An exhibition featuring Macau’s centuries-old tradition of dragon boat building, organised by the Shipbuilding Craft Culture Association, kicked off on Sunday at the Macau Maritime Museum in Barra, showcasing artworks by its trainees, as well as tools for making dragon boats.
Tam Chon Ip, chairman of the association, said during the opening ceremony that the exhibition aims to educate the public about the shipbuilding industry and related maritime culture, adding that sampan crafting is a series of activities that the association has been promoting since its establishment in 2019.
Five trainees spent five months learning how to make a sampan in their spare time, according to Tam, who pointed out that the participants come from different cultural backgrounds, which helped document the traditional craft from different perspectives, carry forward the dragon boat culture in the near future, and accelerate the inclusion of traditional wooden dragon boat craft in Macau’s intangible cultural heritage list.
Tam noted that Macau has about 150 dragon boat master craftsmen, with most of them aged over 60.
Tam said that during the five-month training course, which aimed to cultivate new interest in Macau’s maritime culture, dragon boat master craftsmen not only explained the production of each component, but also taught the trainees each step “hand in hand”, enabling them to feel the characteristics of wood and learn the process of making a wooden dragon boat model.
The course, which consisted of three parts – culture learning, on-the-spot study and craft making, was sponsored by the public Macau Foundation (FM) and private Henry Fok Foundation.
The exhibition is on display until next Monday.
The Macau Maritime Museum close to Ma Kok (A Ma) Temple opens daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Tuesdays, with free admission.
Shipbuilding Craft Culture Association Chairman Tam Chon Ip (third from left) and President Wong Iok Kuan (first right) pose during Sunday’s opening ceremony of an exhibition featuring the local tradition of dragon boat craft, together with their five trainees, at the Macau Maritime Museum in Barra. – Photo: Yuki Lei
