Taipa Village Cultural Association is delighted to present its first art show of the year, “REVERIE – Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition by Wong Ka Long”, a graceful display of two three-metre-high bamboo structures designed with a Japanese theme. Macau sculpture artist Wong’s two pieces are entitled “Bless” and “Tea Room”.
Both outdoor sculptures are decorated with Wong’s signature military motifs “helmets” in blue, green and yellow to evoke the architecture of Taipa Village. The helmets are bound together on a string and hung like bells. Visitors will be tempted to interact with the two sculptures to explore their spatial characteristics, textures and temperatures, as well as their connections with the environment.
Built to incorporate a bamboo shelter, “Bless” adopts the design features of a Japanese shrine, serving as a place for the public to pray for blessings. The “helmet” bells inside are in three colours – blue, green and yellow, represent hygiene and health amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Blue and green symbolise the colours of face masks, while yellow represents the colour of personal protective clothing. Visitors can swing the bells and make a wish.
“Tea Room” is also built using bamboo. It is inspired by Japanese-style four-and-a-half tatami mat tea rooms and also features “helmet” bells in blue, green and yellow. The public can enter its specially designed open space, sitting to face each other at a distance of one metre.
Born in Macau in 1977 to a father who painted watercolours, Wong began studying sculpture at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in 1996 and gained a master’s degree in 2003.
During his studies, he explored the legendary Silk Road. Hailing from a colonial city, Wong was deeply inspired by its blend of western and eastern cultures. After his graduation, he returned to Macau and began his journey of teaching and artistic creation.
Since 2004, Wong has participated in a number of sculpture projects, notably figure sculpture, for which he has become renowned. He has been commissioned by government bodies, institutions and private businesses in Macau to create many public works in the city. Many of his works draw inspiration from military objects such as helmets, a fortuitous result of government policy of preserving Portuguese military relics. Wong’s work explores the connections between painting and metal, culture and military affairs.
“It is our honour to invite Wong Ka Long to display his new sculptures in Taipa Village,” said João Ó, President of the Executive Board at Taipa Village Cultural Association. “Over the years, as Wong has utilised military helmets with decorative paintings as alternative sculptural objects in his art pieces, they have become one of his signature elements, binding Western and Eastern cultures and forging new meanings through each exhibition.”
Taipa Village Cultural Association continues to bring together the endeavours of local and international artistic talents to exhibit myriad artworks in different locations in Taipa Village. This latest outdoor sculpture exhibition further cements Taipa Village’s position as a leading cultural and artistic destination in Macau, and underlines its invaluable contribution to the promotion of the territory’s cultural
Details
26th January – 15th April 2022
“Bless” location: Largo Governador Tamagnini Barbosa, Taipa Village
“Tea Room” location: Largo Maia de Magalhães, Taipa Village : Wong Ka Long
Free Admission
About Taipa Village Cultural Association
Taipa Village Cultural Association was established in 2016 as a non-profit body comprised of representatives from both the local community and wider Macau. The association aims to highlight the uniqueness of Taipa Village’s heritage by raising awareness of its attractions and bolstering its position as a distinctive community that benefits the whole of Macau.
Taipa Village Cultural Association has planned numerous initiatives to preserve, strengthen and enhance the village’s position as a tourist and cultural must-go destination, including a diverse range of artistic and cultural attractions that allows visitors and members of future generations to enjoy a unique experience of the authentic Macau.
About Taipa Village
Located in an historic enclave on Taipa Island, Taipa Village was originally inhabited by fisherfolk – a heritage that lives on today in its quaint village street layout and evocative, pastel-hued shophouses, nestled alongside colonial churches and Chinese temples. The village, with its rich history, offers an inspiring, East-meets-West alternative to Macau’s casinos, and is a compelling, rewarding city highlight for visitors and locals alike.
www.taipavillagemacau.org.mo
