An exhibition exploring Macau’s firecracker industry through historical archives and packaging labels is being held at the private Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Cotai, showcasing the cultural and industrial legacy of one of the city’s former economic pillars.
The “Legacy of Time: An Exhibition of Historical Documents on Macau’s Firecracker Industry” opened at the Arts and Culture Gallery on the third floor of MUST’s Library Building last month and runs until August 31. The exhibition is jointly organised by the MUST Library, the Faculty of Humanities and Arts of MUST, and integrated resort operator Sands China as part of the university’s 26th anniversary celebrations.
The exhibition is divided into two sections – “Fireworks in the Archives” and “Splendor in Miniature” – featuring around 100 archival business documents and 500 firework packaging labels from across Guangdong Province and Macau.
Speaking to the Post, local artist Guilherme Ung Vai Meng described the showcase as an extension of the ongoing “A Century of Iec Long Firecracker Factory in Radiance” exhibition at Sands Gallery in Cotai.
“At Sands Gallery, we focus on the Macau firecracker industry because Iec Long Firecracker Factory was established in 1925, so this year marks its 101st anniversary”, Ung said. “Here, we extend the exhibition beyond Macau to the wider Guangdong area because Macau was not an isolated place producing firecrackers. It was one of the important cities connected to the industry”, he added.
Ung said the exhibition aims to demonstrate both the similarities and differences between Macau and neighbouring cities through the labels’ designs and languages. “For example, Macau factory labels sometimes include Portuguese, which is impossible to see in other cities”, he said. Despite their small size, Ung described the labels as “a bridge between different cultures”, noting they connected Macau’s products to countries such as the United States, South Africa, and the Philippines.
Ung said the organisers hope to bring the exhibition to more cities in the future, adding that museums in the Chinese mainland have already expressed interest after seeing the current displays.
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Local artist Guilherme Ung Vai Meng shows an exhibit in a display cabinet to visitors during yesterday’s “Legacy of Time: An Exhibition of Historical Documents on Macau’s Firecracker Industry” at the Arts and Culture Gallery on the third floor of the private Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST)’s Library Building in Cotai. – Photo: Khalel Vallo
