The exhibition "Imaginary Belongings" organized by the Fundação Oriente and AFA (Art For All Society) and sponsored by Macau Foundation, will run from April 15 to Jun 12, 2011 at Museu do Oriente in Lisbon, Portugal. 38 artworks in the media of painting, sculpture, photography, installation and video art from 20 Macau artists will showcase during the exhibition.

"Imaginary Belongings" ...is curated by José Drummond and assisted by James Chu. Contributing artists include Alice Kok, Bianca Lei Sio Chong, Carlos Marreiros, Coke Wong Ka Leong, James Chu Cheok Son, James Wong Cheng Pou, João Ó, João Vasco Paiva, José Drummond, Kent Ieong Chi Kin, Konstantin Bessmertny, Lio Man Cheong, Mio Pang Fei, Noah Ng Fong Chao, Fortes Pakeong Sequeira, Peng Yung, Sylviye Lei Ieng Wei, Tong Chong, Ung Vai Meng and Xin Jing. Due to the innovative techniques, the modernism of the aesthetic language or the assumed interventionist novelty, the works of the 20 artists, from three distinct generations selected for this exhibition constitute a manifestation of the vigour and diversity of artistic productivity of Macau.

In “Imaginary Belongings” it is suggested that the city’s natural panorama of ‘little realities’ and ‘big effects’ define everyday culture. Spectacle and stimulation are never far from the surface in a place like Macau; consequently the bright lights and fast paced life reflects metaphorically the identity of this imaginary. These social and cultural contexts are constantly melting together within the intimacy of each individual and artist self-contained notions. The complex layers that are rendered in this new iconography are intertwined with historical changes creating an unmitigated variety of aesthetic manifestations ingeniously mirrored in a plurality that characterizes Macau’s art.

Transnationality is an evidence of globalization and of dissociation and association between dissimilar cultures and territories. The artistic imaginary in Macau is unsparing in this factor, and translates, in a curious and intense way, this phenomenon of mixed identities, of strong involvement with more than one nation, of relatives and friends in various contexts, local and international. The multiplicity of spoken languages and dual loyalty to the homeland and the land that it receives, are elements that characterize the history and daily life of Macau, where all become similar, those who migrated and those who were already there.

The opening of this exhibition will take place at 6:30pm on Friday, 15 of April at Museu do Oriente, which is located at Av. Brasília, Doca de Alcântara (Norte) 1350-352 Lisboa, Portugal. The exhibition period will last until 12 of June and the opening hours are from 10 am to 7 pm from Saturday to Thursday and 10am to 10pm on Friday (Free admission from 6pm to 10pm), closed on Monday.