Interview by William Chan
Lotus Art Space, located at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf themed entertainment complex, officially opened last week as a new art venue aimed at stimulating creativity and connecting a broader audience through art, its director Lam Sio Man told the Post at the venue last week.
The opening also showcased the venue’s inaugural exhibition, “Whispers of the Unseen,” a duo exhibition featuring local artists Wong Weng Cheong and Rusty Fox, and curated by Chang Chan and Lam.
Lam, a master’s degree graduate in Visual Arts Administration from New York University, has been featured multiple times in the Post.* She has participated in the curation and creation of a raft of local art exhibitions and events, and has a distinct interest in contemporary art forms.
The art space has a modest size of 110 square metres and is adaptable according to each exhibition’s requirements. Lam highlighted the challenges of finding sustainably operated art space in Macau, especially when compared to nearby cities like Hong Kong and Shenzhen: “Sometimes, our artist friends visit Macau and are surprised to learn that some long-established art spaces have closed. For them, it’s challenging to find places to see exhibitions in Macau.”
Despite the desire for more sustainable art venues, Lam recognised the challenges of organising exhibitions on a commercial basis. “This exhibition, and hopefully those that follow, features artworks that are for sale. Our vision is to foster the local art market, provide financial support to artists and allow them to fully dedicate themselves to their art. While this exhibition is a collaboration with Lotus International Arts Exchange Association, and is supported by the Cultural Development Fund, for which we are grateful and on which we depend, we hope the art industry in Macau will become more self-sustainable in the future.”
Prior to Wednesday’s opening ceremony, a brief media tour was organised, led by curator Chang Chan, who also curated for the Macau China Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale. The title of the exhibition, “Whispers of the Unseen,” has a two-fold meaning. One aspect reflects how local artists are often underappreciated despite their talents, encapsulating the title’s significance, Chang said.
The second meaning relates more closely to the exhibition’s theme. Rusty Fox, who holds a master’s degree in Documentary Photography from the University of South Wales, uses documentary photography to explore organisms and objects within the city. One of his pieces consists of black-and-white photos captured late at night at Hac Sa Beach using a powerful torch. “The black sand absorbs all the light, while the whiter sand and trash reflect it. The juxtaposition of these elements creates an image reminiscent of a celestial nebula,” Chang explained.
Rusty Fox observed that Hac Sa Beach is one of the few areas in Asia with black sand. However, due to environmental issues, the black sand is diminishing and being replaced by whiter sand. The presence of rubbish on the beach ironically creates a beautiful galactic scene in his photos, highlighting these environmental challenges.
Another featured collection by Rusty Fox includes a series of black-and-white photos taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Urban vegetation is typically well cared for in Macau, but during the pandemic, Rusty seized the opportunity to document how plants grew wildly at that time, showcasing their temporarily untamed nature,” Chang noted.
While Rusty Fox’s work presents reality in a surreal manner, Wong’s creations consist of hyper-realistic images generated by a programme that blurs the lines between the real and unreal. “Wong’s images depict everyday items, a floating cloud, and a shadowy corridor that sometimes defies physics, along with objects and animals that do not exist, creating a sense of the uncanny,” Chang explained.
While the images are created digitally, Chang emphasised that Wong used etching to make the final works instead of printing them directly. “I believe the medium is significant in art. It’s difficult to articulate the exact difference, but in these works, I find the method to be more fitting and satisfying. The process, which involves much trial and error, imbues the artwork with greater meaning overall,” Wong noted.
Chang pointed out that all exhibited works are for sale. “While pricing for artworks is inherently subjective, we truly believe that the pieces showcased in this exhibition are accessible to a wide audience, inviting everyone to experience and cherish the creativity and dedication of these talented artists.”
Lotus Art Space is open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is closed on Mondays. It is located at Legend Palace Hotel, and the exhibition will run until April 30.
* https://macaupostdaily.com/news/19426
https://www.macaupostdaily.com/news/20041
“Whispers of the Unseen” curator Chang Chan introduces the artists’ work to guest at the Macau Fisherman’s Wharf’s Lotus Art Space on Wednesday. – Photo: David Zhu
Lotus Art Space director Lam Sio Man addresses guests at the exhibition’s opening on Wednesday. – Photo: David Zhu
Rusty Fox poses in front of his work at Lotus Art Space on Wednesday. – Photo: 王凱榮
Wong Weng Cheong poses in front of his work at the Lotus Art Space on Wednesday. – Photo: 王凱榮
