Taipa Village Cultural Association is delighted to present an exhibition of painted Chinese foldable fans – a unique collection decorated by artist Chao Iok Leng – at Taipa Village Art Space. The exhibition is sponsored by Cultural Development Fund of the Macao SAR.
Chao Iok Leng brings a refreshing approach to the tradition of Chinese folding fan painting, with masterful use of Chinese ink in a rare intersection of fine art and beauty, in which the cooling function of the fan is imbued with great elegance by the artistic depictions on its delicate paper. Such portable works of art are uncommon treasures in the hustle and bustle of contemporary urban life, and this exhibition seeks to enhance our appreciation of beauty and tranquillity through showcasing these precious objects rooted in ancient Chinese culture.
Handheld folding fans originated in Asia to keep their users cool, also functioning as ornaments, status symbols and expressions of personal taste. The Chinese tradition of painting fans began during the Tang dynasty, inspiring Chinese artists to think creatively by painting on their delicate semi-circular surfaces with precision and great mastery. The use of Chinese ink, developed more than two millennia ago, requires meticulous attention to detail as it is quickly absorbed by such thin paper, making it difficult to touch up or remove anything already painted.
Chao, originally from Nanhai, Guangdong, has lived in Macau for most of her life and has taken a deep and expansive interest in art since her childhood. In the early 1970s, she studied under Guan Wanli, learning to paint flowers and birds in fine detail, and she later studied Western painting with Li Lun, blending Eastern and Western styles. In the late 1970s, she moved to Hong Kong, where she studied flower and bird painting, alongside landscape painting, under Luo Zuishan, and learned calligraphy from Liang Zijiang. After returning to Macau, she studied Chinese and Western painting with Zhao Weifu and often went out sketching with her peers. In the 1980s, Chao studied Lingnan painting techniques under Zhao Shaoang and travelled to Beijing to learn flower and bird painting from Xu Junxiu. In the 1990s, while living in Vancouver, she studied freehand landscape and flower painting with Song Weiyuan from Beijing.
Chao currently serves as Vice President of the Macau Yi Un Calligraphy and Painting Association, an academic adviser to the Macao Association of Chinese Culture and Arts, an art adviser for the Macao Culture and Art Association, an honorary adviser to the International Women Artists Association-Macao, and a member of the Macau Artist Society. She held her first solo exhibition at the Luis de Camões Museum of Macao in 1987, showing works later collected by the museum. In 1996, she was invited by the Macao Government Tourism Office to mount an exhibition of her Chinese paintings entitled "The Charm of Leisure" at the Tourism Exhibition Hall, and she has participated in countless joint exhibitions both locally and internationally.
Chao has a long-standing friendship with Master Lin Jinda. Although she never formally became a disciple, decades of working closely together have forged a friendship between the teacher and the student, and they influence one another subtly, with Master Lin's accomplishments and character having had a significant impact on Chao's work. Over the years, Chao has worked tirelessly, starting with the rigorous, meticulous painting of flowers before progressing to freehand styles and exploring various painting techniques. Her landscapes are derived from sketches made as she seeks out serene forests and deep valleys, capturing the atmosphere with palpable emotion. Her calligraphy blends a range of styles, including Han Li, Northern Wei and running script.
In addition to her painting and calligraphy practice, Chao founded Livraria Ngai Chi Hin in the 1980s in Macau, providing the "Four Treasures of the Study" and craft supplies to benefit fellow artists, which won her high praise in the field. In the early 2000s, she established Nam Fan Lou, selling various types of artistic fans as another medium through which to develop and promote calligraphy and painting. She is remarkably consistent in her pursuits, embodying the essence of a true artist in both calligraphy and painting.
"It is our honour to invite Chao to showcase her distinctive collection of Chinese fan paintings," said João Ó, President of the Taipa Village Cultural Association. "She skilfully interprets the beauty of fan leaf paintings in different living elements that are not necessarily obvious but which nevertheless nourish our lives."
Taipa Village Cultural Association continues to bring together the endeavours of local and international artistic talents to exhibit myriad artworks in Taipa Village. This unique Chinese foldable fan painting exhibition further cements Taipa Village's position as a leading cultural and artistic destination in Macau and underlines its invaluable contribution to the promotion of the territory's cultural and creative industries.
Organiser:Taipa Village Cultural Association
Time of Event:12:00-20:00 (MON-SUN)
Venue of Event:Taipa Village Art Space (No. 35-AA da Rua dos Clerigos & 123-AA da Rua dos Mercadores, Taipa, Macau)
Inquiry:(853) 2857 6112
Website:
www.taipavillagemacau.org.moStart Time of Event:16/07/2025
End Time of Event:17/09/2025
Sponsor(s):Cultural Development Fund of the Macao SAR