Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the exhibition “Affection for Lotus – Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy for the 100th Birthday of Jao Tsung-I” was inaugurated on Thursday, 12 October, at 3:30pm, at the Jao Tsung-I Academy. The opening ceremony was officiated by the President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leung Hio Ming; the Assistant of the Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Education of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao S.A.R., Shao Bin; the Deputy Director of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole of the University of Hong Kong, Tang Wai-hung; and the member of Jao Tsung-I Petite Ecole Fan Club, Lao Ngai Leong, and was attended by the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Chan Peng Fai; the Head of the Division of Research and Publications, Wong Man Fai; the Director of the Macao Museum of Art, Chan Kai Chon; and the renowned Macao sculptor, Wong Ka Long.
Professor Jao Tsung-I is a world-renowned sinologist who has made prominent achievements and outstanding contributions in the fields of academia, painting and calligraphy and literature, among others. Professor Jao Tsung-I has a profound connection with Macao and has devoted his support to Macao’s culture by generously donating his painting and calligraphy works to cultural departments and museums of the Macao S.A.R. Government and hosting a number of exhibitions dedicated to the theme of lotus in Macao. In recent years, Professor Jao Tsung-I’s artworks dedicated to the theme of lotus have reached its peak of creation and were designated by academics as “Jao’s lotus”, owing to their unique charm.
One of the aims in establishing the Jao Tsung-I Academy is to promote Professor Jao’s academic and artistic achievements. On the occasion of Professor Jao Tsung-I’s 100th birthday this year, with the support of the Macao Museum of Art, 15 works dedicated to the lotus by Professor Jao Tsung-I are specially selected for the exhibition “Affection for Lotus – Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy for the 100th Birthday of Jao Tsung-I”, thereby allowing the public to appreciate the artistic charm of “Jao’s Lotus”. On the day of the opening ceremony, Professor Jao Tsung-I bronze plaque of handprint was also unveiled. It was printed by Professor Jao Tsung-I when he visited Macao and attended the opening ceremony of the Jao Tsung-I Academy in 2015. The handprint was then made into a bronze plaque by renowned Macao sculptor Wong Ka Long. It is currently the only one handprint plaque of Professor Jao Tsung-I.
The exhibition “Affection for Lotus – Exhibition of Painting and Calligraphy for the 100th Birthday of Jao Tsung-I” is held from today to 31 December. The Jao Tsung-I Academy is located at No. 95 C-D, Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, Macao. Admission is free. The Academy is open daily from 10am to 6pm, including on public holidays, and is closed on Mondays (no admission after 5:30pm). For more information, please visit the Jao Tsung-I Academy’s webpage at www.ajti.gov.mo. For enquiries, please contact the Jao Tsung-I Academy through tel. no. 2852 2523, during office hours.