Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), the “Lingua Franca - 2nd Annual Arts Exhibition between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, was inaugurated on 26 September, at No. 55 - 57 Avenida do Coronel Mesquita (Green Townhouses). The opening ceremony was officiated by the representative of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin; the Consul-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Paulo Cunha Alves; the Deputy Director of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao S.A.R., Liu Wei; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Mok Ian Ian; the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; and the representative of the curators of exhibition, Manuel Correia da Silva. This exhibition is one of the series activities of “Art Macao” and of the “2nd Encounter in Macao – Arts and Cultural Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries”, showcasing the diverse manifestations and development of contemporary art in China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and offering a new experience of Chinese and Portuguese visual arts to residents and tourists.
The exhibition “Lingua Franca” features numerous photography and video works by 22 representative artists from 10 countries and regions, including Mainland China, Macao, and the Portuguese-speaking countries, showcasing the distinctive regional cultures and diverse customs. The curators lead to exchanges and dialogues through the artworks, allowing multiculturalism to resonate, and composing wonderful art chapters from China and Portuguese-speaking countries. This exhibition is held at No. 55 - 57 Avenida do Coronel Mesquita (Green Townhouses), which is open for the first time after its restoration, as well as at the Former Municipal Cattle Stable, bringing Chinese and Portuguese artistic atmosphere in the streets.
One of the curators of the exhibition, Albano da Silva Pereira, is going to give a talk about the exhibition tomorrow (27 September) at 6:30pm at the Former Municipal Cattle Stable. The talk will be done in Portuguese and English. All are welcome to join. Seats are limited and are on first-come first-serve basis.
The Portuguese-style Green Townhouses are composed of single houses with exterior walls painted in green and white, and with small and elegant interior spaces, creating an ideal space with a cosy and comfortable atmosphere for visitors to enjoy the artworks. During the restoration period, the Cultural Affairs Bureau completely preserved the facade and appearance of the buildings and maintained the spatial characteristics of its front and back yards. The houses are used to hold visual arts exhibitions and related activities, enriching the cultural resources of that area and promoting the artistic development of the community.
The exhibition “Lingua Franca” is held from 27th September until 8th December, at the two exhibition venues of Green Townhouses and the Former Municipal Cattle Stable. The exhibitions venues are open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm, including public holidays. Admission is free. For more information about the exhibition, please visit the website of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.icm.gov.mo. For enquiries, please call IC through tel. no. 8988 4000 during office hours.
