Organized by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao S.A.R. Government and the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong S.A.R. Government, in cooperation with the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong S.A.R. Government, the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and the Henan Provincial Department of Culture, and presented by the China Arts and Entertainment Group and the China International Exhibition Agency, the “2016 Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale” was inaugurated on 1st September at the Beijing Minsheng Art Museum, and was attended by representatives of Cultural Bureau (IC).
The Biennale, themed “Interactive Times”, introduces works in the fields of art and design from Mainland China, Macao and Hong Kong. The Deputy Director of the Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan Affairs Office of the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China, Li Jiangang, noted in his speech that four editions of the Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale have been successfully held since its inception in 2008. It not only allows the audiences from Mainland China to understand the visual arts of Hong Kong and Macao, but also has become an important exchange platform between Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. The head of the Department of Exhibitions and Museums of IC, Lei Lai Kio, referred in her speech that the Biennale introduced the previous winning works to the public from Mainland China. In addition, it also presented original animations and representative advertising videos as well as the light shows introduced in Macao in the recent years, taking visitors on an extraordinary visual journey.
This year marks the fifth time the Macao S.A.R. participates in the “Hong Kong-Macao Visual Art Biennale”. In this edition, Macao’s exhibition space is dedicated to the theme “Macau Good Design” and features a total of 16 art pieces in the four categories of Graphic Design, Animation, Video Design and 3D Mapping Show, as well as information on the works in mobile apps, thereby strengthening the public’s understanding of the works. On the same day, a sharing session with the artists was held. Nearly 20 curators and artists from the three regions were invited to share their experiences in creativity and discuss the current circumstance of the arts in each region.
After the exhibition ends in Beijing on 9th of September, it will be staged at Dunhuang in Gansu as part of the “Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo” from 20th of September to 8th of October and at the Henan Art Museum in Zhengzhou from 19th to 30th of October. In particular, Macao’s cultural and creative works will be included at the “Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo”, in connection with the international cooperation and cultural exchange platform of the expo established within the framework of the national policy “One Belt, One Road”, strengthening the exhibition of Macao’s original works.