Artist Ada Zhang (張洪) has lived in Macau for a number of years, and in her latest exhibition at the 10 Fantasia gallery, she uses painting to capture the parts of the city that makes it distinct.
Mainly watercolours, Zhang’s latest solo exhibition “Macau in Spring Breeze” sees a compilation of her standout works made over the past few years.
Each frame presents something familiar and undoubtedly Macau, all with a twist through Zhang’s art style. Whether that’s depicting landmarks in the city centre like Largo do Senado, the nearby Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) headquarters and the General Post Office (GPO), the distinct local streets and alleys, night scenes like a rain-soaked Rua de Felicidade (福隆新街 - “Street of Bliss”), or the stylised depiction of speed at the Macau Grand Prix (MGP), Zhang’s brush strokes show it all.
In terms of the works on display, most are watercolour pieces, though among there are also oils like the larger artwork “Dusk”, which presents a landscape featuring hotels and other buildings with their lights turning on as the sun begins to set.
According to information displayed at the gallery, Zhang, who has won various awards and taken part in a number of joint and solo exhibitions, specialises in oils, watercolours and sketching.
She notes in an artist’s statement that the city has become etched into her soul, with the city being part of her artistic journey.
Particularly highlighting watercolour as a medium, Zhang notes in the statement that it “acts as a flowing dialogue. Water and colour freely merge and seep across the paper – just like Macau itself: a city that is inclusive and ever-changing. It holds both the depth and ancient simplicity of historical accumulation, and the bright flickering rhythm of modern life”.
Each piece Zhang chose for the exhibition condenses her “deep, tender gaze towards” Macau, hoping that exhibitiongoers will not only find familiarity, but a “quiet peace” found through each brush stroke, the statement added.
The exhibition is hosted by the Macau Youth Art Association in conjunction with the Macau Artist Society (MAS) and the gallery. It is located within the gallery’s “Young Artist Exhibition Room” on the basement and runs through October 31. Members of the public can visit the free admission venue on Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro (瘋堂斜巷) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.
– Photos taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
