One of the “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021” exhibitions, the Creative City Pavilion, will open on Thursday, bringing together the distinctive cultural essence of four of the UNESCO Creative Cities – Macau, the City of Gastronomy; Nanjing, the City of Literature; Wuhan, the City of Design; and Linz, the City of Media Arts, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) said in a statement yesterday.
The statement said that the four thematic exhibitions will be held at the Macau Contemporary Art Centre - Navy Yard No.1, Tap Seac Gallery and the Mong-Ha Villas. The statement pointed out that the main curator of the exhibition is local poet and translator Yao Feng.
The statement noted that Macau was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017, adding that the exhibition “Macao: City of Gastronomy – Bon Appétit!” at the Macau Contemporary Art Centre – Navy Yard No.1 will feature 15 pieces or sets by 16 artists, including Carlos Marreiros and Konstantin Bessmertny, who each explore the interplay of “food” in relation to society and history in their own unique way and “offer the audience a visual feast that is not to be missed.” The statement said that the prize-winning works of the bureau’s recent romantic composition contest will also be exhibited in the same venue.
According to the statement, the exhibition “Nanjing: City of Literature – Opening Up the Realm” at the Tap Seac Gallery features artworks by dozens of outstanding poets, novelists, critics and artists from Nanjing, including Su Tong and Zhao Benfu. The statement said that the works include manuscripts, calligraphies and documentaries as well as paintings of worms by Zhu Yingchun, allowing visitors to reconsider the realm of life through the literary eyes of Nanjing writers.
The statement also said that the exhibition “Wuhan: City of Design – Empathy” at the Mong-Ha Villas features a number of “empathetic” works inspired by the COVID-19 prevention measures, including photography by China Photographers Association President Li Ge, a “Design in the Epidemic” section, a facemask initiative called “Color4Smile” and the Art of Fashion Exhibition “Hui•Xin”, focusing on individuals in grand historical events from a micro perspective, “and exploring the most dazzling facet of human nature – empathy.”
Moreover, the exhibition “Linz: City of Media Arts – The Art of Interface” at the Mong-Ha Villas features nine sets of media artworks based on interfaces, demonstrating the cutting-edge charm of contemporary interactive art and leading visitors to search for the form and existing meaning of interface.
Linz is a city in Austria. In 2009, it was the European Capital of Culture.
According to the statement, the “Creative City Pavilion” is included for the first time in “Art Macao”. The statement noted that this year’s art-fest comprises five main features, the Main Exhibition, Special Exhibition of Resorts and Hotels, Creative City Pavilion, Public Art Exhibition, Selected Works by Local Artists and Collateral Exhibition, aiming to trigger an upsurge in contemporary art, and creating an immersive cultural atmosphere for the entire city as a gallery and an art garden.
The bureau reminded residents that exhibition visitors must comply with the Health Bureau’s guidelines for the COVID-19 prevention measures, always wear a facemask, have their temperatures checked and present their valid Macau Health Code.
The “Creative City Pavilion” will be held from July 23. The exhibitions “Macao: City of Gastronomy – Bon Appétit!” and “Nanjing: City of Literature – Opening Up the Realm” will be held until October 3, while the exhibitions “Wuhan: City of Design – Empathy” and “Linz: City of Media Arts – The Art of Interface” will be held until October 24. Admission to all activities is free.
For more information, please visit the official website at www.artmacao.mo
These photo taken last week are two artworks displayed at the Main Exhibition of “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021” at the Macau Museum of Art (MAM) in Nape. Photos: Prisca Tang
