The exhibition “Determined Spirit – Calligraphy and Painting of Fu Shen”, organized by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM, from the Portuguese acronym) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, and co-organized by the Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, was inaugurated on 23 October, on the 4th floor of the MAM, featuring 68 painting and calligraphy works by renowned academic Professor Fu Shen. The exhibition is held until 19 November.
The opening ceremony was held in a lively atmosphere, and was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leung Hio Ming; the President of the Chinese Cultural Exchange Association, Lei Pui Lam; the Vice-President of Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao, Cheang Fong Lam; the President of the Macau Association of Calligraphy and Sculpture of Seals, Sio Chun Iun; and the artist Professor Fu Shen.
Fu Shen is a renowned art historian, connoisseur of calligraphy and painting, painter and calligrapher. He was born in Shanghai. He moved with his parents to Taiwan in 1948. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts at the Taiwan Normal University and studied under masters such as Huang Junbi and Pu Ru, among others. He worked at the Palace Museum in Taipei. After that, he furthered his studies in the United States and obtained a PhD from the Princeton University. He was an associate professor at the Yale University for four years and worked, later on, as the Director of Chinese Art Department at the Freer and Sackler Galleries in Washington D.C. for fourteen years.
Professor Fu Shen learned calligraphy and painting early in his life. Based on his works of painting and calligraphy authentication and research for his creation, his artistic style was strongly influenced by his in-depth studies. The artist uses a variety of techniques in his works, such as semi-cursive and seal script, giving each a unique character. He advocates that art should reflect the spirit of its time, his works not only have traditional patterns but also experimental techniques, presenting different characteristics. This exhibition features painting and calligraphy works by Fu Shen created in different period of time throughout his life, encapsulating all of the wisdom acquired by Fu Shen in the last decades through his work in art history research and authentication of painting and calligraphy works. A visit is certainly well worth it.
The Macao Museum of Art is located at Avenida Xian Xing Hai, NAPE, and is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm, including public holidays (no admission after 6:30pm) and closes on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the MAM website at www.MAM.gov.mo. For enquiries, please contact MAM through tel. no. 8791 9814 during office hours.
