Lai Ieng
Macao’s remarkable architecture is the inspiration for most of my work. For example, Iec Long Firecracker Factory witnessed the development of the firecracker industry while the form of The Ruins of Saint Paul’s varies from different perspectives. All of these hold significant cultural value – making this a good subject for artists to sketch.
Born in Macau in 1949, Lai is a prominent figure in the local arts scene, serving as a member of the China Artists Association, president of the Macau Art Master Association, and chief supervisor of the Macau Artist Society. For decades, he has dedicated himself to advertising and art education, significantly contributing to Macau’s culture and art. His achievements in watercolor painting are remarkable, and he has played a key role in nurturing young local artists. In recognition of his contributions, Lai received the Medal of Merit–Culture from the Macau SAR Government in 2008.
Lok Hei
At such a memorable moment of commemorating the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to the motherland, presenting our artworks to the audience yet again reflects our love for the city and our responsibility as artists.
Born in Macau, Lok has extensive experience in advertising, design, and event planning. In 2022, he received the Medal of Merit – Culture from the Macau SAR Government. He is an active member of the Cultural Development Consultative Committee and a national committee member of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles. Lok has served as a director of the China Artists Association (8th and 9th terms) and is the president of the Macau Artist Society, vice president of the Macau Art Master Association, and vice president of the Macau Cultural Development Promotion Association.
Ng Wai Kin
I mainly use watercolour for my work, with the scenery of Macao as the theme, including lion dances, traditional Chinese teahouses and the city’s attractions. I depict a lot of Macao’s former times through sketching, hoping that the audience can recall the city’s “good old days” through my work.
Born in Macau, Ng began studying painting in 1970 and has over 40 years of experience in graphic design. He received the Medal of Merit – Culture from the Macau SAR Government in 2020. He is a member of the China Artists Association, director-general of the Macau Artist Society, and secretary-general of the Macau Art Master Association. Ng has won numerous competitions for posters, stamps, comics, logos, and photography in Italy, Japan, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. He has designed 248 philatelic products for the Macau Post and Telecommunications Bureau across 56 sets since 1983.
Ung Vai Meng
My creative style, like the city of Macao, has undergone tremendous changes. The creation of these artworks is not only enjoyable, but it is also a testament of my personal growth, reflecting the strong bond between this city and me.
Born in Macau, Ung studied drawing and watercolor under Kam Cheong Ling and later at Arco Academy in Lisbon. He earned a master’s degree at the Guangzhou Academy in 2002 and a PhD in Fine Arts from the China Academy of Art in 2010. Ung became the first director of the Macau Museum of Art in 1999 and later served as president of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (2010-2017). Ung has been deeply engaged in contemporary arts and has held solo exhibitions in Macau, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Europe, winning numerous local and international awards since 1989.
Lio Man Cheong
My artworks are mostly in the form of sketches of Iec Long Firecracker Factory and the Taipa Houses. The buildings of the Taipa Houses contain the unique allure of Chinese-Portuguese cultural integration. The surrounding environment and decor are also very attractive.
Born in Zhuhai and raised in Macau, Lio has had an extensive career in film-related advertising and design. He has been invited to design stamps for the Macau Post and Telecommunications Bureau, showcasing his versatility. His works have been exhibited in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, Portugal, and other countries, earning him numerous awards. Lio’s creative process spans various media, including oil, watercolor, and ink, highlighting his diverse artistic talents.
Lei Tak Seng
I have selected five of my stamp designs for this exhibition, for which I mainly used Chinese ink painting as a medium. My five designs are: Macao’s old streets and alleys, Macao’s lotus, Macao’s scenery, the Year-of-the-Ox, and Macao’s latest intellectual properties.
Lei graduated from the Macau Polytechnic Institute and earned a Master of Art degree from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts. He has won the “Best Work” award five times and the “Best Creation Special Prize” twice at the Collective Exhibition of Macau Artists. He also received the “Top Ten Entries” prize seven times at the Macau Annual Visual Arts Exhibition and took second place in Chinese painting at the Macau Biennial Art Exhibition. His works are featured in national exhibitions and held in major collections, including the National Art Museum of China and the Macau Museum of Art.
Chan Hin Io
I have selected several of my artworks to display this time, including Iec Long Firecracker Factory, the Cotai Strip’s changes over 20 years, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and a panoramic view of Macao. A drone was needed to capture the composition for some of the artworks, which required multiple shootings.
Born in Zhongshan City, Guangdong, Chan relocated to Macau in 1999 and is now the director of the Macau Image Gallery at the Macau University of Science and Technology. Named among the Top 10 Photographers of Guangdong Province, Chan has focused on capturing Macau in his photography for over two decades, recently transitioning to contemporary and conceptual photography. He has published over ten photography books since 2009, featuring local people, objects, and landscapes. His award-winning work is held in collections at institutions like the Belém Cultural Center in Lisbon and the Macau Museum of Art.
Ao Kuan Kin
I have always preferred using watercolour, oil, acrylic and digital painting. To that end, I created five artworks just for this exhibition, including two digital artworks and three acrylic paintings. I spent about 30 days to create each artwork, as this exhibition presented a rare opportunity.
Ao Kuan Kin has been a key figure in fine arts and design in Macao for over three decades. He currently works as a designer at the Macau Statistics and Census Service. For more than 20 years, he has also served as an associate stamp designer for the Macau Post and Telecommunications Bureau, contributing to philatelic collections that reflect Macao’s rich cultural heritage. His versatility and long-standing contributions have earned him respect across multiple creative fields.
Lam Chi Ian
The exhibition’s artists have reflected their points of view toward Macao in their exhibited works, while the theme “Macro Events through Micro Visions” fully embodies our ambition to enhance cultural prosperity, making the exhibition more meaningful.
Born in Macao, Lam started working in the advertising industry at the age of 15. He graduated in brand image design with outstanding results at the Ontario College of Art and Design University, Canada and won the gold award of the national college student design contest organized by the institution.
He established Wilco Design in Canada in 2000, and founded two representative cultural and creative brands ‘Macau Creations’ and ‘Soda Panda’ after his return to Macao in 2009. In 2023, he was named a Contemporary Artist of Academic Innovation at the 1st Global Chinese Fine Art Golden Brush Award in 2023.
He is currently an artistic advisor to the Macau Artist Society, executive director of the Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao, the professional curriculum development advisor to the Department of Art and Design of the Macao Polytechnic University, founding president of the Macau Contemporary Watercolour Artists Association, and director of the Macau Ink Art Association.
