The exhibition, centred around Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece the Mona Lisa, is divided into two main sections: Meet Mona Lisa, and Portraying the Renaissance. Its digital media and interactive installations, newly tailored to the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, take visitors on a journey through time to explore the extraordinary stories behind the Mona Lisa. The exhibition also features carefully selected Renaissance art treasures from prominent cultural institutions in France and Italy, helping viewers gain a deeper understanding of how this significant cultural movement permeated many different aspects of daily life.
The Meet Mona Lisa section, divided into six chapters covering over five hundred years, retraces the extraordinary journey of the Mona Lisa. The lady herself personally guides visitors as they explore the stories behind the Mona Lisa, and trace its evolution from a commissioned portrait that Leonardo da Vinci kept working on throughout his life but never delivered to his sponsor, to its transformation into a globally captivating cultural icon.
The Portraying the Renaissance section highlights a selection of Renaissance art treasures on loan from renowned museums and cultural institutions in France and Italy, including four priceless Leonardo da Vinci manuscripts. These diverse art exhibits, which include paintings, prints, sculptures, decorative art, and everyday objects, offer visitors a glimpse into the surging creativity of this humanistic movement. Also featured are three items from the collection of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum as well as paintings by mainland artist Xu Lei that echo the aesthetics of Renaissance art, generating a dialogue across time and space and highlighting the incredible influence of a cultural movement that originated back in 14th-century Europe.
This exhibition is a highlight programme of French May Arts Festival 2026. During the exhibition period, a series of talks by experts will also be held for audiences to gain a broader perspective on the cultivated allure of Renaissance art.
















