SPRINGTIME OF THE ARTS IN MACAU

The opening ceremony of the Macau Arts Festival was held on the 19th of March, 1988 in the old Theatre D. Pedro V after 400 years of eager waiting. The Governor of Macau, Carlos Melancia, and the Director of New China News Agency in Macau, Zhou Ding, completed the ceremony by dotting the eyes of the "lion of the North and the lion of the South". The lions awoke and rose up to start their dance to the rhythm of gongs and drums, thus enhancing the festive atmosphere.

More than three hundred and fifty guests, including the Governor of Macau, the Director of New China News Agency in Macau, government officials and prominent figures in the city attended a cocktail party held by the organizer.

The same day at 5pm, Jorge Morbey, President of the Cultural Institute of Macau, opened the "Photographic Exhibition" and thus initiated the fifteen days of cultural activities which included dance, music, opera, theatre, photography, painting, calligraphy and handicraft exhibitions under the auspices of the Cultural Institute and with the support and participation of more than thirty eight local associations concerned with the arts.

With the support of the government of Macau and of the New China News Agency, and above all, with the cooperation of people from all walks of life, the dreams of the population of Macau have come true, the art festival has come to the city known as" the meeting point of occidental and oriental culture". The festival has given life and vitality to this ancient city.

MUSIC

The interaction between oriental and occidental music has always been closely linked to Macau. The Theatre D. Pedro V was one of the first theatres to provide an opportunity for occidental music to be played in the Orient.

The Music School of Macau had organized a youth choir for the occasion. They sang "What a small world" "The little donkey" and "The international children's song" and their innocent, clear voices warmed the hearts of the members of the audience. Chen Si Xiang played "Für Elise" in a fresh and fluid style. The soprano Liang Wen Fang Sang the aria "A beautiful day" from Madame Butterfly accompanied on the piano by Shen Yong Bao.

Under the baton of Li Hong-can the Macau Philharmonic Orchestra executed a programme of famous works. The orchestra consists mainly of youngsters and a great deal of work remains to be done to polish their performance. Li Shi Yu, a singer with Cheong Hong Music Group, performed in good style. He sang "Ave Maria" in Latin and "Night in the Steppes' in Mandarin. The trio composed of Li Shi Yu, Gao Xiang Rong and Huang Bao Xiang were welcomed by the public as well.

The concert of Portuguese music and popular songs featured the Tuna Macaense. This talented group has performed in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Portugal, Hawai, The United States of America and the People's Republic of China. Their wide experience has made them famous in our own region. This group sings in "patois" the old local tongue and by doing so hopes to encourage the unacquainted to understand and tolerate the old culture. The professionals pointed out that if this group had performed on a bigger stage, the effect would have been much better.

In Fai Chi Kei Square, there was a lively, happy atmosphere when compères Chen Jia Bao and Chen Guo Wei combined their efforts to demonstrate the merits of popular music. The enthusiastic applause proved just that. There were some ten singers who sang over thirty pieces of Chinese and western popular songs accompanied by the "Black Eagle 48 Band". Before the end of the performance, the audience was invited on to the stage to sing a song called "Light of Friendship" together with the performers, bringing the concert to a joyful close.

CANTONESE OPERA AND SONGS

Operas are mostly linked with folk songs and different dialects. Chinese opera dates back to the Tang and Sung Dynasties. Shuo Hua (narration), Gu Zi Ci (narration and songs accompanied by the beat of a drum), Zu Gong Diao (narration and songs of long stories) and Ghong Zuan (songs accompanied by traditional percussion instruments) were different styles of opera performed in those days. Many other styles originated in the Yung, Ming and Ching Dynasties. According to statistics, there are three hundred types of songs originating from different parts of China and these songs have lasted for over a thousand years.

Cantonese opera and songs are now widely known throughout Guangdong, Guanxi, South-East Asia and the Chinese communities in America.

During the first evening, a performance of Cantonese operas and songs took place at the Town Hall Square in front of the fountain. The staff of the S. T. D. M. Club interpreted several songs. The Chinese Opera Association performed an extract of a Cantonese opera, "Dream of an encounter at Lake Tai" with Wu Shao Xian and Zhu Hua Fang interpreting the roles of Xi Shi and Fan Li in this ancient love story. Although it was a rainy night, the audience stayed on to watch the show, a suitable reflection of their appreciation.

