Casa de Penhores Tak Sang (德生大按) is the site of an Art Macao exhibition entitled “Genetic Duration”, with nine artists transforming the spaces within the erstwhile pawnshop through paintings, photos, videos, sculptures, among a variety of artworks.
“Casa de Penhores” is Portuguese for pawnshop.
Curated by veteran artist Guilherme Ung Vai Meng, who is also one of the artists showcasing their works at the exhibition, the atmospheric event allows members of the public to walk around the former pawnshop’s first and ground floors and explore what it once was in addition to admiring the various artworks, which are displayed across thirteen sections.
The other eight artists showcasing their works are Konstantin Bessmertny, Chan Hin Io, Chao Chi Chun, Guan Hao Wen, Ung Cheng Nam, Ung Cheng Tong, Wu Deng Yang and Xu Jian Chun. Each have “chosen cultural genes-endowed with resilient vitality – as their central theme, embarking on an artistic experiment that transcends dimensions”, Ung said in the curator’s statement.
“Genes are the invisible blueprints at the core of life, encoding both destiny and the survival strategies accumulated through human adaptation and evolution”, Ung noted in the statement, adding that the exhibition features the collective themes of “Genes”, “The Sea Rises No Waves”, and “The Four Longshen (Guardian Dragons of Land)” along with the individual display spaces for each artist, according to the statement.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (IC) Macau cultural heritage website notes that the Tak Sang Pawnshop was constructed during the 19th century and is in the category of buildings of architectural interest.
Ung highlighted the significance of the pawnshop and its history, noting that it is a “precious crystallisation of Macau’s cultural genes” and that hosting the exhibition there carries “profound significance” as “the diverse experiments of contemporary art engage in a dialogue across time and space with the wisdom and craftsmanship of traditional artisans”.
Closed on Mondays, “Genetic Duration” is in its final 9-day run, ending on November 9. One can visit during the period from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The venue is located at 62A-64 Rua de Cinco de Outubro (十月初五街62號A至64號).
Photos taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
