Local artist Ella Dong (董嘉慧) is taking on pet companionship in her latest solo exhibition “pET.com”, themed “Pets of Friends”.
Presented at room B07 of the 10 Fantasia gallery on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋堂斜巷), there are eight pieces in total, all created using oils between 2024 and 2025.
From a pet gecko that seemingly wears a smile to a joyful golden retriever to an aloof trio of cats, Dong, a graduate from the School of Mathematics at the UK’s Cardiff University in 2021, displays portraits of her friends’ pets, with the artist hoping to capture each of the pets’ “personalities” using her brush.
In creating these works, Dong, according to a statement by the gallery, used her brush with the aim of transforming the everyday moments with the pets into works of art using vivid colours and soft lines, along with a flow of light and shadow. The works also present companionship, hoping to remind pet lovers and owners when they look at the works, the statement said.
The statement added that the exhibition is organised by the gallery in conjunction with the Macao Illustrators Association, of which Dong is a member.
Given her background in mathematics, the statement said that Dong, who specialises in oils, watercolours and digital painting, uses a combination of rational thinking and artistic sensibility in her works, while also integrating her background into creating a structural aesthetic, adding that she is particularly good at capturing moments of daily life.
A former graphic designer who is now working in the MICE industry, the statement noted that Dong maintains her passion for art while also branching out by trying other art forms in her spare time. She hopes to record more stories through art in the future, the statement said.
The free admission gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with exhibitiongoers able to admire the works until June 29.
Photos: Rui Pastorin
