Culture | Arts Festival kicks off 26th edition

The 26th Macao Arts Festival kicked off on Friday evening with the Asian premiere of “Lied Ballet” at the Macau Cultural Centre.
The president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Ung Vai Meng, stated at the opening ceremony that “having already become an important cultural event in the territory and within the region, the Macao Arts Festival’s current goal is to ‘lead aesthetic appreciation and promote the development of the local arts.’”
He acknowledged that the annual event “continues to introduce a variety of avant-garde works, such as tonight [Friday night]’s opening show, Lied Ballet, which is aimed at challenging the customs of aesthetic appreciation as well as broadening the artistic horizons of the public.”
The Festival, “by supporting and promoting the development of local productions, has succeeded in establishing a solid and broad exchange and showcase platform, allowing local artists to fully display their talent,” added the official.
The opening show was presented by the Centre Choreographique National de Tours from France. Following the show, its choreographer Thomas Lebrun led the audience in a dance at an outdoor party held at the CCM, as a special session to celebrate the inauguration.
This year, the Festival will comprise of more than 100 events, including 30 shows and exhibitions along with an outreach program, taking place throughout the month.
Among the highlights: a wood-
en robotic puppet that has specifically been created for the artificial ecological theatre in the family performance “Savanna – A Possible Landscape,” which explores the relationship between technology, human beings and nature with the audience. Another is “Memory Blueprint II,” a local production presented by Soda-City Experimental Workshop Arts Association with dance performances, music and visual effects, which reflects the concerns and expectations regarding Macau’s urban development. Furthermore, a Dirks Theatre Arts Association show, “Protean Cities,” recounts a very personal life experience through the creation of a sense of empathy and affinity in the audience while portraying the many facets of urban life.
“We hope that the participating artists and audience can, through cultural interactivity with the artists, find the true meaning of the rich art vocabulary as well as give rise to a spiritual exchange,” said Ung Vai Meng. BY