Mammoth Love at IFC Hong Kong (12 Apr – 10 May 2012)

Meet “Lyuba” (meaning “Love” in Russian is a 42,000-year-old mammoth) – She is the world’s most valuable archeological discovery of our times. She is very special and unique as she is the most perfectly preserved baby mammoth ever discovered. She provides archeologists a never-before-seen view of prehistoric life in Siberia. Discovered in the frozen soils of north-west Siberia by a reindeer herder, Yuri Khudi in May 2007, Lyuba was found lying along a riverside 42,000 years after her birth. However, Lyuba mysteriously disappeared the next day. She was stolen when Yuri and the archeologists arrived. It took the government and army lots of effort to rescue Lyuba from the poacher who intended to sell her to a merchant.

Mammoth died out around 8,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. Injecting the mammoth DNA into an egg of today’s modern elephant, a team of Japanese scientists are now on their way to bring back the long-extinct mammal back from the dead. It was reported that we will be able to see a living mammoth clone in the next 5-10 years. (Haaa…Big Bird and Wooly from Sesame Street will have a real friend to play with!)

It took IFC 2 years to bring Lyuba to Hong Kong. The exhibition opens from 12 April to 10 May 2012 (and it is free!). Unlike previous exhibitions at the IFC which were more commercial/brand-driven, this is one very rare, valuable and educational archeological showcase for the public. It took me a long time to squeeze through the crowd to come face to face with Lyuba. Check out the amazing discovery and recovery story of Lyuba’s below. For more information, visit: http://ifc.com.hk/lyuba/

Wire Art

(Picture Taken: Art Gallery, Central Hong Kong – An intriguing stainless wire art portrait, titled “Portrait of the Fourth Kind” by Park Seung Mo. It illustrates the complexity and mystery of a woman.)

Largest Apple in the World

(Photo Taken: Inside the Apple Store, IFC Mall, Hong Kong – It is the largest Apple Store in Asia. And this just might be the world’s largest Apple Logo.)

Steve Jobs Shrine in Hong Kong

(Photo Taken: Apple Store, Hong Kong – Steve is no Head of State, King or Pope but he is well-loved and worshiped by millions around the world.  Over the past 3 days at the newest Apple Store (IFC Mall, Hong Kong), thousands of fans came to pay their last respect to the man who changed the world. Words of condolences were pasted on the storefront window. A touching sight.)