Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition 2013 – Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Category will be officially inaugurated on May 31st, Friday, at 6:30pm at the Old Court Building, located at Avenida da Praia Grande. The exhibition is part of the 24th Macao Arts Festival, serving as a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and their locally flavoured works.

Unlike previous editions, this year the “Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition” is dedicated to Chinese paintings and calligraphy, seal carving and experimental ink washes. The open call for entries started last October and over 280 artworks were submitted. A five-member jury – composed of veteran Chinese painters and calligraphers from different regions and professional fields – finally selected 81 pieces/sets for this exhibition. Ten of the selected pieces were granted an Award of Distinction, namely: Four Seasons, by Anonymous, by Ho Loi Seng; Three Ladies, by Lei Wai Wa; Memories of the Small City, by Lei Tak Seng; Far from Prosperity, by Hong Lie; Atmosphere of Mahayana Dharma, by Chang Kuok Meng; Wen Tianxiang’s Song of Righteousness, by Ye Jiehao; Illustrating a Tang Poem, by Lio Man Cheong; Innocence, by Liu Ling Ling; A Bunch of Flowers, by Sou Pui Kun; and Zhangjiajie in Rain and Mist, by Tam Chek Wun.

Over its many editions, the annual “Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition” has sparked an enthusiastic response from artists, gathering under one roof local aficionados of art creation and displaying a true variety of flavours. The organizer hopes that this platform for showcasing arts and also for interaction and exchange will stimulate Macao’s art development.

The “Macao Annual Visual Arts Exhibition 2013 – Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Category” runs from June 1st until August 11th, daily from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free.