Photography | New exhibition highlights memories of Portugal, hopes for Macau

Wilson Caldeira

An exhibition of the works of photographer Wilson Caldeira will be held at the Macau Design Center between September 10 and 18, showcasing his journey from Portugal to Macau.
The solo exhibition is divided into two chapters. The first, “Doubt”, is a collection of pictures from Portugal, taken approximately seven months before the artist left Portugal. “It is a kind of farewell to Portugal, family and friends,” said Caldeira in a statement.
Meanwhile, the second chapter, “Hope”, is about Macau – the new “world” and opportunity that lies ahead for the photographer.
His work tackles themes such as home, the family, and memories, as well as exploring the difficulties and uncertainty that face those who relocate to other parts of the world.
“My work explores the places where I live, my family, friends and details of my daily life,” he wrote. “I do not have a particular rule about the way I photograph […] along the way I will find the right images to create my narratives.”
On a broader level, the photographer wants to build connections between the art and culture in Macau and Portugal, as he believes this is conducive to the development of cross-border artistic experiences.
“We have to embrace this concept of globalization and take advantage of different cultures […] Portuguese and Macanese people should share through art experiences, learn about each other and contribute to enrich this beautiful miscellanea of culture and history,” said the photographer.
Caldeira was born in Angola in 1975. After studying marketing and communication at the tertiary level, he later pursued a course in photography at Portugal’s Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Tomar.
He has participated in numerous exhibitions and joint projects in Portugal, including a collective exhibition last year at Creative Macau, called “Cities.”
The exhibition will open at 5 p.m. on September 10 at the Macau Design Center. DB