Art Garden showcases series of works from local artists

Tak Chun Macau Art Garden is currently showcasing a series of artworks from 40 local artists in its art week, which commenced over the weekend.

Presented at the five-story building, the art week will hold arts and crafts workshops, along with a cultural and creative craft market, where members and other artists were invited to put up their products for sale.

The art week is also the official inauguration of the mural created by Joaquim Franco, who will also participate in the arts and crafts workshop to be held next weekend.

Supported by gaming junket Tak Chun Group, Alice Kok, president of General Assembly of Art For All Society, said that after the Art Garden opened its doors to the public in 2016, this year was perfect timing for the 40 local artists to showcase their works to the public.

“We have been gathering a lot of artists and associations so […] we decided that it was time for us to show the public what we have been working on,” Kok told the Times.

Held until Feb. 3, the Art Week is based on the accomplishments of the Art Garden since its opening, included its newly painted murals, public spaces, galleries and café.

“We think that it’s time [and] the time is ripe for the public to see what’s going on and to let our sponsors know what we’ve been working on,” Kok said.

During these weeks, the exhibition will also feature light installations and light photography.

According to Kok, the Art Garden has encountered management challenges and financial difficulties as they rented the whole building and shared it with other associations and artists.

Yet since July 2017, the group obtained sponsorship from Tak Chun, hence the change of name.

Kok noted that finding a sponsor for the art venue was challenging, explaining that they decided to approach the junket operator after looking for possible sponsorships since its opening in 2016.

“This project is quite big because it’s the whole building and in Macau we do not have that yet. Around 40 to 50 artists work here, so it’s a big project. […] We [Tak Chun and Macau Art Garden] spoke a different language so the challenge was to show them our values and why we need them,” Kok explained.

The group submits its work reviews every six months to the junket operator as part of its contract.

Meanwhile, Kok admitted that the five-story building is a significant help to the local artists, explaining that it is being used as a platform for them to share their resources and adding that one of the main challenges of the artists is to acquire a space in which to work.

“The atmosphere here is different and the artists could reach out to each other. It is an official space where ideas and works can be shared,” she said.