To promote the inheritance and innovation of traditional handicrafts and the development of local arts and culture, the Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) of Macao Polytechnic University (MPU) held the “Revitalising Heritage Through Art: On Public Art Sails & Bamboo Steamer Workshop”, inviting the Hong Kong artist Lam Ka Yu to share the creative philosophy and insights, and to explain the process of making a bamboo steamer with the students.

In this seminar, Lam shared the creative process, discussing her collaboration with the curators of the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival and the local community, as well as reflections on traditional handicrafts and contemporary creations. Lam also briefly introduced the history of steamer craftsmanship in Hong Kong and explained how bamboo was an environmentally friendly and sustainable natural material, as well as an important symbol of Chinese culture. Through innovative design and application, it could give new life to traditional crafts. Intangible cultural heritage is a testimony of history and a symbol of cultural identity, and the in-depth participation of young artists was an important way to inherit the intangible heritage during the workshop. MPU students got inspired by how to create contemporary bamboo artworks with Chinese aesthetics through traditional techniques, and learned the six essential steps of making a traditional bamboo steamer.

Lam was commissioned by the Sai Kung Hoi Arts Festival to create a large outdoor installation titled “Sails”, a remarkable work combining several traditional forms of bamboo weaving craftsmanship. Lam seeks not only to preserve Hong Kong's intangible cultural heritage, but also to convey the local culture and spirit of the community she works with.

MPU Bachelor of Visual Arts Programme aims to cultivate the students to care about the sustainability of society and bring the aesthetics of ancient Chinese art to the contemporary stage for preserving this intangible cultural heritage.