Interview by William Chan
Cloud Gallery is debuting in the Barra neighbourhood with its inaugural exhibition “From Embers to Blossoms: Sou Pui Kun Printmaking Exhibition.” The exhibition highlights local artist Sou Pui Kun’s latest works, featuring approximately 30 pieces created using his signature “UV-cured ink intaglio printmaking” technique. Sou and the gallery’s director, Lai Sio Kit, shared insights with the Post prior to the exhibition opening on April 6.
Sou is a retired associate professor from the Faculty of Arts and Design at Macao Polytechnic University (MPU). His works, which have garnered numerous international awards, are part of collections in institutions like the National Museum of Chinese History, the Guangdong Museum of Art, the Chongqing Art Museum, and the Macao Museum of Art (MAM).
Cloud Gallery is located on Rua do Almirante Costa Cabral, in Ngan Son Building. Lai mentioned his vision to enhance the art scene in the area, inspired by the revitalisation of Doca D. Carlos I in the Barra (“Harbour Entrance”) neighbourhood with art-focused events.
“In Macau, most venues are large galleries or public museums, which can be challenging for single or emerging artists to access due to their typically smaller collections. A smaller gallery like ours provides an ideal platform to showcase their art,” Lai said, noting that the commercial gallery will also has artists’ works for sale. “For most local artists, their work often remains in storage or is kept by museums and institutions. We aim to make these artworks accessible to the public.”
Sou added that the gallery offers an excellent opportunity for artists, especially younger ones, to showcase their work in a smaller, more accessible space, as any emerging artists may not yet have a large enough collection to host an exhibition in a museum, making a smaller gallery an ideal platform for their creations.
‘From Embers to Blossoms’
The exhibition is divided into two sections: “Embers” and “Blossoms.” An anti-imperialist artist, Sou was inspired by the tragedies in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic to create the “Embers” series. His collection features motifs of aircraft and bombs, reflecting the destruction caused by modern warfare. “I want to pay tribute to all those who have suffered in wars through my artworks,” Sou said.
Meanwhile, the “Blossoms” series celebrates the vibrancy of nature, showcasing flowers and leaves through rich, flowing shades of rouge and indigo. In “Blossom 13,” for example, Sou collected numerous dry leaves to create inverted moulds as well as prints in the form of a cat. He then pressed these onto a single plate to build layers of transparent colours in different sequences and ideas of combination. “This process is somewhat like painting, allowing you to decide the placement of the prints. It is more accessible as beginners, with the prints and moulds already available, would not need drawing skills, yet it remains a highly creative endeavour,” Sou explained. He also mentioned hosting workshops in schools to teach students these techniques and encourage experimentation.
According to the exhibition’s statement, Sou’s technique combines traditional print techniques with modern photochemistry to develop the “Ultraviolet Ink Layered Exposure Method.” By precisely controlling the exposure time, multiple layers of transparent colours can be printed on a single plate.
Sou also incorporates multimedia elements into his prints. In a piece critiquing United States imperialism, viewers can press a button to hear Handel’s “Messiah,” with the ironic solo “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Sou explained his intent, “While many highlight war’s violence, I use satire. For example, with the US facing an egg shortage, despite dropping bombs globally, I depicted bombs as eggs, titling it: ‘Lord, can I have some eggs instead?’”
The exhibition will run until May 11, with free admission. It is closed on Mondays. The gallery opens from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, visit:
www.cloudgallerymo.com
Sou Pui Kun (left) and Lai Sio Kit pose in front of Cloud Gallery earlier this month. – Photos provided by Cloud Gallery
