ISV Lab x PersiaHK: Keeping Up with the Sasanians
About this Event
Keeping Up with the Sasanians: Persian Splendour in Chinese and Japanese Art
Iran today is known to the world as an Islamic State. Tracing back to the 3rd to 7th centuries CE however, Iran was a global superpower alongside Rome under the rule of the Sasanian Empire. At its peak, the empire spanned from the eastern Mediterranean and Mesopotamia to parts of India and Central Asia. It was also the time when public works and patronized cultural and educational institutions proliferated.
At the same time, during the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907 CE) and the Japanese Nara period (710–794 CE), luxury objects and motifs originating in the virtuosic visual culture of the Sasanian Empire became the coveted commodities at these eastern termini of the Silk Road. This magnificent material legacy inspired a wave of emulation and innovation in these distant lands, permanently altering the trajectory of Eurasian art history. For art historian Dr Konstance Li, this profound intercultural exchange represents an aesthetic legacy that is as enigmatic as it is captivating.
In this talk, Dr Li examines the material culture and stylistic nuances of these rare artefacts to map their historical trajectories. The discussion anchors on hallmarks of luxury that can be traced directly back to the rich world of Sasanian Persia: silk brocades featuring the iconic pearl roundel motif, exquisitely chased gold and silver vessels, and pristine Persian glassware. By examining sacred hoards from Chinese Buddhist crypts alongside the imperial treasures of the Shōsōin repository in Japan, this talk explores the intricate bonding between the Sasanian world and the courts of East Asia, and reconstructs the sophisticated visual landscape where the world’s culture intertwined centuries ago.
與薩珊同行：中國與日本藝術中的波斯風華
今天的伊朗廣泛被世人視為一個伊斯蘭國家。然而，追溯至公元3世紀至7世紀，在薩珊帝國的統治下，伊朗曾是與羅馬齊名的世界帝國。在全盛時期，薩珊帝國的疆域從東地中海與美索不達米亞，延伸至印度西北及中亞。這亦是伊朗建築蓬勃發展、文教大盛的時代。
同一時間，在唐代中國（618–907 CE）與奈良時代日本（710–794 CE），源自薩珊帝國精湛視覺文化的奢侈器物與紋飾，也成為了絲綢之路東端最受追捧的商品。這份輝煌的物質遺產在這些遙遠的土地上激發了仿效與創新的浪潮，永久改變了歐亞藝術史的走向。對於藝術史學家李俊彤博士而言，這種深遠的跨文化交流代表了一份既迷人又如謎一般的美學傳承。
在本次講座中，李博士將透過考察這些珍稀文物的物質文化與風格細節，以此勾勒其歷史演變脈絡。講座將聚焦於幾類可直接追溯至薩珊波斯富麗世界之例子：織有經典聯珠紋的絲綢織錦、造工精細的金銀器皿，以及清澈瑩潤的玻璃器。藉由對中國佛門地宮密藏與日本正倉院皇家御物的交互對照，李博士將探索當年薩珊世界如何與東亞各國宮廷緊密相連，並重構十多世紀前世界文化交會的精妙視覺版圖。
About the Keynote Speaker - Dr. Konstance Li
Dr. Konstance Li is an art historian specializing in East Asian Buddhist art and the visual culture of the Silk Road. He holds a MSt degree in Archaeology from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Art History from the University of Hong Kong. He has also conducted advanced research in Japan as a Japan Foundation Cultural and Academic Specialist.
Dr. Li currently teaches East and Southeast Asian art history at the Department of Art History, the University of Hong Kong. Alongside his university teaching, he is dedicated to broader public outreach in Asian art and cultural heritage; since 2024, he has offered specialized short courses for the public and has personally curated and led immersive field study tours to Japan, focusing on historic architecture and artistic heritage. Beyond public education, Dr. Li’s expertise is sought after by the corporate sector to provide academic stewardship for high-profile cultural initiatives; notably, in 2024, he was invited by Bank of China (Hong Kong) to serve as the academic consultant for its Lego rendition of Along the River During the Qingming Festival.
Complementing his research in visual and material culture, Dr. Li is a practitioner of Japanese Gagaku (imperial court music), specializing in the ryuteki flute. He was invited to perform at the Osaka Autumn Gagaku Festival in October 2023 and delivered a featured talk at the Japan Foundation Kansai Center in December 2024.
有關主講嘉賓：李俊彤博士
藝術史學者李俊彤博士，專研東亞佛教及絲綢之路視覺文化。他先後獲得英國牛津大學考古學碩士與香港大學藝術史博士學位，並曾以日本國際交流基金「文化學術專門家」身份赴日研修。
李博士現於香港大學藝術學系講授東亞與東南亞藝術史。在學院教研之餘，他亦致力推廣亞洲藝術及文化遺產，自2024年起面向公眾開設短期專題課程，並親自設計與導賞多項深入日本古都、專注於歷史建築與藝術遺產的深度實地研學考察之旅。此外，李博士的學術專業亦受企業青睞，獲邀為大型文化項目提供專業指導。2024年，他受中國銀行（香港）之邀，擔任其「樂高版清明上河圖」項目的學術顧問。
除了視覺與物質文化的研究，李博士亦深諳日本雅樂，專攻龍笛，曾於2023年10月獲邀至大阪秋季雅樂祭演奏，並於2024年12月受邀至日本國際交流基金關西中心發表專題演講。
About the Panel Speaker - Dr. Behzad Nasiri
Dr. Behzad Nasiri, an Iranian researcher and global citizen, is driven to share the story of Iran’s people. Raised in a warm Iranian family, he holds degrees in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a PhD in Medical Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His path also included years as an international tour guide and hostel manager, fuelling a passion for travel, cultural connection, and human stories.
Shaken by the scale of loss and repression in Iran’s ongoing crisis—including the protests followed by war experiences shared by his family and friends, and how these events affect their daily life and emotions—Behzad now focuses on highlighting Iran’s rich history, enduring culture, and the resilience of its people—offering a personal, informed lens on a nation at a pivotal moment.
有關回應及討論嘉賓：Behzad Nasiri 博士
Nasiri 博士是一位伊朗裔科學研究員，也是一位世界公民，致力於分享伊朗人民的故事。他在溫暖的伊朗家庭中成長，取得分子生物學及遺傳學學位，並於香港中文大學完成醫學科學博士課程。科研以外，他亦曾擔任國際導遊及青年旅舍管理員，由此燃起對旅行、跨文化連結與人文故事的深厚熱情。
伊朗局勢持續惡化，Nasiri博士的家人及朋友亦親歷抗議及戰爭的衝擊。深受伊朗危機所帶來的大規模傷亡與壓迫所震撼，以及人民在衝突與戰爭中呈現的情感與精神所感動，Nasiri博士現致力於分享伊朗豐厚的歷史底蘊、綿延不絕的文化傳承，讓更多人看見伊朗人民對和平的渴求、以及堅韌不屈的精神。
Agenda
🕑: 06:30 PM - 07:00 PM
Door Opens with Refreshments
🕑: 07:00 PM - 07:15 PM
Welcome by Ms. Linda Chan
🕑: 07:15 PM - 08:00 PM
Keynote by Dr. Konstance Li
🕑: 08:00 PM - 08:15 PM
Intermission
🕑: 08:15 PM - 09:00 PM
Keynote by Dr. Konstance Li and Dialogue with Dr. Behzad Nasiri
🕑: 09:00 PM - 09:30 PM
Networking
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
HKD 100.00
