An exhibition titled ‘Pneuma’, which showcases 3D digital sculptures by Portuguese artist and multimedia professional José Nyogéri, is on display at the Glass House (Casa de Vidro) in Praça do Tap Seac until Thursday.
Nyogéri has participated in several group exhibitions to showcase works in photography, matte painting and 3D art. The exhibition, a statement from the “Casa de Portugal em Macau” (“Portugal’s Home in Macau”) noted, is his first solo exhibition and celebrates World Philosophy Day, which takes place every third Thursday in November.
According to Wikipedia, matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that is not present at the filming location.
Through the 3D digital sculpture modelling technique, which is his preferred method, Nyogéri turns his ideas into tangible creations, the statement said. This art form also enables Nyogéri, who has lived in Macau since 2011, to deepen “intellectual perspectives” and explore concepts rooted in “deep philosophical enquiries and human experience”.
Humans are a central and reoccurring theme in the exhibition, the statement pointed out, being “a testimony to the complexities, emotions, and vulnerabilities that define our existence”.
The statement noted that pneuma, the ancient Greek word for breath, was considered “the substance that flowed through bodies and allowed their existence and functioning”, adding that in Stoic philosophy, pneuma was composed of air, which represented the primary element, and fire, which symbolised heat and energy.
The Stoics believed that pneuma was “a vital force in all living things, an animating principle that connected the divine and the material”, according to the statement, and was associated with breathing and vital energy. Pneuma was also related to the “notion of reason, which governed the universe and maintained its order”. Moreover, depending on the context, pneuma can have different meanings, the statement said, adding that in fields of studies such as philosophy and medicine, it can mean universal spirit and creative force, among others.
The exhibition is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Photos: Rui Pastorin
