Yan Pei-Ming: Painting the History

The exhibition emphasised the power of painting as a medium for capturing events and iconic figures, questioning the dominance of digital photography in journalism and arguing that traditional art forms still hold value in this context.

To connect with the region, the exhibition was dedicated to modern Arab history. It included more than 100 oil portraits of influential Arab figures, including late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Lebanese singer Fairuz.

Through outreach activities and experiments with presentation techniques, the exhibition engaged a broad range of visitors.

Be Part of the History

Visitors were invited to participate in a collaborative art project called 'Be Part of the History'. They recorded their portraits in interactive photobooths and uploaded them to a virtual gallery.

In another example of innovation, a 24-hour blackout was staged at the exhibition, during which visitors could only view paintings using a solar-powered lamp, called a Little Sun.