An exhibition entitled “20+1: Portuguese Literature” on Western calligraphy and poetry organised by the Lettering Artists Association of Macau (LAAOM) sponsored by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and the public Macau Foundation (FM) is being held at Mong-Ha Villas.
According to a statement provided by LAAOM, “The theme of the exhibition is “20+1” because it takes place in the first year after the 20th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, while “+1” represents a new direction after the 1999 reversion from Portuguese to Chinese administration.
The association had invited six local and a Hong Kong Western calligraphers to combine Western calligraphy and Portuguese literature to showcase the “practicality and diversity of Western calligraphy”, the statement points out.
The six local artists are Henry Kwok Man See, Oliver Lao Iek Hang, Pansy Chao Mei Sin, Patricia Chu Weng Ian, Q Lei Chin Kio, Sara Sa Iok Teng and Patrick Leung Kwong Tang from Hong Kong. The exhibition also aims to promote Macau’s “unique cultural integration between China and the West”, and create a “Journey of Portuguese literature in Macau” for local citizens, according to the statement.
The artists used different media and materials to create more than 30 Western calligraphy artworks based on Portuguese literature texts about Macau, the statement noted, pointing out that this is the first time that the association is displaying Western calligraphy tools such as penholders and nibs (tips of a pen) collected by the calligraphers.
The exhibition runs until January 9 at the galleries of Mong-Ha Villas in 55-61 Avenida do Coronel Mesquita. It opens daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free.
As part of the government’s COVID-19 epidemic prevention measures, all visitors entering the villas must wear a facemask, have their temperature checked and present a digital health code.
For enquiries, call 6363 3309 during office hours or visit laaom.org
Photos: Camy Tam & courtesy: LAAOM