On the second day of the festival the Hou Kiang Choir Association and the Youth Music Association sang some famous Cantonese pieces in the same place. Their good performances were the clear result of intense rehearsing. Li Rui Zu, the seventy-year-old famous Cantonese opera singer, must be mentioned for his rendering of the difficult old song "Zhou Yu writes his will". He proved his expertise by combining feelings and technique and the public loved it. Yang Hai Cheng and Xie Pei Shan represented the Kin Va Sports and Recreation Association. They performed "Hitting the emperor's daughter", a popular show known by practically all of the Chinese families. The highlight of the events was a performance of "The Pot of Flour" by the Macau Labour Organization. This was another popular piece known to all. The two acts exposed the follies of the mandarins and other officials. The Hac Yeng Sport and Recreation Club and the Association of Music and Opera of Macau were mainly responsible for the Cantonese performances at Fai Chi Kei Square. Li Bi Lian was there to render his interpretation of "The departure of Zhao Jun" for which he won great praise. Luo Yang Hong did "Guan Yung Chang" and many other songs which he brought to life. Xie Tian Xiong and Li Hui Jun performed together in an excerpt from an opera called "Hu Bu Gui consoles his wife". The audience was delighted.

THEATRE

The world of theatre is always the object of constant innovation and the results can be seen in new styles of staging, direction, music, etc.. Modern Chinese theatre was influenced by Japanese theatre at the beginning of this century, before being influenced by European forms of theatrical expression. After the "4th of May, 1919, Movement" (Chinese student's movement), modern theatre became popular and it was called "drama", or "Hua-ju" by the dramatist Hong Shen in 1928.

"Hua-ju" is finding increasing popularity in Macau. Oscar Wilde's comedy "The Match Maker" was performed during the 1st Arts Festival by the Association of Dramatic Arts of Macau. The appreciation of the audience then inspired the director, actors and other participants to perfect their performance and to offer it to the public again this year. Stage-setting and ward-robe have improved a great deal. Oscar Wilde's work was presented again, with "The Importance of being Earnest", played by the Theatre Association Hai-en. It describes the "duplicitous game of love" played by some youngsters and remains a very interesting comedy.

Modern theatre found its expression through Peter Shaeffer's well known play "Equus" which has scenes including religious confrontation, love making and filthy language, a contentious point among the audiences of Macau and Hong Kong. Lighting effects were used to enhance the perturbations inherent to the psychological conflict that is revealed before the audience in a series of film-like shots. At some points, dance was interjected to reinforce the emotions underlying the acting.

The drama society of the University of East Asia performed two plays: "The Second Day of the Chinese New Year", and "Mad for Mad". Both plays are concerned with the social problems of the younger generations.

BALLET

All nations have their own particular style of dancing and the territory of Macau is no exception. The inhabitants here have their own concept and appreciation of it. Different styles of dancing are popular here, including ballet, Chinese dance, Portuguese folkdance and modern dance.

The following ballet and dancing groups were the first to perform during the festival: the Chu Un Wa ballet school; the Hong Ben Wa ballet school; the Choi Lo Men dancing school; the Hou Kong high school dancing group, the Kan Ip high school and the Macau Dancing association.

Many dancing instructors were trained in China, which explains their solid foundation in terms of theory and technique. The young ballet dancers had obviously benefitted from this. Among the sixteen performances by these groups, fifty per cent was ballet and the rest was Chinese dance, Spanish dance, Nepalese dance and children's dance, each performance with its own theme and style. The Yung Long ballet troupe is well-known in Macau and they performed ten new dances which they choreographed for themselves. The public appreciated these dance which combined contemporary styles with folk inspiration. The public's comments on the Yung Long group were full of praise. "Calligraphy", one of the dances, certainly proved the skill of the choreographer. The movement of the brush, the strokes in bright black ink were translated into movements of the body with leaps and pirouettes. This Chinese traditional form of dance greatly satisfied the audience's visual and aesthetic tastes.

Cultural exchange was enhanced by the performance of the Portuguese Folk dance group of Macau. The group is composed of young people, of both Portuguese and Chinese extraction, who are interested in divulging Portuguese folk songs and dances. These performances had earlier been seen by audiences in Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China, thus contributing to the exchange of art and culture between China and Portugal.

