The Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware has opened “Hong Kong Artist Dialogue Series: Shape of Tea”, an exhibition celebrating the enduring beauty of tea culture. Featuring 35 sets of historic tea ware from the Song dynasty to the 20th century alongside 20 new wood and bamboo works by Hong Kong artists Yan Yung and Inkgo Lam, the exhibition blends tradition with contemporary creativity.

Guided by the Song dynasty’s rustic yet elegant aesthetic, the artists explore how tea culture connects with everyday life in Hong Kong. Their pieces draw on local flora, fauna, and landscapes, expressed through warm wood grains, refined bamboo weaving, and striking large-scale creations; from tall mortise-joined racks to a bamboo tea table more than three metres long.

Exhibition highlights include a Southern Song Jian ware tea bowl with hare’s fur markings and an 18th-century teapot pierced with a bamboo motif, offering visitors a glimpse into centuries of craftsmanship. A purpose-built tea room adds space for quiet reflection, supported by tea demonstrations, a “tea contest”, and hands-on workshops.