The “International Manga Artists’ Exhibition Macau 2025” opened on Thursday at the city centre’s Livraria Portuguesa (“Portuguese Bookshop”), bringing together more than 30 comic artists from across the globe to celebrate creativity and cultural exchange through the art of manga*.
According to a statement provided by the Association of Promoting Macau Comics and Animation Cultural Exchange (APMCACE), the exhibition is organised by the former and sponsored by the Cultural Development Fund (NDF), running until Saturday.
The exhibition showcases works by artists including the United States’ Chad Hardin, Italy’s Misu Yamaneko, and Japan’s Hiroshi Kanatani. The exhibition aims to promote artistic and technical dialogue between local and visiting creators while encouraging the growth of the city’s comic industry.
The participating artists spoke about their creative journeys and insights during yesterday’s opening ceremony, highlighting the growing global appeal of manga culture.
Speaking to the Post, Hardin, known for his work on Marvel Comics and DC Comics, reflected on the evolution of the comic industry and his passion for the medium. “When I went to a comic book store at 12 years old, I knew that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” Hardin said.
He noted the shifts in readership habits over time, observing that “people consume comics differently now – digital downloads have changed how we measure success.” Hardin also said how Japanese manga influenced his early style, despite publishers once discouraging it. “I was told to stop drawing manga and draw American style,” he said. “Then a few years later, manga became mainstream. The moral of the story? Stick to your guns.”
Through exhibitions like this, Macau aims to continue to strengthen its role as a hub for cultural exchange, offering a platform for creators and audiences alike to celebrate the enduring power of storytelling through art, the statement noted.
*Manga (“whimsical drawings”) is a diverse and sophisticated medium of Japanese comic art and storytelling, characterised by its unique visual language, serialised publication format, and categorisation by target demographics. It is a massive cultural export that has captivated millions of readers worldwide. – DeepSeek
Photos by Khalel Vallo
