All the shades in between

The museum's Chinese antiquities curator, Cheng Woon-tong, acknowledges that organizing a collection based on color presents its own unique set of challenges. Objects have been chosen for their individual importance as well as how well they contribute to the overall color narrative, he clarifies.

"We have to protect the artifact while at the same time showcasing it with the appropriate color lighting and other technical considerations to enhance its color," Cheng said. "We started with 4,000 pieces and slowly whittled them down to the final display (of around 300)."

Cheung, who donated 129 pieces from his private collection to the #popcolours exhibition, said he believes that the Hong Kong Museum of Art is the right home for his treasures. "It's really difficult to keep personal collections beyond three generations," he notes. "Many descendents or younger people do not appreciate old things."