Take-away art

    Updated: 2013-09-01 08:13

    By Rebecca Lo(China Daily)

      Print Mail Large Medium  Small

     Take-away art

    Fine artworks are displayed on Macao Creations' third floor.

     Take-away art

    A life-sized rendering of Soda Panda greets visitors.

     Take-away art

    The exterior wall of Macao Creations in Taipa is adorned with graphic art, depicting a cartoon version of the city and its residents. Photos by Rebecca Lo / China Daily

    Macao Creations sells souvenirs while showcasing the city's best visual artists. Rebecca Lo tries some homegrown heroes' work on for size.

    Wilson Chi-lan Lam isn't ashamed to admit he loves making money.

    The Macao native is CEO and creative director of Macao Creations but was initially a graphic designer in Toronto during advertising's 1980s heyday.

    At a time when high-quality editorial photography was the realm of a few rare experts who used 35-mm cameras and film, his deft hand at illustration reaped lucrative results.

    He lived in Canada for 25 years before returning to Macao about five years ago.

    "When I was working in advertising there, photographers were very expensive," Lam says.

    "Instead, I would be hired to draw concepts by hand. But today, it's all done on the computer. People are a lot more careful with how they spend their money. And there are more choices."

    The designer of easily recognizable logos, including Air Macao's, returned to Macao to explore a semi-retired lifestyle. But he's busier than ever with Macao Creations, which he set up in 2009.

    The first shop on Rua da Ressurreicao near the high-traffic St. Paul's Cathedral began in 2010 as a platform to promote local artists by printing their work on souvenirs easily tucked into suitcases.

    T-shirts, mugs and postcards depicting the city's culture are inexpensive items that speak volumes about emerging and established homegrown visual artists.

    Macao Creations' success meant that a second store opened a year later in the equally busy Rua do Cunha.

    The Taipa artery is better known as "Eat Street" because it's flanked with shops selling biscuits, egg rolls and pork jerky. There are traditional Cantonese restaurants featuring crab congee and local restaurants offering home cooking in alleys that jut from the main drag.

    Macao Creations' enviable corner location in what has been dubbed Cunha Bazaar shares the building with the popular baked goods of Choi Heong Yuen on the ground floor. Lam felt Choi Heong Yuen was the ideal partner since it also offers a slice of Macao for visitors to enjoy back home.

    Graphic art adorns the facade, depicting a cartoon version of the city and its residents. A life-size version of Soda Panda, Macao Creations' popular graphic novelty, greets visitors as they enter.

    Inside, Macao Creations occupies the top three floors of the building with a colorfully embellished wooden staircase.

    Prices steadily rise the higher you go, with fine art and sculptures on the top floor showcasing the best of Macao's talent. The artist's biography is attached to each product.

    An old fashioned red mailbox is next to a counter so visitors can send postcards featuring locals' works.

    Lam sheepishly reveals that Macao Creations' staff - not Macao Post - sends them.

    Take-away art

    "I think Macao Creations is the perfect blend of art and commerce," Lam says, as he shows a silk scarf printed with Macao icons that he designed.

    "As we promote a lot of artists' work, we sell by consignment. People have to trust me to give me their work to sell. I see myself as a problem solver. I connect artists with their potential customers."

    Lam believes the local government can't solely rely on gambling for surplus revenue. He feels using taxpayers' dollars to promote art and culture is good move.

    "The government is very busy now," he says.

    "There's so much going on."

    Contact the writer at sundayed@chinadaily.com.cn.

    (China Daily 09/01/2013 page15)

    精品无码国产自产拍在线观看蜜| 无码人妻精品中文字幕免费东京热 | 蜜桃臀无码内射一区二区三区| 中文字幕有码无码AV| 无码精品日韩中文字幕| 痴汉中文字幕视频一区| 久久久久久无码国产精品中文字幕| 亚洲精品无码永久在线观看你懂的| 亚洲一区无码中文字幕| av无码播放一级毛片免费野外| 亚洲精品无码不卡在线播HE| 中文字幕一区二区三区在线不卡 | 久久精品无码一区二区三区日韩| 亚洲欧洲日产国码无码久久99 | 亚洲国产中文字幕在线观看| 日韩成人无码中文字幕| a最新无码国产在线视频| 久久无码人妻一区二区三区| 亚洲午夜无码久久久久| 精品久久久无码中文字幕| 亚洲午夜无码久久久久小说| 狠狠精品干练久久久无码中文字幕| 亚洲AV无码一区二区三区性色| 日韩人妻无码一区二区三区久久99| 爆操夜夜操天天操中文| 亚洲第一中文字幕| 最新中文字幕在线视频| 久久中文字幕无码专区| 国产资源网中文最新版| 天堂а√中文在线| 欧美日本中文字幕| 久久久久综合中文字幕| 中文字幕一区二区精品区| 最好看最新的中文字幕免费| 狠狠躁天天躁无码中文字幕| 无码中文人妻在线一区二区三区| 亚洲 日韩经典 中文字幕| 中文字幕人成人乱码亚洲电影| 无码人妻精品中文字幕免费| 日本三级在线中文字幕在线|中文| 国产一区二区中文字幕|