The IFT Café is hosting until 21 August a showcase of 15 new abstract oil paintings by Macanese artist Mr. José Dores. The works are inspired by the scenery around Nam Van Lake in various weather settings, from rain, to wind, to thunderstorms, and fog.
The “Looking Through the Fog” exhibition was launched on 30 June. It is the seventh exhibition held at the IFT Café since the venue opened its doors in June 2016 – all exhibitions featured work by local artists.
The IFT Café is on the Nam Van Lake waterfront. It not only serves food and drink, but also provides training to IFT students. The outlet additionally operates as a venue to promote culture, and regularly hosts exhibitions featuring local artwork.
“It is an obligation of IFT – as a member of the Committee of Cultural Industries – to promote to Macao residents the local cultural and creative industries,” says IFT President Dr. Fanny Vong.
The IFT Café is part of an effort by the Macao SAR Government to revitalise the Nam Van Lake area and turn it into a new leisure and tourism hub. Other Government bodies involved in the overall revitalisation project for the area – a zone that has been named “Anim’Arte Nam Van” – include: the Cultural Affairs Bureau; the Sports Bureau; and the Macao Government Tourism Office.
Memories of Macao
Mr. Dores says that – after receiving the Institute’s invitation to host a solo exhibition at the IFT Café – he spent 9 months creating the works now on display. “I had to go to Nam Van Lake [several times] to observe the environment and notice the changes in the weather, like the formation and dissipation of fog,” he explains.
The Macanese artist says the Nam Van Lake area embodies well the spirit of Macao. “If you are from Macao, you will recall the smell of mud and seawater,” he says, noting it was once more common in the area. “Even though the city has undergone drastic changes, this smell still persists.”
He adds: “I hope that by creating these paintings, I can stir some memories in the minds of the audience.”
Mr. Dores holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. He has been active in the local arts scene since 2002, and has taken part in numerous exhibitions and events showcasing local art.
Mr. Dores now has his own studio. One of its aims is to cultivate new local talent in the arts. Among his students is his cousin Filipe Dores, who has already had artworks featured in exhibitions in London, in the United Kingdom.
“One of my goals is definitely to dedicate more time to training a new generation of artists,” says the established artist.
“In the past, it was quite lonely to be an artist in Macao, but that has changed with more people engaged in the local art industry,” he says. “Akin to the development of the Nam Van Lake area, the local art and cultural creative industries will only get better and better.”
