The Macao Central Library under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), the Consulate General of Poland in Hong Kong and the Macau Ricci Institute, jointly host the Exhibition "Between Science and Art: The Marvels of Asia in the Eyes of Polish Jesuit Michał Piotr Boym, SJ", the opening ceremony of the exhibition took place on 8 November 2014, Saturday, 6:00pm, at the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library. Present in the opening ceremony were Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Hong Kong and Macao, Mr. Mirosław Adamczyk, President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Dr. Ung Vai Meng, Director of the Macau Ricci Institute, Father Artur K. WARDEGA, SJ, Representative of Mr. Edward Kajdański, a Polish sinologist and academic specializing in Boym studies, Mrs.Halina Pieńkowska, and Director of the Macao Central Library of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Ms. Tang Mei Lin.
Ground-breaking European sinologist Fr. Michał Piotr Boym, SJ (1612-1659) - acknowledged as the 'Polish Marco Polo' - was a renowned 17th century Polish missionary, sinologist and painter. The exhibition showcases several reproductions of Boym's works, including maps, scientific illustrations of fauna and flora as well as a human anatomy chart of immense historical significance and artistic value. The exhibition spreads to the garden of the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, displaying the animals painted by Boym with 3-D installations and it is hoped that Boym's world can be brought to the present from some 400 years ago. The exhibition runs from 8 November 2014 until 18 January 2015 and it opens from10:00am to 7:00pm from Monday to Saturday and from 11:00am to 7:00pm on Sundays. Admission is free.
The organisers invited scholars from Poland and Beijing to a seminar "Michał Piotr Boym, SJ – Man of science and faith entirely devoted to the service of the Chinese and European courts – his feat revisited in Macau", aiming at sharing the results of Boym's research on China. The seminar was held on 8 November 2014 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library . For more information on this exhibition please access the website www.library.gov.mo or call 2837 7117 during office hours.
