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May all those that expected a formal, literary or poetic opening
note forgive me, given both my quality as representative of the Casa
de Portugal in Macau, and the context in which this note will be
inserted.
Formalism would limit the enthusiasm, the joy, and the affection
with which this initiative was embraced, and I lack the ingenuity
for a literary or poetic text.
With everyday words, I would like to say that this House - whose
doors are never closed, and whose walls are not limitations -
achieved a little more of its mission of providing visibility to the
creative and accomplishing abilities of members of our community,
who are agents of an identity that enriches the complex reality of
Macau.
The soul of cities does not reside only in their history, their
monuments, or their cultural heritage. It resides mainly in the
people that inhabit them, and it is the more rich and fascinating
the more diversified, creative and interventive their people are.
The Portuguese language Community has participated, throughout the
history of Macau, in a continued exchange of influences, in the
fascinating creation of a city with a unique identity.
António Conceição Júnior is, par excellence, an offspring and an
agent of this reality. A multifaceted artist, a creative and
dissatisfied intellectual, a humanist in a permanent quest for his
own self-perfection, a man and an attentive and sensitive citizen,
he dedicated all his life to cultural promotion, contributing in a
permanent way to the preservation and development of Macau’s
identity.
Also, António Conceição Júnior is himself the crucible of two
cultures – European and Asian – which widen his horizons and,
perhaps, his contradictions, whose process of resolution leads to a
permanent cultural and experiential enrichment of the Man and the
city.
Today, Macau is on the route of globalization that demolishes the
identity of each place via a model of economic development where
ambition for profit hardly respects cultural and humanistic values.
Therefore, it is paramount to stand by the identity of this place
and by the personality of the Portuguese language Community in it,
enhancing and giving visibility to the collective and, as in this
case, individual accomplishments through which Macau asserts and
sees itself.
Thus, it is easy to understand how urgent and imperious it is for
the Casa de Portugal in Macau to promote this exhibition, as well as
the present edition, not only with the enthusiasm, joy and affection
that I have mentioned, but also, if you allow me, Antonio, with much
pride of being by your side. Thank you for what you are and for what
you do. |
