Review by Swallow Xu
Against a festive backdrop on the 3rd floor, Shoppes at The Parisian Macao, Cotai, “The Exhibition of Artworks of the Members of Macau Artist Society 2025” stands out as a spectacular landscape in this happiness-filled integrated resort.
During the Christmas-New Year holiday season, the event received hundreds of visitors daily, both local and international, from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, China’s Taiwan region, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Türkiye, the Middle East, the Philippines and the Americas, with peak time in the afternoon, with visitors still lingering in the colourful art spaces by closing time at 7p.m.
The exhibition, one of the largest of the year, featuring more than 100 local artists organised by the Macau Artist Society (MAS) supported by Sands China and sponsored by the Macao Cultural Development Fund, is presented in six rooms, most of which face the rotunda with the recently concluded POP MART’s photogenic installations which gave an attractive atmosphere. The 179 pieces/sets on show are richly diverse, with watercolours, oil paintings, sculptures, ink paintings, calligraphy, installation art, printmaking, and mixed media, with gorgeous colours enticing passers-by to walk in.
The exhibits cover a wide range of themes – most rooted in local heritage sites, landscapes and customs which captivate non-local visitors – and varied styles, from traditional Chinese arts to contemporary visual language, fully reflecting Macau’s unique East-meets-West artistic ecology. Among the most popular works are MAS President Lok Hei’s painting “Hei! What Brings You Here”, a humorous self-portrait which prompts viewers to reflect on Macau’s history as a meeting point of Eastern and Western cultures; Cheang Chon Hei’s “Is Everything OK?”, a collection in simple, modern touches pondering fast-paced daily routines of each and every contemporary man; and local artist Cecilia Lao’s lacquer-based work “Blues of the Ruins of St. Paul’s”, crafted out of mixed media including gold/silver foil and goose egg shells featuring the landmark Ruins of St. Paul’s.
Other works, either local and Chinese mainland themes and even foreign landscapes, also draw selfie snappers, art lovers and tourists who entered the exhibition with luggage, families of old and young, and lively groups of friends or individual travellers.
The MAS members’ exhibition is the first to be held at The Parisian Macao in a setting with an extraordinary atmosphere for showing the artworks, where the exquisite, eye-catching works and The Parisian’s elegant splendour complement each other perfectly. Visitors expressed their appreciation of the art on display, saying they provide a window for them to understand Macau and its art scene better. Some art peers from neighbouring regions and countries (the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Japan) said works by Macau artists demonstrate East-meets-West techniques, are more contemporary and show very distinctive themes not found in other places. MAS’ this first trial may serve as a successful example of showcasing arts and creating an artistic oasis in Macau’s integrated resorts and other commercial spaces to bring the beauty of arts closer to the general public. It is a positive lesson that art is not only for museumgoers, but also a vessel to show worldwide visitors Macau’s multifaceted charm.
The exhibition, with free admission, is open daily to the public until March 27 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Shops 3303, 3305a, 3305b, 3305c, 3306, and 3320 on the 3rd floor Shoppes at The Parisian Macao, Cotai.
This photo recently provided by Swallow Xu and taken by Hon Cheong shows an artwork titled “Hei! What Brings You Here” by Macau Artist Society President Lok Hei.
