CREATIVE MACAU is celebrating its 23 years of existence with the ongoing “‘PRESENT’ 23rd Anniversary Members Collective Exhibition” at its gallery in Nape, bringing together works by its members that explore creative freedom, surrealism and the dual meaning of the word “present” as both a gift and the current moment.
Launched last Friday, the exhibition provides a platform for CREATIVE MACAU members to express their individual artistic visions through surreal visual art. The works use symbolic metaphors, distorted perspectives and irrational collages across different media to explore ideas beyond everyday reality.
According to a recent statement by the gallery, “PRESENT” carries two meanings: an artistic gift through which creators convey their emotions and ideas, and a fleeting moment captured and transformed into lasting artwork. Through this concept, the exhibition seeks to connect creators, their works and audiences while reflecting on the significance of the present.
Addressing the opening ceremony last Friday, Paulo Canelas de Castro, president of the Centre for Creative Industries (CCI) and the Institute of European Studies of Macau (IEEM), described the anniversary as a celebration rather than a formal ceremony, noting that the gathering marked 23 years since the launch of the space as a platform for the creative community.
He said that the venue allows artists to present their “artwork” and express their “ingenuity” in different ways, adding that the anniversary was an opportunity to share the joy of participating in the community. Canelas de Castro also highlighted Menn Chow (周萬生), the gallery’s marketing and communication manager, for his interpretation of the exhibition’s “PRESENT” theme. He said that it represents the artists’ creativity and artwork, while also serving as a gift to the wider community.
He also expressed gratitude for the artists’ contributions both to the current exhibition and over the years, while looking forward to the community’s continued development in the future.
The exhibition celebrates CREATIVE MACAU’s 23 years as a space for the local creative community, with “PRESENT” bringing together members’ artistic interpretations of creativity, time and the present moment, according to the statement.
Running through September 25, the exhibits are on display in the gallery on the ground floor of the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape with free admission between Monday and Saturday, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Photos taken at the CREATIVE MACAU gallery in Nape last Friday by Khalel Vallo
