Photo Macau aims to strengthen city’s cultural role

Cecilia Ho (center)

Photo Macau is set to hold its first exhibition of digital art – focusing on moving image and print – between March 24 and 26. The exhibition will also feature symposiums and exclusive showcases.

The debut of Photo Macau, which was three years in the making, will bring together 56 original works by artists around the world.

The preview of the exhibition will present local, regional and international galleries and institutions including Germany’s Anita Beckers, Culturegathery Gallery (also known as Galerie d’Art et Culture) from Taiwan, DNA Macau, Korea’s The Reference and Osage Gallery from Hong Kong.

At a press conference this week, the exhibition’s executive director Cecilia Ho unveiled the upcoming programs, which will feature exhibitions by photographers and new media artists including Mike Steiner, a Horst P. Horst photo-selling exhibition, and a video installation by Jeffrey Shaw accompanied by a presentation on March 24.

Photo Macau’s exhibition by German-born Horst P. Horst will include more than 60 photographic prints showcasing a variety of styles and subjects from women and fashion to still lifes and portraits.

Speaking to the press, Ho expressed her aim to make the region into an art city specializing in photography and moving images, with the government’s support.

“I want to do [the exhibition] to make Macau … [the] home of photography in digital arts, image, video and new media,” said Ho.

Photo Macau’s exhibition will be held concurrently with Art Central Hong Kong, which will be held from March 27.

Ho hoped that art enthusiasts could also visit Macau before attending the event in Hong Kong.

“The southern part of China is going to be very developed and Macau is the center of this Great Bay area, and Macau has a government that is supporting art, so it is high time that we do something and make Macau an art city,” Ho stressed.

On March 25, a symposium will be presented by curators, scholars, artists and collectors, providing a platform for visitors to expand their knowledge about new media.

The symposium that day will include “The Revenge of the Photographic Archive” and “Digital Art – Past, Present & Future.”

Later that day, a collection by Mario Von Kelterborn will be opened to the public.

Tickets for Photo Macau are priced at MOP100. However, Ho confirmed that 90 percent of the tickets will be given for free. Ho added that they have printed some 20,000 tickets.

“We look forward to welcoming art, photography and cultural enthusiasts during this time where works by regional and international galleries will be supported by three fascinating exhibitions,” the executive director said.

Photo Macau will hold its first exhibition at Cotai Expo Hall A.