A total of 100 pieces of original works by late Macau artist Lok Cheong are currently displayed in an exhibition at the Tibet Art Museum.
Titled “Ties to the Tibetan Heart: Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region – An Exhibition of Lok Cheong’s Works in Tibet”, the exhibition kicked off on 13 August and will run until 12 October. Admission to the exhibition is free.
The exhibition is held under the patronage of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR, organised by the Federation of Literary and Art Circles of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Macau SAR’s Cultural Affairs Bureau (IAM) and the Macau Artist Society, and co-organised by the Tibet Art Museum and the Macao Museum of Art (MAM).
Apart from Lok’s works, the exhibition features over 70 sketches, documents, photographs and other invaluable historical materials that span over half a century, most of which are from the MAM collections, while the others are treasures from the artist’s family and the Tibet Art Museum.
The exhibition is divided into three sections, namely “Love for the Motherland”, “Capturing the Character of Macao” and “Portraits”, which systematically traces Lok’s artistic development. His works on Tibetan themes, such as “The Mysterious Potala Palace” and “A Hidden Pathway (Shigatse)”, pay tribute to Tibet’s sacred landscapes with vibrant colours. Watercolours like “A Witness of History (Trees with Interlocking Branches at Kun Iam Tong)” and “Octagonal Pavilion Library” encapsulate the essence of Macau’s scenery over the past 50 years with dynamic brushstrokes. Pieces featuring figures, such as “Technicians Departing to Serve the Motherland” and “Rice Aid from the Motherland”, showcase the artist’s heartfelt tribute to the patriotism of his compatriots. In the exhibition, Lok’s manuscripts from his 1994 trip to Tibet were also unveiled for the first time, combined with rare archival materials that vividly recount his cultural exploration into Tibet and the motherland.
Lok’s paintings on Tibetan themes have served as an eternal testament to the friendship between the two regions. In 1991, Lok Cheong participated in the “Snowfield Plateau Art Exhibition” held in Guangzhou, which marked the beginning of artistic exchanges between Tibet and Macau. Since then, he consistently bridged friendships between the two regions with his brushstroke, organised multiple visits for Macau artists to Tibet, and contributed to the establishment of the first Hope Primary School of Macau in Nagqu. His pioneering spirit continues to guide cultural integration between the two regions. As this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region, IAM and the Macau Artist Society have coordinated with multiple organisations to hold this exhibition, hoping to facilitate the glorious return of the artist’s classic paintings that are imbued with deep national sentiments back to the snowfield Tibet, paying tribute to Lok’s pioneering efforts in promoting cultural exchange between Macau and Tibet, and highlighting a new chapter in the 30-year-long artistic connection between the two regions, according to IAM.
Source and Photo: IAM
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