New Perspectives: Modern and Contemporary Works from the Macao Museum of Art

Section II

Ink Expressions and Concepts

Since the early 20th century, abstract art has flourished amidst the rise of modern art in Europe. It has evolved into two major categories: ‘cold abstraction’, characterised by a sense of calm and intellectual detachment, and ‘hot abstraction’, characterised by emotional intensity and vibrant colours – both of which remain influential today. Abstract art departs from the norms of painting that focus on the precise representation of objects. Instead, it emphasises the essence of things and the expression of personal emotions. This liberation of visual language offers viewers an entirely new sensory and intellectual experience.

In the 1980s, abstract art began to flourish in Macao when artists who relocated to Macao from mainland China and Portugal, along with local Chinese and Macanese artists, converged in this unique atmosphere of cultural fusion. This diverse mix of influences and perspectives led to the development of expressive abstraction in Macao. Some artists, while upholding the spirit of traditional landscape painting, also created new ink art in varied shades and forms with abstract techniques. Their work reveals a deep understanding of the relationship between traditional aesthetics and modern artistic concepts.