Photo exhibition reminisces about old Macau

From fishermen constructing fishing nets and women delivering spring water, to floatplanes skimming over the water and vintage cars racing at full throttle, a total of 73 photographs captured from the 1960s to the 1990s have been collated to provide a depiction of an old Macau before rapid economic growth caused the city’s urban landscape to transform beyond recognition.
Titled “Reminiscence – Macao Old Photos Collection Exhibition,” the collection features five renowned local photographers, namely Ao Peng, Ao Chi Keung, Carlos Dias, Tam Kai Hon and Kong Iu Lam. It was inaugurated yesterday at the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), an event which marked the school’s 20th anniversary.
Running until November 30, the exhibition aims to offer the public an “opportunity to appreciate the old photos of Macau and also look into the future, while recalling the memories of the past.”
“The urban landscape has been changing rapidly in Macau along the economic boom and development by leaps and bounds in recent years. The traditional industries such as fishing, shipbuilding and fireworks which once were in great demand have been declining gradually and some have even ceased to exist. However, the demolition of buildings, the change of the coastlines, and the emergence of new industries have deeply affected the environment of the citizens’ lives,” stressed Diamantina Coimbra, IFT’s director of the Tourism and Hotel School.
“The photographers walked through the streets and laneways of Macau and not only registered the historical change of the buildings and streets with their delicate camera lenses, but also captured wonderful cultural landscapes for life. The precious old photos are valuable historical materials, in addition to the image recordings. Besides, their advanced artistic techniques and exalted professional spirit also deserve admiration,” she added during the opening ceremony.
Mr Ao Peng, once a photojournalist for over four decades, has witnessed and recorded the past half-century of changing society. He told the Times that his favorite scenes to capture in Macau are people in various practices of industries.
“I take all types of photographs: people, scenery, architecture, there’s no limit of types; anything that’s worth capturing, I would photograph it. In the past when we only used film, a shot would easily turn useless if your framing wasn’t satisfying. What I like very much is photographing all walks of life, thereby many of my photos are [of such things],” he said.
The photographer cited to reporters a frame that features citizens spontaneously celebrating Chinese National Day during the Portuguese administration. He explained, “Today’s youngsters may have no idea how enthusiastic the Macau compatriots in 60s and 70s would be when celebrating  National Day every year. It was very lively during the celebrations, I have many photos of that.”
Mr Carlos Dias also mentioned that he selected photographs of streets and lanes for the theme of “old Macau reminiscence,” as many of them today no longer exist.
“I stopped photographing for some thirty years, and when I picked it up again in 2013, everything was already different. It’s very difficult to photograph what was in the past,” he concluded.