Taipa Village Cultural Association is honoured to present “What Are You Thinking?”, the first ever solo exhibition by Un Chi Wai, a talented Macau illustrator. The exhibition showcases a self-published children’s picture book comprising creative illustrations that interpret the psychological phenomenon of daydreaming, an everyday pleasure shared by both children and adults.
As a young, independent illustrator, Un Chi Wai is self-motivated and has an astute sense of how to generate narratives and the characters on which his illustrations are based. One of his biggest productions to date was the character design for the “Parade Through Macao, Latin City”, in 2016, commissioned by the territory’s Cultural Affairs Bureau. It consisted of several giant three-dimensional characters and brightly coloured mascots. One of the tallest, which reached four metres in height, was located in Tap Seac square, animating the parade route and contributing to its festive, whimsical atmosphere.
“The nature of the illustrations engages people’s way of thinking,” says João Ó, President of the Executive Board at Taipa Village Cultural Association. “Daydreaming is important for children in developing internal reflection skills. As Chi Wai’s illustrated picture book shows, the storyboard has an open ending, which allows readers to exercise their own interpretations and imaginations, and which also provides an entertaining reading experience for parents and grownups.”
Inspired by Un’s picture book, Gugumelo – an art education centre which aims to cultivate creativity, expressive power and expand children’s horizons through drama education – has developed a custom-made puppet show that will launch during the opening ceremony for the exhibition.
As a highlighted exhibition this summer, “What Are You Thinking?” adds momentum to the transformation of the district into a lively centre for cultural and creative endeavours by providing a valuable addition to the variety of artistic creations exhibited at Taipa Village Art Space, which include paintings, photography, sculpture, movies and multimedia installations. This family-oriented exhibition represents a significant contribution to the summer’s artistic offerings at Taipa Village, as well as promoting the cultural and creative industries in Macau.
Exhibition Period : 24th July – 30th September 2019
Opening hours : 12.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Venue : Taipa Village Art Space, 10 Rua dos Clerigos, Taipa, Macau
Artist : Un Chi Wai
Media : Illustration
Admission : Free
About Taipa Village Cultural Association
Taipa Village Cultural Association was established in 2016 as a non-profit association 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 cementing its position as a distinctive community that benefits all of Macau.
Numerous initiatives are planned to preserve, enrich and cement the village’s position as a tourist and cultural destination, including a diverse range of artistic and cultural attractions that will allow visitors and 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 fishermen – a heritage that lives on today in its quaint village street layout and evocative, pastel- hued shop houses, 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 must-go destination for visitors and locals alike.
About the Artist
Un Chi Wai is an illustrator and graphic designer from Macau. A graduate of the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan who majored in advertising, Un has created drawings for brands including DFS, LINE, T2 tea, and Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory HK. In addition to commercial collaborations, Un has participated in a range of art projects including the Macau International Parade, the Macao International Music Festival, and the Macao Arts Festival.
www.taipavillagemacau.org.mo
