The exhibition Collotype • Recurrence – Spatial Convergence of John Thomson and Wong Ho Sang, organized by the Macao Museum under the Cultural Affairs Bureau, registered a large number of visitors, receiving approximately 30,000 people since its opening at the end of May until June 30. In addition to the exhibition, the Macao Museum will hold the Wet Plate Photography –Esthetics of Contemporary Nostalgic Images seminar at 3 pm on July 19 (Saturday). Admission is free.
The Exhibition Collotype • Recurrence – Spatial Convergence of John Thomson and Wong Ho Sang consists of two sections. The first section showcases photographic works by British photographer John Thomson (1837-1921) taken on his first visit to the Far East in the 19th century, and published in Illustrations of China and Its People (London, 1873-1874), also on display. The photographs were taken by Thomson, using the collotype printing technique, when he travelled throughout China from 1868 to 1872. The second section presents works obtained via wet plate processing by contemporary Macao photographer Wong Ho Sang, especially for the exhibition. This section not only provides visitors with a better understanding of the photographic method employed by Thomson in the 19th century, but also offers the public an insight into the most advanced printing technique at the time, that allowed the production of images of high resolution and effectively solved the problem of definition in photos processed through traditional printing methods.
The seminar counts on photographer Wong Ho Sang as speaker, who will briefly introduce the historical background, operating techniques and contemporary tendency of wet plate photography. The seminar will be conducted in Cantonese. Those interested should reserve seats through the number (853) 8394 1218 (Ms. Leong), during office hours. Seminar participants will be offered free admissions to the Macao Museum on the same day, as well as a chance to participate in the secret room game The Secret of Wet Plate Photography at the temporary exhibitions educational area. Participants who complete this game in two minutes or less can win a set of “Old Photographs of Macao” postcards, available on a first-come-first-served basis and while stocks last.
The Macao Museum opens daily from 10 am to 6 pm (ticket office closes at 5.30 pm) and is closed on Mondays. Admission to the Museum is free on Sundays for local residents, upon presentation of a valid Macao ID or student ID. For more information about the above-mentioned exhibition and other related activities, please call: (853) 2835 7911, during office hours, or visit: www.macaumuseum.gov.mo or www.icm.gov.mo.
