To further showcase Macao’s unique Catholic culture and artistic integration, the Associação Católica Cultural de Macau (ACCM) invited Mr. Jay Lei for the exhibition "Lumen Gentium: An Immersive Light Journey on Macao’s Catholic Cultural Heritage" on 19 September 2024. The event was organized by ACCM and funded by the Cultural Development Fund of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government. Since its opening on September 6, 2024, this exhibition has been widely popular with the public. The exhibition runs for one month, and is the first light show of its kind in the Catholic Diocese of Macau.
During the event, Jay Lei had an in-depth conversation with the media. Jay's creative vision extended beyond presenting the touristic aspects of World Heritage sites. He aimed to integrate creativity, imagination, and aesthetics through diverse mediums—illustration, animation, and projection art—to offer audiences a unique visual and sensory experience that would resonate and create lasting impressions. Lei also shared his most memorable creative moment: working on the Ruins of St. Paul's. This iconic Catholic landmark, he noted, exemplifies the fusion of Eastern and Western cultural symbols, showcasing Macao's unique blend of Chinese and Western cultures.
Jay Lei is an interdisciplinary artist from Macao who graduated from HKU University of the Arts Utrecht in the Netherlands with a Master of Arts in Creative Design for Digital Cultures, specialising in Animation. He is adept at crafting creative and imaginative visual stories through illustration, animation and projection art. Lei’s work has been featured in international design awards, animation festivals, and film festivals, including the Hong Kong ifva Festival, the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the Switzerland Fantoche International Animation Film Festival, Spain Animac, South Korea Indie-AniFest, The Hong Kong Theatre Libre, Taipei Golden Pin Design Award, gaining recognition from audiences both locally and abroad. Through the rich visual and sound effects in an immersive space, as well as the detailed designs and symbols in the animation, Jay Lei skillfully used light and animation to present various Catholic cultural elements, allowing the audience to experience Macao’s Catholic Cultural Heritages and its precious history through “Lights”.
“Light” has an important meaning in Catholic culture because "Christ is the Light of all nations" (Lumen Gentium 1). God desires to proclaim the Gospel to every creature, to bring the Light of Christ to all men, a light brightly visible on the countenance of the Church that illuminates the world. The year 2024 also marks the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 25th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao S.A.R. Government. “Lumen Gentium: An Immersive Light Journey on Macao’s Catholic Cultural Heritage” aims to show that the Catholic Church in Macao has been reflecting the light of Christ for more than 400 years, illuminating Macao and the Great Motherland of China, showering blessings to all its people.
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