POLY MGM MUSEUM is presenting the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Conversation Series” with sessions in July and August, integrated resort operator MGM said in a joint statement with Poly Culture on Wednesday.
The cultural initiative is open to members of the public and features discussion sessions hosted by the museum that highlight “a distinct intangible heritage craft”. It is presented in celebration of the nation’s Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which takes place tomorrow.
The series aims to “deepen appreciation for these heritage skills while fostering greater awareness and wider international recognition of Chinese intangible cultural heritage”, according to the statement, while there are also exclusive sessions that will to be arranged for the Museum’s docents.
The inaugural session was held on Wednesday and explored “Cloisonné: The Inheritance and Innovation of Imperial Palace Art”. The guest speakers included Palace Art Specialised Committee of China Arts and Crafts Society Director and Former Deputy Director of the Shenyang Palace Museum, Li Li; and Zhong Liansheng, Deputy Director of the Palace Art Specialised Committee of China Arts and Crafts Society, National Arts and Crafts Master, Representative Inheritor of Cloisonné Crafts, and POLY MGM MUSEUM’s cloisonné “dougong*” brackets designer.
Over 200 participants attended the session comprising those from the cultural and arts sectors, academia, and the members of the public, the statement said.
MGM Arts and Culture Senior Vice President Cristina Kuok Wai Sum was quoted as saying: “Through collaborations with intangible cultural heritage inheritors and cultural experts, we aim to offer visitors more than just a museum experience – we strive to immerse them in a rich cultural journey that extends beyond physical spaces, fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and creative exchange that revitalizes traditional crafts.”
Kuok added that they have also “arranged exclusive learning opportunities for our museum docents to engage directly with intangible cultural heritage masters, nurturing local talents in arts and culture through a variety of dedicated events.”
The two upcoming sessions, scheduled for July and August, will explore the histories and modern development of Guangcai porcelain** and pith painting***, with registration available on the POLY MGM MUSEUM website.
*According to Wikipedia, Dougong is a structural element of interlocking wooden brackets, important in traditional Chinese architecture for both its structural capacities and cultural implications.
** Guangcai porcelain, short for the ‘weaving gold’ polychrome glazed porcelain from Guangzhou, is an overglaze-enamelled porcelain characterised by its vibrant palette and the ‘weaving gold and piling jade’ technique – a metaphor for the lavish use of gold paint. – Macau Museum of Art (MAM)
*** Pith paintings in China are a traditional art form that uses thin slices of the pith from the tree known as the “pith plant.” The paintings are known for their vibrant colours and fine details, making them a unique and cherished form of Chinese art. – Poe
This photo provided by integrated resort operator MGM on Wednesday shows attendees of the inaugural session of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage Conversation Series”, which was held at POLY MGM MUSEUM at MGM MACAU on that day.
