Section 1
East Meets West: The Introduction of Eclectic Ideas and an Overview of Western Painting in Macao in the First Half of the 20th Century (1900 – 1950s)
After the turn of the 20th century, many Western painters arrived in Macao one after another. As a result, the artistic ideas of ‘blending Chinese and Western styles and integrating the ancient and the modern’ gradually took shape in Macao, laying a foundation for the fusion of traditional Chinese painting with Western painting and Western modernism, and thus opening a chapter in the history of Macao modern fine arts characterised by an integration of Chinese and Western styles.
Both belonged to the Lingnan cultural circle, Macao and Guangdong are closely connected, with frequent person-to-person exchanges. Before and after the Xinhai Revolution (Republican Revolution of 1911), many artists and collectors from the mainland moved to Macao, making artistic exchanges between the two regions more frequent. Thanks to Macao’s openness, local artists and Western artists lived in harmony. During the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, schools in Guangzhou were relocated to Macao, bringing more art teachers and painters to Macao and therefore artistic activities in the enclave were flourishing gradually.
This section displays 60 works by Chinese and Western painters active in Macao in the first half of the 20th century, presenting ‘Impressionism’, ‘Realism’, ‘Fauvism’ and the ‘Chinese and Western fusion’ styles. Through the rich themes and artistic languages of the works, visitors can not only explore the interrelationship between different paintings and each painting’s uniqueness, but also appreciate the zeitgeist of Macao’s art scene.