Interview by Sherwin Hng
The University of Saint Joseph (USJ) has opened an exhibition on its Ilha Verde Campus called “Greatest Hits”, showcasing 20 selected graduation projects produced by students of its Bachelor of Communication and Media (BCM) programme over the past six years.
The exhibition, which opened last Wednesday, brings together works spanning photography, video, sound, interactive media, 3D modelling, and AI, providing a glimpse into the creative output of the programme’s students and graduates.
João Brochado, head of USJ’s Department of Media, Art and Technology and programme coordinator for Communication and Media, told the Post that the new gallery was part of a long-term plan to place the library and exhibition space at the heart of the university campus.
The idea dates back to 2020, when the Catholic university’s former rector Stephen Morgan envisioned creating a space around the campus patio where students and staff could gather and engage with the university’s cultural and creative activities.
The library was relocated to the area last year, while the gallery finally opened its doors last Wednesday, following years of restructuring and delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Greatest Hits” is the gallery’s inaugural exhibition.
Brochado said the university hoped the gallery would continuously host exhibitions, with one display replacing another rather than leaving the space empty. It is open to the general public whenever the campus is open.
He noted that “Greatest Hits” was also a celebration of the BCM programme, which has produced more than 500 graduates since its first cohort in 2009.
The selected projects were chosen partly for their innovative use of technology and their suitability for the new gallery, while also reflecting issues relevant to Macau in general and students in particular.
Among the featured works is “Macau’s Dirty Secrets”, created by Mafalda Cândido da Silva Ramos, a 2024 BCM graduate, which explores the unseen consequences of pollution in Macau through light-reactive imagery.
Mafalda said she was pleasantly surprised when she learnt that her work had been selected, particularly because she had initially worried that the project’s title and subject matter might be controversial or difficult for audiences to understand.
The idea was partly inspired by artist Helenya Apostolou, whose light-reactive work Mafalda discovered on TikTok.
“Since Macau is my home, and I care so deeply about it, I wanted to touch on a topic that would invite people to think deeper about the consequences the world suffers due to our actions,” she said.
Creating the project involved repeated trial and error as she worked to meet the deadline and realise her original vision. Mafalda noted that photographing different parts of Macau and developing the project through video calls with close friends allowed her to “play tourist” in her own home town.
Having the work displayed in the gallery, she said, gave her a sense that the effort she had put into the project was being recognised.
Although audiences might not see the process behind the work, Mafalda described the project as an important learning experience that helped her overcome self-doubt and gave her greater confidence to continue experimenting with new ideas.
Brochado said the university hoped the gallery would eventually become a regular venue for its graduation exhibitions, allowing students’ work to be seen not only by the university community, but also by visitors passing through the campus.
He added that the university was promoting the exhibition through social media and news channels, while alumns were also encouraged to return to the campus to see how the university and the BCM programme had evolved.
A visitor uses a VR device to look at “Macao Nature Sound Map” during opening day of both the new gallery and the current exhibition. – Photos taken last Wednesday by Sherwin Hng.
A visitor looks at “Macau’s Dirty Secrets”, created by Mafalda Cândido da Silva Ramos, a 2024 Bachelor of Communication and Media graduate, on display at the gallery.
João Brochado, head of USJ’s Department of Media, Art and Technology and programme coordinator for Communication and Media, poses at the university’s new gallery on the Ilha Verde Campus.
