Local shadow play promoter António M.L. Inácio told The Macau Post Daily in an online interview yesterday that a shadow play and puppetry artwork exhibition currently being held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) was a good chance to strengthen residents’ understanding of Chinese folklore.
However, he was quick to add he believed that the exhibition was not being publicised enough.
Inácio is the president of the Macau Shadow Play Association.
The exhibition, “Reflective Glow – Art Exhibition of Shadow Play and Puppetry of Shaanxi and Sichuan Provinces”, is displaying over 200 shadow play and puppetry artworks until next Monday at Tap Seac Gallery in Praça do Tap Seac.
“Despite the fact that this art originated in China 2,000 years ago, Westerners still know very little about this ancient art from China.” Inácio said, pointing out that the traditional art of shadow puppetry is only found in eight countries, and in all those countries it has been inherited from China through the Silk Road, while in other countries they are just forms of light and hand shadows.
Inácio said that the local organisers had not really concentrated on spreading the art in Macau, as there was little publicity in either the local Chinese, Portuguese or English newspapers about the exhibition. “To top it all off, the worst situation is that schoolchildren rarely get the opportunity to enjoy this art,” Inácio said.
Having gathered members from 28 countries and regions of the world since its inception on November 1, 2018, Inácio said his association was working to help the endangered art with the aim of connecting East and West through this platform.
“This is a very special exhibition of shadow puppets in Macau to be enjoyed”, said Inácio, who has a private collection of puppets at home. However, Inácio lamented, Macau’s intangible cultural heritage does not include shadow puppetry, adding he was keen to promote this folk culture in the city.
Inácio described his love for shadow play as not only a passion but as an obligation to abide by a promise he made 22 years ago to a young artist in Beijing, who is now the director of the Beijing Shadow Play Troupe, a performing troupe in the nation capital for over 40 years: “I promised him that I would show the whole world what the Chinese shadow play is.”
The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, including public holidays. Admission is free. More information can be found by visiting www.icm.gov.mo or calling the bureau on 8988 4000 during office hours.
These photos taken yesterday show some of the exhibits displayed during the current exhibition of shadow play and puppetry from Shannxi and Sichuan at Tap Seac Gallery in Praça do Tap Seac. – Photos: Ginnie Liang
