Under the guidance of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, the exhibition “Lucidity in a Prosperous Era: Guangdong Paintings of the Qing Dynasty” is organised by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), the Guangdong Museum (Guangzhou Lu Xun Museum), and the Guangzhou Museum of Art, with the support of the Hong Kong Museum of Art under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

The opening ceremony took place today (21 August) at the Macao Museum of Art. Presiding over the ceremony were Leong Wai Man, President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ling Lili, Deputy Director of the Guangdong Museum (Guangzhou Lu Xun Museum); Wang Ping, Party Secretary of the Guangzhou Museum of Art; Bernadette Mok Yun Tai, Director of the Xubaizhai Gallery at the Hong Kong Museum of Art; Chan Hou Seng, Member of the Cultural Development Consultative Committee; Wan Nang Hon, Deputy Director and General Manager of Macao Daily News; Alberto Lei, President of the Yu Un Chinese Calligraphers and Painters Association of Macao; Lok Hei, President of the Macao Artist Society; and exhibition curator Dr Zhu Wanzhang, who jointly officiated the opening.

The Macao Museum of Art’s collection of Guangdong paintings from the Qing dynasty is particularly distinguished by its figure paintings and works on historical subjects, with notable holdings of high-quality pieces by masters such as Su Liupeng and He Chong. This exhibition is built upon the Macao Museum of Art’s collection, supplemented by treasures from the Guangdong Museum (Guangzhou Lu Xun Museum), the Guangzhou Museum of Art, and the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Featuring 136 works (sets) of paintings and calligraphy, it presents the diverse explorations of Guangdong painters in brushwork techniques, subject matters, and the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, illustrating the development of Guangdong painting from the periphery to the mainstream, and from tradition to innovation. This cross-institutional collaboration effectively promotes regional cultural exchange and serves as a vivid practice of “building a culturally vibrant Greater Bay Area.”

The first of the exhibition talk series will be held at 3pm on 22 August in MAM’s Auditorium, featuring Dr Zhu Wanzhang and Dr Li Liming, who will explore the transformations in Guangdong painting of the Qing dynasty through the two major genres of landscape and bird-and-flower painting. A limited number of seats remain available on a first-come, first-served basis. Guided tours for the public will be offered in Cantonese on Saturdays, and in Mandarin on Sundays and Macao public holidays starting from 5 September. Group tours are available by prior reservation. A series of talks, workshops, and concerts will take place throughout the exhibition period. For updates, please follow MAM’s latest announcements.

“Lucidity in a Prosperous Era: Guangdong Paintings of the Qing Dynasty” will be on display at the Macao Museum of Art from 22 August to 2 November. Opening hours are from 10am to 7pm (last entry at 6:30pm), closed on Mondays and open as usual on public holidays. Admission is free. For exhibition details, please visit the Macao Museum of Art’s website at www.MAM.gov.mo and its Facebook page “Macao Museum of Art”.