Interview by Rui Pastorin
Just below the Ruins of St. Paul’s, an exhibition hosted by the Old House Gallery is taking on the subject of memory, its connection with the present and how it shapes us with time, inviting a total of eight artists from Macau and the Chinese mainland to showcase their creations.
From acrylics to oils and Chinese paintings to a mixed media piece, “The Flow of Memory” exhibition at 27-27A Rua de São Paulo (大三巴街) is organised by the gallery and the Greater Bay Area Youth Art and Culture Association, being on show until March 1.
Visiting the free-admission venue, exhibitiongoers will find a total of 18 imaginative art pieces, with some of the works being showcased for the first time while others have been displayed in different parts of the Chinese mainland. Among the artists exhibiting their works are Ieong Man Hin, Lao I Wo and Lu Shaoyi from Macau. Alongside them are artists Du Yin, Gao Guanyi, Nan Chao, Song Wanjin and Xu Zhenghong, who are from Chengdu, Shanghai and Nanjing, exhibition curator Catherine Fong (馮美玲) told the Post during an interview at the gallery yesterday.
Fong said that each of the pieces on display represent the artists’ memories. And exploring the venue, exhibitiongoers will find works such as one that reflects on the transition to motherhood through the symbolic use of lemons, a memory of marriage through painted traditional items related to it in Chinese culture, and a piece that shows that people eventually have the power to control their outcomes.
The past and present are tied together, Fong said, with this shown as each artist looks back at those memories and compares them to where he or she are right now, reflecting on the outcomes. “That’s why this exhibition is called ‘The Flow of Memory’. It makes us reveal our old memories. And when we see these paintings, we think about our past and how we have another meaning in the future”, Fong underlined.
While each piece might contain a personal memory within the frames, Fong said that it isn’t just limited to their respective artist, with each exhibitiongoer still possibly finding a connection with at least one of the works shown despite having different pasts and memories. “I think everyone should have a part of their story that they can connect to a painting [here]”.
Moreover, Fong highlighted that with the exhibition featuring artists from different cultures and backgrounds, exchange remains ever important, pointing out: “Macau is too small, I think we need more exposure to learn from the other artists”, inviting mainland Chinese artists to Macau and connecting with local artists and engaging in exchanges.
“When they see the artists from [mainland] China, they not only learn their techniques, but their mindsets, how they think about art, and how they paint. I like this exchange because I think we need to preserve our own technique, but we also need to improve and learn from the others. And to have more exposure”, Fong pointed out.
Beyond hoping to continue mutual learning and exchange, Fong also hopes to promote Macau’s contemporary art, aiming to break the idea of Macau not having an art market.
Fong added that she hopes that someday, they can help with making art become a sustainable way of life for the city’s artists, being part of the local economy while also earning funds to improve their techniques.
Adding to that is wanting to put Macau and its many talented artists in the conversation when collecting art is brought up. “There should be a spot for Macau artists or Macau artwork in the art market”, she underlined. And with the approaching Chinese New Year (CNY) holiday, Fong said that she hopes that they can expose the artists and their work at her gallery, targeting more visitors during that period, just as they did with a previous exhibition during the last CNY holiday where some works were sold. She aims to again be able to help the exhibiting artists sell their work and expose them to collectors.
Members of the public may view the works on the gallery’s second floor daily from 11 a.m. through 7 p.m. Admission is free. The gallery is also selling limited-edition items featuring the works of the artists.
Photo of the façade of the Old House Gallery.
Curator Catherine Fong (馮美玲) poses in front of some of the works on display for “The Flow of Memory” exhibition at the Old House Gallery on Rua de S. Paulo. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
