Co-organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the University of Hong Kong, the Jao Tsung-I Petite École Fan Club and the Jao Studies Foundation and held by the Macao Museum of Art and the Jao Tsung-I Petite École of the University of Hong Kong, the exhibition “The Glamour of Jao’s Lotus － Touring Exhibition of Lotus-themed Artworks by Professor Jao Tsung-I” was inaugurated yesterday (18 August) at the Handover Gift Museum of Macao Special Exhibition Hall. This exhibition runs until 17 September and is one of the activities which mark the 100th anniversary of Professor Jao Tsung-I, showcasing 39 sets of excellent lotus flower paintings by the Professor.
Professor Jao Tsung-I is internationally renowned as an authority in Chinese culture; he has made remarkable achievements and has greatly contributed to the fields of literature, art, academia, etc. Professor Jao Tsung-I has a close connection to Macao and has dedicated tireless efforts to the development of the territory’s culture, founding in 1980 the Department of Chinese Literature and History at the University of East Asia and opening new paths to academic studies on Macao’s culture. Additionally, he held several painting and calligraphy exhibitions in Macao and has donated works to the Macao Government and to cultural entities.
Professor Jao Tsung-I advocates a “synergy between art and academia” in the art field and has dedicated many of his latest works to the lotus flower, further using his works as a starting point to develop new techniques and new paths; through this exhibition it is possible to get a glimpse of his most recent and innovative painting style. Macao, one of the stops of this travelling exhibition, has a special connection to the lotus flower, since it is the city’s symbol. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Professor Jao Tsung-I, the Macao Museum of Art held, also at the Handover Gift Museum of Macao, the special exhibition “Immortal Lotus”; ten years later, it pays once again homage to the scholar with this travelling exhibition “The Glamour of Jao's Lotus”.
The exhibition’s opening ceremony counted with a number of guests and was presided over by the Director of the Department of Culture and Education of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Xu Ting; the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leung Hio Ming; the Deputy Director of Jao Tsung-I Petite École of the University of Hong Kong, Tang Wai-hung; the President of Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao, Chui Sai Cheong; the President of Association of Returned Overseas Chinese Macau, Lao Ngai Leong; the member of the Cultural Consultative Committee, Lok Po; the Director cum Vice President of the Sino United Publishing (Holdings) Limited, Ng Ching Yee, Brenda and the Director of the Macao Museum of Art, Chan Kai Chon.
The Handover Gift Museum of Macao is located at Avenida Xian Xing Hai, NAPE, in Macao, and is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 7pm (last admission at 6:30pm), closing on Mondays but operating as usual during public holidays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit MAM’s webpage at www.MAM.gov.mo, or call the MAM during office hours through tel. no. 8791 9814.