Artist Zhu Bingren highlights Macau as int’l window for Chinese art
Zhu Bingren is presenting his copper art in his first large-scale exhibition in Macau titled “Golden Fortunes: the Macau Debut of Zhu Bingren’s Copper Art”, which kicked off at GalaxyArt in Cotai yesterday morning.
Zhu, who pioneers the molten copper technique, is noted in a gallery statement provided during yesterday’s event as a National-level Inheritor of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Copper Carving, Master of Chinese Arts and Crafts, as well as the Father of Contemporary Chinese Copper Architecture, among others.
The exhibition at Galaxy Macau features a total of 68 pieces and sets on display until April 12, all presented across five zones.
Gallerygoers will find a variety of works such as 38 horses in various artforms such as bronze and sculpture; works that were presented as national gifts; and pieces in a Macau-dedicated section “Macau’s Molten Light”, to name a few. Works by Zhu’s son Zhu Junmin are also presented among the showcase of his father’s most representative works.
In a group interview with local English and Chinese-language media prior to the opening, Zhu Bingren, who was born in 1944 in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, noted that Macau is a place he has a special connection with, having travelled to the city several times as well as having hosted talks for the local art community regarding his works and copper-making techniques.
Answering questions from the Post, Zhu Bingren said that he has a deep-rooted feeling for Macau, noting that he sees the city as an international window to showcase Chinese art, culture and contemporary artists.
Despite the prominence of gaming and tourism elements in the city, Zhu highlighted that he thinks Macau offers much more, with room for the development and growth of art, adding that the city is diverse and multicultural. With that, it is the perfect place to present Chinese art in the contemporary context. Zhu also underlined that arts and cultural elements should continue to be upheld. He urged artists from the Chinese mainland to present their best and most valuable works here.
Meanwhile, speaking about the significance of the exhibition, Zhu said that it is not only just about being a large-scale showcase in Macau, but also commemorating the 20th year since his innovations in the molten copper technique, which features the free flow of copper on canvas or other surfaces, symbolising the freeing of the copper, he concluded in his remarks to the Post.
Stay tuned for more photos and details of the free-admission exhibition in an upcoming Page 4.
Zhu Bingren poses with one of his works displayed at “Golden Fortunes: the Macau Debut of Zhu Bingren’s Copper Art” exhibition after yesterday’s group interview at GalaxyArt in Cotai. – Photos: Rui Pastorin
“Golden Bai Cai (Cabbage)”, one of the many exhibits highlighted, is displayed at one of the sections of the exhibition.
