Ruins of St. Paul's Watercolour on paper (2018, 56 x 76.5 cm)
Organized by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the exhibition “ Strolling and Feeling: Watercolour Paintings of Lai Ieng” will be inaugurated on Friday, 22 March, at 6:30pm, at the special exhibition room on the 3rd floor of MAM. The exhibition features 32 landscape watercolours by Macao’s contemporary painter Lai Ieng, in the hope that audience will be able to follow his sketching footprints, discover the beauty of scenic alleys in the city and the charm of local life, and feel Macao’s unique cultural heritage and optimistic spirit through his keen observations and subtle brushstrokes. All are welcome to attend.
Western watercolour has been an important medium for local artists in the creation since its introduction to Macao. Excellent works left by painters from different generations have impact to the later generations. Contemporary painter Lai Ieng is one of the most influential watercolour artists. With his love for Macao’s landscapes and passion for painting, Lai has offered the city a rich trove of artworks. Through the warm and bright colours, his paintings depicted distinctive buildings on the streets and alleys of the Historic Centre of Macao, such as Calçada do Lilau, Rua dos Mercadores, Rua dos Ervanários and Calçada do Monte, presenting those neglected yet indispensable daily landscapes onto the watercolour paper.
Lai Ieng, born in Macao in 1949, is a local contemporary painter who was awarded the Medal of Merit for Culture of the Macao SAR in 2008. He started studying watercolour in the 1970s and was deeply influenced by Macao artists Lok Cheong, Tam Chi Sang and Cheong Io Sang. In the 1980s, he learnt painting from watercolourist Wang Zhaomin. Lai has hosted solo exhibitions and participated in collective exhibitions in Mainland China, Macao and abroad. His works, with bright, rich colours and great charm, reflect Macao's landscapes and flavours of life
The exhibition “Strolling and Feeling: Watercolour Paintings of Lai Ieng” runs until 16 June 2019. The Macao Museum of Art, located at Avenida Xian Xing Hai, NAPE, is open daily from 10am to 7pm (no admittance after 6:30pm), including public holidays, and is closed on Mondays. Admission is free. For more information, please visit the MAM’s website at www.MAM.gov.mo. For enquiries please contact the MAM through tel. 8791 9814 during opening hours.
