong, from literary creation to artistic design, and from private collecting to public cultural contribution. It reveals a life shaped by imagination, resilience and refinement, and reminds us that books and works of art are never merely objects; they are vessels of memory, thought and human connection.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

Following the ceremony, the CUHK Library held a sharing session hosted by Professor Cui Wendong <\/strong>of the\u00a0Department of Chinese Language and Literature. Speakers included Ms Yip Chung-man<\/strong>, Ye\u2019s daughter, and Mr Li Guangyu<\/strong>, a renowned expert on Ye\u2019s work. Ms Yip shared personal reflections on her father\u2019s lifelong bond with books and the journey of donating his collection of over 10,000 volumes to CUHK Library. Mr Li spoke about Ye\u2019s pioneering contributions to art and design.<\/p>\r\n

The exhibition is organised into five thematic zones. The first, \u201cReturning to His First Interest\u201d, showcases Ye Lingfeng\u2019s talent for designing book covers, illustrations and headlines after graduating from Shanghai College of Fine Arts. The second, \u201cA Timeless Trove of Books and Arts\u201d, displays his art catalogues and ex libris<\/em>. The third, \u201cTwo Cities, Two Homes\u201d, presents Ye\u2019s life in Shanghai and Hong Kong, his literature and art, and his family life. The fourth, \u201cA Persistent and Prolific Pen\u201d, exhibits his writings and original newspaper clippings of his columns. The fifth, \u201cCompanions in Literature\u201d, features photographs documenting his interactions with literary friends and with his family.<\/p>\r\n

Mr Benjamin Meunier<\/strong>, CUHK University Librarian, said: \u201cThis exhibition reflects CUHK\u2019s commitment to preserving literary heritage, advancing academic research and making important cultural collections accessible to the wider community. We hope that visitors will rediscover Ye Lingfeng and explore our rich Hong Kong Literature Collection.\u201d<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

\u201cForest of Books, Phoenix in Flight: The Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng\u201d exhibition information<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Date: From today until 31 December 2026<\/p>\r\n

Venue: Exhibition Area, G\/F, CUHK Library<\/p>\r\n

Opening hours: Please refer to the CUHK Library website<\/a><\/p>\r\n

Admission: Free<\/p>\r\n

Enquiries: 3943 8740<\/p>","show_as_achievement":false,"achievement_category":[],"show_as_clarification":false,"show_as_announcement":false,"photos":[{"photo":237298,"caption":"The officiating guests: (from left) Professor Wong Nim-yan, Director of the Hong Kong Literature Research Centre, CUHK; Mr Hui Tik-cheung, a respected local author; Mr Terry Yip Chiu-chun, representing Ye\u2019s family; Professor Irwin King Kuo-chin, CUHK\u2019s Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education); Professor Max Tang Xiaobing, CUHK\u2019s Dean of Arts and Ms Patti Cheung Po-chun, Associate University Librarian, CUHK."},{"photo":237299,"caption":"Professor Irwin King Kuo-chin delivers a speech during the Opening Ceremony."},{"photo":237300,"caption":"Professor Wong Nim-yan introduces the exhibition to Professor Irwin King Kuo-chin and Professor Ambrose King Yeo-chi, former vice-chancellor of CUHK."},{"photo":237301,"caption":"Ye family members, the curatorial team and guests, including film director Ms Ann Hui On-wah (4th right), visiting the exhibition."},{"photo":237302,"caption":"Sharing session after the ceremony. From left: Ms Yip Chung-man, daughter of Ye Lingfeng; Professor Cui Wendong, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, CUHK, and Mr Li Guangyu, a renowned expert on Ye\u2019s work."},{"photo":237303,"caption":"CUHK Library presents \u201cForest of Books, Phoenix in Flight: The Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng\u201d, showcasing precious manuscripts, art catalogues, ex libris, correspondence and photographs of the late renowned writer, bibliophile and visual artist."},{"photo":237304,"caption":"Ex libris designed by Ye Lingfeng and his art book collection (On loan from Ye\u2019s family)."},{"photo":237305,"caption":"Ye Lingfeng\u2019s diary"},{"photo":237306,"caption":"\u2018Phoenix\u2019 ex libris designed by Ye Lingfeng"},{"photo":237307,"caption":"Original rubbing of a Han dynasty portrait brick from Sichuan, from A Collection of Sichuan Bricks from Cui Zhen Pavilion (1948), collected by Ye Lingfeng."},{"photo":237308,"caption":"Ye Lingfeng at his home on Robinson Road, Hong Kong, 1950s"}],"attachments":null,"video_source":"","video_file":"","add_play_button":false,"video_caption":"","show_migration":false,"original_id":0,"photos_original":null,"attachments_original":null,"cover_photo":237303,"fb_photo":null,"cover_image":null},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/237293","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/237293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":237323,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press\/237293\/revisions\/237323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=237293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cpr.cuhk.edu.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=237293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}