• Event
• Expressions Spring 2026

Art in Every Cell

Dental Microphotography by Professor Tiejun Li Illuminates IAD-MSC and PPDH

An exhibition of dental microphotography by Professor Tiejun Li (left)

In October 2025, the Institute for Advanced Dentistry – Multi-Specialty Clinic (IAD-MSC) and the Prince Philip Dental Hospital (PPDH) were transformed into spaces of quiet contemplation and unexpected beauty, as they unveiled a remarkable exhibition of dental microphotography by Professor Tiejun Li.

A distinguished scholar at the School of Stomatology, Peking University, Professor Li has devoted his career to advancing the field of oral pathology. At the same time, he has cultivated a parallel artistic journey, using his microscope not only as a diagnostic instrument but also as a creative lens. Through his work, ordinary microscopic images of dental and oral tissues were reimagined as striking visual compositions, revealing hidden colours, forms and textures that usually remain confined to the laboratory.

Thanks to Professor Li’s generous contribution, selected pieces from his collection now permanently enrich the clinical environments of IAD-MSC and PPDH. Hung along corridors and in waiting areas, the images invite double takes: what could be mistaken for abstract paintings, dreamlike landscapes or intricate patterns are in fact enamel, dentine, oral mucosa and other oral structures, captured at high magnification and presented with an artist’s sensitivity to colour and form.

The inauguration ceremony, held on 21 October 2025 at IAD-MSC, marked the official unveiling of the exhibition. Officiated by Professor Lijian Jin, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, HKU, with Professor Li as guest of honour, the event celebrated not only a collaboration between institutions, but also the convergence of science and art. In his remarks, the Dean highlighted how such works can soften the clinical atmosphere, offering patients moments of calm and wonder, while reminding students and clinicians of the beauty inherent in the structures they study and treat every day.

Professor Tiejun Li (left) and Mr Gerhard Zielinski, Director of IAD-MSC at the exhibition

The following day, on 22 October 2025, Professor Li delivered a lecture at the Lecture Theatre of PPDH, where he shared the creative journey behind his microphotography. He spoke about how decades of examining pathological specimens gradually sharpened his awareness of their aesthetic qualities, and how his fascination with patterns and light led him to preserve and curate these images as artworks.

“Art seeks beauty; science pursues truth,” Professor Li reflected. His images, he suggested, stand at the intersection of these two pursuits. For the students, clinicians, professionals and art enthusiasts who attended, the session offered an inspiring reminder that dentistry is not only a technical and scientific discipline, but also a field that can inspire awe and reflection.

Today, the presence of Professor Li’s microphotography at IAD-MSC and PPDH continues to resonate. The works serve as a quiet, enduring exhibition—inviting every passer-by to look closer, and to rediscover the profound beauty within the microscopic world of oral tissues.

Professor Tiejun Li (second from right) selects some pieces from his collection to IAD-MSC

Professor Tiejun Li’s work at IAD-MSC

Professor Tiejun Li delivers a lecture on “Oral landscapes under the microscope and beyond”

Group photo with Professor Tiejun Li in the inauguration ceremony