“Forest of Books, Phoenix in Flight: The Art and Life of Ye Lingfeng” Exhibition
Ye Lingfeng (1905–1975), original named Ye Yunpu, was a native of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province and a prominent figure yet highly controversial figure in the history of modern Chinese literature. A novelist, essayist, translator, book collector, editor, and museologist, Ye Lingfeng’s life can be divided into two chapters: turbulent years in the Shanghai literary circle and time in Hong Kong where he immersed himself as a writer, read voraciously, and harvested the fruits of his labour. Thanks to the generous donation or loan from Ye Lingfeng’s descendants, his valuable collection items have found a new home in the Chinese University of Hong Kong Library. This exhibition inviting visitors to follow his beautiful journey from Shanghai to Hong Kong through the lens of art illustration and design.
The exhibition includes five zones: Zone 1 “Returning to His First Interest” shows the gifted Ye Lingfeng single-handedly taking charge of multiple aspects of publication design, including cover, illustrations and headlines after his graduation from the Shanghai College of Fine Arts; while also honouring his duties as a writer and an active member of the cultural circle. Zone 2 “A Timeless Trove of Books and Art” displays art catalogues and ex libris in Ye Lingfeng’s possession as a refined bibliophile and collector. Zone 3 “Two Cities, Two Homes” documents trace of Ye Lingfeng’s multifaceted life, namely, his experiences in Shanghai and Hong Kong, his literature and art, and his roles as writer, editor and the cornerstone of a big family. Zone 4 “A Persistent and Prolific Pen” features Ye Lingfeng’s writings, original newspaper clippings of his columns and cultural supplements he edited, shining a light on the thought he put into his work. Zone 5 “Companions in Literature” presents photos and documents from Ye Lingfeng’s daily life and literary gatherings showing how friendship, excursions and family were an unending source of inspiration for the literary giant.
An exhibition talk will be held on 28 May 2026. Please click here for more information.
【Exhibition details】
Date: 28 May 2026 – 31 December 2026
Venue: Exhibition Area, University Library, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Organizers: CUHK Library and Hong Kong Literature Research Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Exhibition guided tours can be arranged for groups of at least 10 people. Please send email to spc@lib.cuhk.edu.hk with detailed information, including date and time of visit and number of visitors. The application is limited to non-profit organizations.
