The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), organised the participation of the award-winning artists of the “Annual Exhibition of Macao Visual Arts 2024” in the “Beijing Dangdai Art Fair 2025”, showcasing Macao’s outstanding visual art creations in a special exhibition space. In addition, an “Art Forum” was held on the morning of 23 May, inviting various scholars and artists to share their insights.
Since its inception in 2018, the Beijing Dangdai Art Fair has become one of the most representative contemporary art events in Mainland China. This edition of the Fair is held from 22 to 25 May at Hall 11 of the National Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing. IC organised the participation of the local artists in the Fair, showcasing Macao’s cultural vitality and artistic achievements to domestic and international audiences, and promoting in-depth dialogue between Macao’s art sector and art circles in Mainland China and abroad.
The Macao’s exhibition area features ten pieces/sets of artworks, covering a wide variety of media including print, video, oil painting, watercolour, mixed media and installation, which were created by award-winning artists of the “Annual Exhibition of Macao Visual Arts 2024”, including (in order of the character strokes of the Chinese names) Lei Hio Lam, Cheong Hang Fong, Leong Wai Lap, Leong Kit Man, Mak Kuong Weng, Wong Kin Tong, Wong Mei Teng, Lao I Wo, Cheong Cheng Wa and Filipe Miguel das Dores. The themes of the works range from urban changes, cultural memories to educational reflections, which are not only deeply rooted in Macao’s culture, but also meticulously capture the pulse of the society, demonstrating the artists’ profound views on the territory and the current times.
The opening ceremony was held on 22 May, and was officiated by the Director of the Office of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Beijing, Leong Kit Chi; the Head of Department for Promoting Cultural and Creative Industries of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Ho Hong Pan; the Artistic Director of the Organising Committee of the Beijing Dangdai Art Fair, Bao Dong; and the renowned curator and critic Feng Boyi; and was attended by the Head of the Division of Visual Art of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Van Pou Lon and participating artists Cheong Hang Fong, Leong Kit Man, Lao I Wo, Cheong Cheng Wa and Filipe Miguel das Dores.
The “Art Forum” was concurrently held on 23 May, at 11:30am, at the Forum Hall 11 of the National Agricultural Exhibition Center in Beijing, dedicated to the theme “Macao: Navigating Between Tides”. Chaired by Feng Boyi, the Forum features guest speakers (in an arbitrary order) including the researcher of the National Art Museum of China, Wei Xiangqi; the artist Zhang Xiaotao; the PhD student in cross-cultural art history at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Sun Linlin; the artist Zhang Wenchao; and the artist and critic Lei Lai. Focusing on the artistic evolution and characteristics of Macao, the Forum explores the impact of multicultural backgrounds and creative practices, the impact of cultural heritage on contemporary art, as well as the creativity and cultural influence of Macao’s art in contemporary society. Highlights of the “Art Forum” will be available on the mobile app “Zai Art”. Interested parties are welcome to visit the website www.zai-art.com to download the app and watch the event.
