Poems of Fernando Pessoa – 2026.06.23

The Rui Cunha Foundation opens today, Tuesday, June 23th at 6:30pm, the “Poems of Fernando Pessoa” by artists Fernando Antonio and Choi Chun Heng, displaying 44 pieces that represent the poetry of 20th-century great Portuguese poet and writer, through the art of calligraphy in the two languages of Macau, Portuguese and Chinese.

The idea came after the last exhibition of this duo of artists held in May 2024 – entitled “Calligraphy of Aphorisms in Portuguese and Chinese” –, focusing on oriental thoughts translated in both languages. This first experience «had a large influx of visitors and deserved general appreciation, due to its unique characteristics», the artists describe, which encouraged the creation of a new exhibition.

The project started with Fernando António, who two years ago, after numerous attempts, had the opportunity to invite the Calligraphy Master Choi Chun Heng to carry out a joint exhibition on calligraphed thoughts in two languages. This time, the ambition was greater, leading Portuguese poetry to flow under the traditional Chinese brush and reach new audiences and understandings, in the month that marks the expansion of Portuguese culture throughout diaspora.

Fernando António, back in his school days, had already «a huge interest in calligraphy». Afterwards, he kept practicing it for decades, and has substantially improved his skills. Over the years, he had the opportunity to learn classes of traditional Chinese Calligraphy and Painting and became acquainted with the Chinese Hui brush and Hui ink, as well as the Xuan paper (rice paper) with its distinct flavor.

A local calligrapher and collector, Fernando António is nowy President of the Supervisory Board of Macau Orient Painting and Calligraphy Association. He has also participated in the 3rd MOPCA Members’ Works Exhibition, co-organized by FRC in September 2019.

Choi Chun Heng is an amateur of calligraphy, painting, music, folk art and collecting, who is also the Chairman of Macau Da Feng Tang Art House. Now retired from the Portuguese Administration, he is a Chinese Calligraphy training course instructor at University of Macau, in addition to many primary and secondary schools, and local associations. In the past 20 years, he has held many Calligraphy and Painting Collection Exhibitions in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and other cities. His work won the 1989 Macau Calligraphy Championship, and he has also hosted Macau TV station’s moral education programs such as “Disciple Rules” and “Normal Mind – Ordinary Things”.

The artworks will be on display until July 4th, 2026.

Admission is free.
Don’t miss it!
For Macau, Further and Higher!

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