The free-admission “FLOW – Paintings by Alice Costa” exhibition opened yesterday evening at Creative Macau, the Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) in Nape, presenting a body of abstract works aiming to translate the rhythms of nature into textured, sensory experiences.
According to a message card distributed by the centre, the exhibition centres on organic shapes and fluid lines, reflecting spontaneity found in natural environments. Through tactile techniques such as impasto*, splattering and layering, the paintings develop textured surfaces that invite both visual and haptic engagement. Rather than depicting recognisable scenes, the works convey movement, energy and emotional resonance, encouraging viewers to respond intuitively, the message pointed out.
The exhibition features 48 paintings.
Alice Costa is a local-based abstract painter who explores the essence of nature through form, texture and emotion. Born in Macau to a Portuguese father and a Chinese mother, she graduated from the University of Macau in 1994 and later served as a judge of the First Instance Court from 1997.
At the opening ceremony yesterday, Costa said in a speech that her journey into painting began long before her legal career, but only fully took shape three years ago after she discovered abstract techniques using materials such as sand, clay and minerals.
“I found my talent wasn’t for perfect shapes but for feeling and flow. That’s why this series is called Flow,” she said. She described the works as organic and energetic, noting that the large-scale painting at the exhibition entrance was her biggest challenge and best reflects the movement and power she aims to convey.
“The shapes and lines move organically like in nature. They are full of energy,” Costa said, who also revealed that FLOW is a charity exhibition, with all proceeds, from the sale of any of the exhibits, supporting a local organisation marking its 20th anniversary this year.
“Because this journey has brought me so much, I want my first exhibition to give back,” she said, inviting visitors to engage closely with the works and the stories behind them.
As a sensory-focused exhibition, FLOW invites audiences to feel rather than interpret, offering a contemplative encounter with nature’s chaos and serenity through abstract expression. The exhibits are on display at the centre on the ground floor of the Cultural Centre (CCM) until the end of the month, from Monday to Saturday, between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
*Impasto is a painting technique characterised by the application of thick layers of paint, often creating a textured surface. – Poe
Alice Costa speaks during the opening ceremony of her exhibition at Creative Macau, the Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) in Nape. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
