participating work: coming true
At the beginning of the 20th century, new forms and schools of art such as Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Abstract Art, Dada, Surrealism, amongst others kept emerging. Contemporary art had unshackled itself from the limitation of naturalism and had been extending multi-directionally to bring about a brand new look of art appreciation and evaluation. It had also greatly enriched the forms and range of the languages of art.

In the 1960’s, the arise of pop art in the United States and Europe represented the beginning of a new era of art development. Pop art focused on the impromptu and stood for the interchange of time and space, which led to the appearance of postmodernism focusing on cultural hybridity. Almost simultaneously, there had been a new trend in western art development such as the invention of Minimal Art and Conceptual Art. The artists attached more importance to the expression of their ideas and concepts and that had led the art undertakings of Europe and America to another decade of advocating rational thinking.

In Macao, limited by information exchange and the general environment, traditional wash painting, watercolour and oil painting had been major art forms until the 1970’s. The romantic atmosphere of combining both oriental and western styles was still a unique feature of Macao.

In the mid 1980’s, Macao had stepped onto a fast growing stage, bringing about new opportunities for art development. From then to the early 1990’s, several master painters from China, Hong Kong, Portugal, Singapore, Australia and Russia had come to live in Macao, bringing with them new thoughts and motives for art creations. Together with local artists, they had tried to find inspiration from the rich cultural background of combined western and oriental cultures, and to express strong personalities through various means of abstract art, as well as considering the properties and implications of objects.

Up to the mid 1990’s, modern art which focused more on subjective perception and expression had become one of the most important visual art forms in Macao, and had a great impact on the new generation of artists. Some new artists, with the exception of the traditional means of painting, photography and sculpture, had introduced new methods such as art installation, art behaviour, video art, and the electronic media to express their independent thoughts on the living environment of modern society.

Through the effort of many years by various means, such as collecting award-winning works, donations and purchases, the Macao Museum of Art has collected a significant number of modern art works since the 1980’s. Most of the pieces on exhibited today are collections of the Museum, the remainder being from the private collections of local collectors. The exhibition would never have been successful without their gracious support. In this regard, I would like, on behalf of the Macao Museum of Art, to express my sincere gratitude to them.

What are presented today are some new works of art with innovative concepts and inspirations. They represent the unique feelings of lives by those artists, and are also regarded as representative cultural symbols of Macao. Without their unremitting efforts, the cultural outline of Macao would certainly become vague and strange.

Ung Vai Meng

Director
Macao Museum of Art

related link: Macau Contemporary Paintings, Macau Art Museum