“Ink as Void” opened at CREATIVE MACAU (CCI) in Nape last week, aiming to present a contemporary dialogue between calligraphy, literature and spatial art through the works of Macau-based artist Xi Di.
Blending ink, installation, video and mixed media, the exhibition reinterprets traditional calligraphy as an immersive and interactive visual experience. According to the event booklet, the exhibition positions ink as a bridge connecting text, poetry and spatial installation.
Rather than treating calligraphy solely as written language, Xi transforms brushstrokes into structural and environmental elements, allowing audiences to “feel” the exhibits as spaces to inhabit instead of merely reading them.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Paulo Canelas de Castro, president of the Centre for Creative Industries, welcomed guests to the opening ceremony and praised Xi Di’s ability to bring together different artistic disciplines within a short preparation period. He noted that the exhibition demonstrates the artist’s versatility through the combination of calligraphy, poetry, installations, and spatial experimentation, creating what he described as a “holistic approach” to artistic expression.
Castro said the works reflect both technical skill and conceptual depth, with written language becoming part of the physical and visual environment of the gallery, highlighting that the exhibition embodies the mission of Creative Macau in providing a platform for local artists to showcase their talent and creativity. Describing Xi Di as “an outstanding talent in this community,” Castro said the exhibition itself was proof of the artist’s originality and artistic strength.
Rather than elaborating extensively on the exhibition’s concept, Castro encouraged attendees to hear directly from the artist, whom he said “deserves to be heard, listened to and appreciated,” while thanking the public for supporting local art and participating in the opening ceremony.
Xi said in his speech that he had recently spent days reflecting on how artistic creation could be expressed through “different materials, different concepts and different spaces”. Elaborating on one of his installations, Xi said the work used ink as an adhesive element, adding that words and poems were attached to materials before being torn away, creating what he described as a “double-layered work”.
Xi also noted that several works were created or modified directly within the exhibition space, allowing room for spontaneity and unexpected developments during the installation process. Xi added that some of his poems were intentionally concealed within the exhibition as interactive elements for visitors to discover. “It becomes like a game space”, he said, adding that “the poems can even become a platform or a red carpet for people to walk on”.
Running through May 30, the exhibits are on display at the CREATIVE MACAU gallery on the ground floor of the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape with free admission Monday to Saturday, between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Photos: Khalel Vallo
