Leslie Cheung legend lives on as exhibition opens
Twenty years on and "gor gor" is being fondly remembered. Marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Leslie Cheung, the Hong Kong Heritage Museum is paying tribute to one of the city's most beloved superstar entertainers with a new exhibition, featuring 61 exhibits from the singer and actor's life including stage costumes, photos, vinyl records, music, film and TV works, awards and personal collections. Jointly curated by three of Cheung's close friends – Florence Chan, William Chang and Wing Shya – the "Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition" offers fans a closer look at Cheung's unique style and talent. "The exhibition seems to take everyone through the time tunnel and back to the memories of Leslie Cheung," Chan said. A curator at the Heritage Museum, Carmen Wong, said the project centred around the theme, "Love only lasts for eternity, beyond time and space.” She said one of the highlights of the exhibition is the red high heels Cheung wore during “Live in Concert 97”, which showcased Cheung as a trendsetter who's not afraid to be different. Another highlight is an outfit with white feathers Cheung wore during the opening of his "Passion Tour" concert. "For the new generation Leslie Cheung is also an icon," said Wong. "We can see the continued growth of his popularity over these years." Affectionately known to Hongkongers as “gor gor”, or big brother in Cantonese, Cheung was a trailblazer in Hong Kong pop culture. Besides his singing career that saw him win numerous awards, he starred in a number of classic films such as "A Better Tomorrow," "Days of Being Wild" and "Happy Together". Cheung was also one of the first Asian stars to achieve international recognition, particularly in the Chinese-speaking world. The exhibition runs from March 29 to October 9 at the Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. Organisers expect visitor numbers to hit 100,000.