To further feature the uniqueness of the integration of Catholic culture and arts in Macao, the Macao Catholic Cultural Association (ACCM) has specially invited the renowned Macao artist, Mr. Wong Ka Long, to jointly present the “Culture of Encounter: Catholic Arts Exhibition by Wong Ka Long”, sponsored by the Macao Foundation. The opening ceremony was held on November 4, 2022 at ACCM and was officiated by the Head of the Department of Exhibitions and Museums of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, Mr. Sam Hou In; the Head of Activities Division of Macao Foundation, Ms. Lisa Wong Lai Sha; the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Macau and Chairman of ACCM, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun Sang; the President of the Macau Artist Society, Mr. Lok Hei, Mr. Wong Ka Long and other prestige guests.
Catholicism has been in Macao for over four hundred years. This fact has enriched the city's artistic traditions and given them a historical character. Countless Catholic artworks have been produced in Macao throughout the centuries. In the past two decades, sculptures on Catholic themes by Macao artist, Wong Ka Long, have become the most familiar to the public. These include the statue of Matteo Ricci at the square of the Ruins of Saint Paul’s, the statue of Saint John Bosco at Jardim Municipal da Montanha Russa, or even the altar piece and the Stations of the Cross at the Chapel of the Holy Cross at the University of Saint Joseph. Wong Ka Long’s Catholic artworks demonstrate the integration of Catholic culture and arts, creating a unique art collection that attest to Sino-Western cultural exchanges and inheritance.
The “Culture of Encounter: Catholic Arts Exhibition by Wong Ka Long” showcases the rich cultural heritage of Macao, the result of cultural exchange between the East and the West. Just as Pope Francis said in the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, we need to communicate with each other, to promote that which unites us, and welcome the good that comes from others’ experiences and culture. Let encounter become a culture. The “Culture of Encounter: Catholic Arts Exhibition by Wong Ka Long” starts from November 4 to December 4, 2022, at ACCM’s office at Rua Formosa No. 2B, R/C, Macau.
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