AUSTCHAM MACAU NEWS
AUSTCHAM MACAU: A CULTURAL ODYSSEY THROUGH ART AND HERITAGE By Dr. BIlly Chan
wooden junks and colonial buildings of old Macau. The exhibition revealed how Macau was once a hub of cultural exchange, showcasing pieces like the restored digital representation of the façade of St Paul’s Cathedral which offered us a rare glimpse into the building’s past as an educational centre for theology. We also revelled in glimpses of the old Lisboa Hotel, the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the A-Ma Temple, all of which hark back to a distant time in the early 1500s when Macau had yet to transform from a sleepy village into the gaming and tourist metropolis that it is now. The exhibition narrated the city’s evolution from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, showcasing how these artworks evoked the majesty of these changing periods. Highlights included a magnificent dragon sculptured from green jade, along with priceless items from the Qing Dynasty, and even the Dragon Throne of the King was on display. Macau still retains its old-world charm and through this exhibition we can appreciate how rapidly times have changed while still embodying the best of China’s encounters with the international world through art, friendship and cultural exchange.
M acau was once China’s gateway to Europe and the Grand Lisboa Palace Art Gallery beautifully showcases the remarkable story of this city. Macau stands as a beacon of the East and West, a testament to its legacy of cultural exchange. The Australian Chamber of Commerce Macau led a significant delegation on a private visit and we are forever thankful to the Grand Lisboa Palace team for organising the tour, graciously conducted by the Director of Marketing of SJM Resorts. The “Lisboa, Stories of Macau” exhibition provided a fantastic introduction to the city’s rich heritage. My colleague, AustCham Secretary Stephen Berry and I were utterly mesmerised by a rare painting by George Chinnery, the famous watercolour artist that depicted a bustling harbour complete with
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