SJM Resorts is hosting an exhibition titled “Harmony of East and West – The Exhibition by Famous Local Artists” at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau (GLP) in Cotai, according to a SJM statement.
The exhibition’s theme revolves around the “East meets West”.
According to the statement, the exhibition features work by Ambrose So Shu-fai (蘇樹輝), Carlos Marreiros, Guilherme Ung Vai Meng (吳衛鳴), Konstantin Bessmertny, Denis Murrell, Erik Fok (霍凱盛) and Cai Guo-jie (蔡國傑). Their works aim to unleash people’s imagination and create awareness around people’s lives, showcasing Macau’s unique role as a platform for Sino-Western cultural exchange.
The exhibit entitled “Auspicious Stars Shine Over the Ruins of Saint Paul (瑞星耀濠江)”by Ung is on display in the east lobby behind the group check-in counter. Ung has created a mixed media panel die-cut metal linework (3,600 mm in width x 4,295 mm in height) of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed St. Paul’s façade. The artwork features Portuguese azulejos (tin-glazed ceramic tilework) and oyster shells, referencing Macau’s pavement and its Chinese nickname, Hou Keng – 濠江 (“oyster mirror”, a reference to the oyster beds surrounding the peninsula). The gold-and-blue mosaic tiles are an obvious nod to Hotel Lisboa’s historic mosaic ceiling, while the use of detailed architecturally-themed linework creates a cohesive thematic connection with artworks displayed at the other check-in counters, the statement underlines.
The Ruins of St. Paul’s Church, which was built in the early 17th century, is one of the most important World Heritage monuments in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). The church was destroyed by a fire during a typhoon on January 16, 1835, leaving only its façade standing. In 2005, it was officially listed as part of the Historic Centre of Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ung studied painting with renowned local watercolour artist Kam Cheong Ling (甘長齡). He is a member of the Macau Artist Society and a founding member of Círculo dos Amigos da Cultura de Macau, and in 1999 he became the first director of the Macau Museum of Art (MAM). From 2010 to 2017 Ung headed the Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), according to the statement.
As part of the government’s COVID-19 pandemic prevention measures, all visitors entering the venue must wear a facemask, have their temperature checked and present a digital health code.
The artwork is on display this month at Grand Lisboa Palace in Rua do Tiro, Cotai (adjacent to the Macau East Asian Games Dome). Admission is free.
Photos: Camy Tam and Rui Pastorin
