Artistic creation in Macao is quite widespread and energetic, covering a variety of media and formats: oriental and occidental, traditional and modern, concrete and abstract. These elements complement each other, reflectingMacao’s flexible, open art world.

Miao Chong’an
Visiting Professor, Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts

Advisor for MA programme, School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong University Foreign influences often help to broaden a nation’s artistic horizons and lead to a fuller understanding of a medium’s creative potential, but they need to be integrated into traditional disciplines with some care. For me, it was disturbing to see the intrusive Western influences in the Chinese Painting category. They struck a discordant note even when, rarely, they were handled with fine technical skill. This blend of cultural styles needs to be approached with considerable sensitivity.

The Poster category was one where pure visual ingenuity could be enjoyed without reservation and the winning entries were of exceptionally high quality by any standards.

Bryn Campbell
Photographer

I feel it is impossible precious cultural flowers to flourish in places like Macao and Hong Kong because they lack rich local elements. Therefore, the cultural fog must be transformed into a strong aura that gathers energy from other sources and, through contemporary media, conveys the power of art.

When I was young, I worked in the Wusong Port of the Yangtze River. I used to watch beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The clouds and rays of sunshine attracted me to be a painter. Now I long for the day when art in Macao and Hong Kong shine over the world of culture.

Wang Chunjie
Professor of International Media and Design Institute of Beijing Normal University,
Zhuhai Campu