This Portuguese folk dance group once again displayed their beautiful dancing skills. They were like a fresh flower which stood out among the other flowers in the festival.

PHOTOGRAPHY

One of the oldest photos taken in China was by Yuler Iger, a Frenchman, in 1844, featuring the Ma-kok temple in Macau (the photograph is now kept in the Museum of Photography, Paris, France).

Obviously, the art of photography had been introduced to China through Macau. Today, the art of photography is of a truly high international standard in Macau. Some of the best photographers in the world are from Macau. Two of the "ten best photographers in the world" (1986 -1987) were from Macau. Three of the ten best photographers in the People's Republic of China (1988) are also from Macau.

The Photography Association of Macau, the Photoclub of Macau, and the Photograhic Art Club of Macau all participated in the photography exhibition. Among the participants were world-renowned photographers and new comers to the field. A great variety of photos (153 in all) were exhibited. The beauty of nature and the landscape of Macau were well represented. "Festival Night' by Ou Ping; "Going home" by Li Tong; "Truth and Lies" by Fung Xi Fan; "Landscape in Portugal" by Li Gong Gen; "Snow scene" by Cheng Wah Fu; "Colourful night in Hongkong" by Lo Xu Sen and "House" by Kwok San Sing were all remarkable landscapes. "Making a wish" by Yang Su; "Joyful" by Li Ping Seng; "Setting sunlight in a shabby room" by Liang Yen Wei; "Menina" by Sit Le Ching; "Everyone is happy" by Li Chao Hong; "Chinese bride" by You Fu, all these photos vividely portrayed the ancient and modern Chinese people and foreigners "Success comes after hardwork" by Li Rong Zhao; "Lotus" by Ye Yong Hua; and "Net" by Len Li Fang showed high technical quality combined with great artistic refinement. Unfortunately, the exhibition catalogue was printed in black and white so many of the colour photos lost their original glamour.

PAINTING AND CALLIGRAPHY

Two types of painting exist in Macau, Chinese and western. Chinese painting, with its traditionally prescribed methods belongs to the same category as calligraphy, both expressing ideas and sentiments through brush strokes.

Western painting places a priority on the object and its visual representation as much as perspective.

The exhibition showed both types of painting as well as a combination of the two which can be classified as "avant-garde" painting or new Chinese painting. The traditional Chinese paintings included works like "Bamboo" by Choi Dak Chi, "Light house" by Yu Jun Hui, "Dong Po's poem" by Lo Bo An, "Springtime in Lingnan" by Chou Wen Fong, "Boys and girls dancing in Tienshan" by Loo Chang, "Landscape" by Chen Chi-wei and "Spring harmony" by Gang Heng. Western paintings included "Red Horizon" by Guo Shi, "Solidarity" by Shao Yan Liang, "Dream in a region of rivers and lakes" by Yu Guo Hong, "The companion" by Liao Weng Chang, "Girl" by Li Rui Xiang and "The temple of Ne Zha" by Tang Zhi Sheng. Amongst the avant-garde paintings were. "Oriental culture" by Mio Pang Fei, "Girl" by Yung Zhi Shing, and "Landscape" by Cheong Chao Chun.

The calligraphers of Macau, Lin Jin, Lu Kang, Chen Qing Lin, Lian Jia Sheng, masters from the northern and southern schools, participated in the exhibition.

The painting and calligraphy exhibition in the arts festival was organized by the Macau Arts Association, the Yu Yun. Painting and Calligraphy Association and the Han Yen Art and Calligraphy Association. Calligraphers from the North and the South were represented in the diverse works on display which were remarkable as much for their fluidity and delicacy as for their energy and liveliness. However, the painting and calligraphy exhibition could have been better had it not been limited by having only three associations as the organizers and if the works chosen from each association for the exhibition were not limited to twenty five. A result of this was that other artists in Macau who do not belong to the said associations had no opportunity to participate. To make it more successful, a reasonable and complete organizing plan should be made for the future painting and calligraphy exhibition.

HANDICRAFTS

Usually, there are two types of handicrafts: those for daily use and those for special occasions. Handicrafts for daily use are textiles, ceramics and furniture, Decorative crafts include ivory, jade, and wood carvings, followed by silk flowers, gold and silver jewelry, etc.

