Heritage | 100 years of Macau history on display in Lisbon

A trip through 100 years of the story of Macau is what will be offered in the upcoming exhibition in the Portuguese “Museum of the Orient” (Museu do Oriente).

The 120 images are a part of the Museum’s broader collection which covers the social and political history of the territory which was under Portuguese administration for over 450 years.

The scenes of the exhibition move from buildings and neighborhoods that have either disappeared or undergone deeply alterations, to some of the most highlighted local and national events. They pass through the daily experiences of the Macau communities observing their traditions and habits. The exhibition, showing all of these facets of Macau’s recent history, will open at the Museum of the Orient on November 9.

In amongst the collection of images, which were collected by journalist and former Times director Rogério Beltrão Coelho are some of highlighted political figures who passed through the territory. They include Henrique Galvão and Gomes da Costa, and others from different fields such as film stars Orson Welles and Clark Gable.
The exhibition also seeks to remember several moments such as the celebrations of the IV Centenary of the Discovery of the Sea Route to India (1898), the first airplane trips connecting Lisbon to Macau (1924 and 1931), as well as other less memorable but very important occasions, such as the explosion of Flora’s Armory (1931) and the bombing of the civil aviation hangar by the Americans during the War of the Pacific (1945).

Macau had the advantage of being ahead of its time in terms of photography. Dating from 1844, are the first daguerreotypes of the amateur photographer Jules Itier, which are the oldest known images of the region.
The photographic work produced since then by amateurs and professionals in Macau is scattered throughout the world in private collections as well as throughout the collections of museums and institutions.

Just a few of these photos will be shown in the exhibition of the Portuguese museum.

The exhibition will be held for 60 days, from November 9 to January 7. RM