Organized by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM, from the Portuguese acronym), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, and the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), and supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Macao Daily News, the exhibition “Beauty in the New Era: Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China” was inaugurated on 3 May, at 6:30pm, on the 4th floor of MAM. The opening ceremony was held in a lively atmosphere and was officiated by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam Chon Weng; the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Xue Xiaofeng; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; the Deputy Director of the National Art Museum of China, Zhang Qing; the Director of the Macao Daily News, Lok Po; the President of the Macau Artist Society, Lok Hei; the Executive Vice President of the Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao, Sio Chun Iun; and the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Chan Kai Chon.
This exhibition, part of the programmes of the “Art Macao” and the 30th Macao Arts Festival, features nearly 90 masterpieces by 14 modern and contemporary masters, including Qi Baishi, Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong, Liu Haisu, Lin Fengmian, Fu Baoshi and Li Keran, among others, as well as 2 sculptures by the Director of the National Art Museum of China, Wu Weishan, from the collection of the National Art Museum of China, allowing the public to appreciate the classic works and to cultivate their mind while experiencing beauty in the new era. These Chinese fine art classics that are embedded with remarkable thought and wisdom reflects the national character and the connotation of time. The exhibition is divided into two sections, namely “Nourishing Chinese Art with Western Aesthetics” and “Innovating Tradition”, through which the visitors can learn about how these artists combined Chinese and Western techniques and made gradual progress based on tradition, thereby creating a modern new look for Chinese arts as well as promoting the contemporary transformation and innovative development of traditional Chinese art. The humanistic spirit, thoughts and emotions portrayed in the artworks are given new life to embody new values and senses. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China and the 20th anniversary of the Macao’s Handover to China. The Director of the national Museum of Art of China, Wu Weishan, mentioned in the foreword that the exhibition of national treasures in the history of modern and contemporary Chinese art at the Macao Museum of Art was considered to be at the right time. These masterpieces are creations of the time and the present, and are characterized by their transcendence and the spirit of timelessness, advancing with times.
In order to allow the public to have a better understanding of the development and evolution of Chinese fine arts over the past hundred years, the MAM hosted the thematic lecture “The Masters’ Era” on 2 May, conducted by the Deputy Director of the Collection Department of the National Art Museum of China, Han Jinsong. The lecture covered two main characteristics of art in the 20th century and revealed the intrinsic logic of artistic evolution. The lecture was held in a lively atmosphere and attracted many art aficionados, broadening the horizons of the public.
The exhibition“Beauty in the New Era: Masterpieces from the Collection of the National Art Museum of China” is held until 28 July. The Macao Museum of Art, located at Avenida Xian Xing Hai, NAPE, is open daily from 10am to 7pm (no admittance after 6:30pm) including public holidays and closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the MAM’s website at www.MAM.gov.mo. For enquiries, please contact MAM through tel. no. 8791 9814 during opening hours.