ART | Celebrated Chinese painters scour the city for exhibition inspiration

Zhang Yong, Jiang Jian Wen, Zhou Gang, Zhang Jian Chun

Four A-list watercolor painters from the mainland are currently in town seeking inspiration for a collaborative exhibition, featuring a total of 40 Macau-themed paintings that aim to depict the city’s European-style legacy as well as its oriental urban-scape.
Zhou Gang, Deputy Dean of the Design School at the China Academy of Art told the Times that the unique cultural diversity of the city, expressed in local architecture, would be the source of inspiration. Most artists among the group who arrived yesterday afternoon have already visited the city several times, yet what Zhou described as a “picturesque city” still made them excited about the event.
Despite no further details about the exhibition having been confirmed, the artists hoped to put their paintings on display back in the mainland, as it would encourage interaction between artists and students on both sides.
According to Zhou, it was Macau who opened the gates to the concept of western painting for China. “Macau is an important place for passing on western watercolor painting to China. In the past, it is via Macau, as the first stop, the western watercolor painting could make its way through China. Starting from Macau, it went to Hong Kong then mainland China,” he said.
Their four-day stay in the city was merely the start of their artistic endeavors, which would need at least a year back home to complete. Yet the prominent Chinese painter told the Times that the days spent in the city were for understanding its atmosphere. The Taipa Houses-Museum, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, the historic area behind the Ruins of Saint Paul and the casino-scape at Cotai were the destinations that intrigued the artists most. Staff reporter