Chinese handicrafts have a long history and are world famous.

The crafts exhibition which took place during the festival included objects made from various materials. There were ceramics, porcelains, woodcarvings, marble carvings, simulated copper statues, objects made from synthetic materials, silk-flowers and prize-winning pieces of work from the Macau Children's Craft Competition.

Macau's best-known craftsman is Liu Gui Bing. He presented ceramics and porcelains based on his father Liu Chun's traditional Shi Wan style. His students, however, influenced by western styles, showed a great variety of methods and styles.

The pieces of wood carving shown at the exhibition were especially admired. by the public, The wood that is used for this craft must be very fine and compact, strong and flexibly textured and brightly coloured. This kind of wood can only be found in special areas, such as Wen Zhou and Le Qing in Zhejiang province, and Chao Zhou in Canton province. In recent years, Macau has made tremendous progress in the woodcarving industry. Those works which were presented at the exhibition drew their inspiration from the myths and legends of ancient China. For example: "The Monkey King Upsets the Heavenly Palace", "Eight Gods", "The Heroes from Liang Shan" and "The Thousand Hands Buddha" etc.. All the works on display revealed the craftsmen's excellent techniques.

In the past, the main ivory carving industries were located in Peking, Canton and Shanghai. Peking's produce mainly concentrates on ladies in ancient costumes and birds and flowers; Canton is famous for its delicate ivory balls, while Shanghai produces miniture ivory human figures. Macau has combined all these merits and become a strong force in this industry and products are gaining popularity in overseas markets.

Other forms of craftmanship on display were simulated copper statues and marble carvings.

The Association of Dramatic Arts in Macau made its contribution to the exhibition with fifty beautiful arrangements of silk flowers.

Finally, a special mention of the prize-winning works of the Macau Children's Craft Competition is in order. Tnose crafted pieces truly showed the candour of children. One piece, for example, showed twenty-five human expressions; happiness, sadness, anger and satisfaction, etc. by simply using the protruding parts of an egg-box. The materials used for other crafts were mostly trash... the model of a train was made of a film case. All these showed the intelligence of our future generation. All in all, the exhibition was considered a success "of a high artistic and creative level."

THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FESTIVAL

After 15 days of exhibitions and performances, the Arts Festival of Macau came to a successful end on the 2nd of April. The objectives of the festival were: (1) the desire of the Cultural Institute of Macau to strengthen its co-operation with the local arts associations in order to promote culture and art in the territory, (2) to encourage deeper mutual understanding between the various cultural and arts groups and promote exchanges between them, (3) to give the local inhabitants an opportunity to get acquainted, on a general level, with the contemporary cultural scene in Macau. Judging from the excellent contributions from the thirty eight associations, we can proudly say that the festival was a success:

Credit should also be given to the organizing committee under the supervision of Énio José de Souza, the commitee chairman and John Lai, board director of the commitee, for they successfully mobilized the thirty eight associations and two thousand participants for the festival.

Furthermore, the festival can be considered a rare example of economic efficiency at the cost of 700,000 PTC., including rents, subsidies, administrative expenses and publicity costs.

Revenue from ticket sales and advertisements are at the moment converted into a fund for future festivals in Macau.

Both Jorge Morbey, President of I. C. M., and Hu Hou Cheng, Vice-Director of New China News Agency in Macau, expressed their great satisfaction with the festival. Jorge Morbey pointed out at the closing ceremony that the 1st session of the Arts Festival was a fruitful one. All the participating groups had been given a chance to do their best and, through their performances, each and every one of them had improved their artistic technique.

Hu Hou Cheng commented that the Arts Festival was the first in Macau's history. At present, Macau is in a transition period so it is imperative that this kind of artistic activity continues so as to make Macau more prosperous.

Macau has a unique cultural heritage and characteristics. For more than four hundred years the city has been known as "a meeting point of occidental and oriental culture". The strengthening of co-operation between the Cultural Institute of Macau and the local arts organizations will make future festivals better and better.

One thousand, two hundred years ago, the great Chinese poet, Li Bai warmly praised the Spring with the following verse: "Spring has returned with the east wind and the flowers are in bloom".

Now, the springtime of the arts is here, "unite and participate in it". The flowers of the Macau Arts Festival will bloom in the spring breeze, and become even prettier.

* Journalist