Macau-based Portuguese artist Maria Elisa da Rocha Vilaça opened her solo craft exhibition “EVERYTHING IS CREATED, EVERYTHING IS TRANSFORMED.” yesterday at CREATIVE MACAU (CCI) in Nape, using artworks made from natural and discarded materials to encourage environmental awareness and sustainable living.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Vilaça said the exhibition reflects her long-standing commitment to education and raising awareness, particularly among younger generations, about respecting nature and making better use of materials that are often thrown away.
Vilaça also said that “modern society has become increasingly driven by excessive consumption, with people discarding items almost immediately after use”. Through the exhibition, Vilaça said she hopes to inspire visitors to see the value in reusing everyday objects instead of treating them as waste.
The exhibition features work created from materials collected across Macau, including leaves from gardens, driftwood, beach finds and objects recovered from rubbish bins. Vilaça said that each piece demonstrates how discarded or natural materials can be transformed into something new through creativity, noting the importance of teaching children to appreciate nature from an early age, arguing that environmental awareness should begin through education and everyday experiences.
Vilaça added that today’s younger generation is growing up in an increasingly fast-paced and automated world, making it even more important to encourage curiosity, creativity and meaningful human connections.
The exhibition presents both an artistic showcase and an environmental appeal, inviting visitors to rethink consumption habits and discover new possibilities in materials that might otherwise be discarded.
Running through July 25, 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 between Monday and Saturday, between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Stay tuned for an upcoming Page 4 photo feature about the exhibition.
Macau-based Portuguese artist Maria Elisa da Rocha Vilaça addresses yesterday’s “EVERYTHING IS CREATED, EVERYTHING IS TRANSFORMED.” craft exhibition opening ceremony at CREATIVE MACAU (CCI) in Nape. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
