Nostalgia of Macao — “Shipbuilding in Olden Days” Exhibition of Shipbuilding Industry to open next Friday

MACAU, November 29 - Jointly organised by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) and the Shipyard Workers Association of Macao, the Nostalgia of Macao — “Shipbuilding in Olden Days” Exhibition of Shipbuilding Industry will be launched on 6 December at IAM Gallery. The exhibition showcases the development of the local shipbuilding industry that was once an important underpinning of Macao’s economy through photos, text, physical objects, multimedia, etc., making it a rare dedicated exhibition about the shipbuilding industry of the city.

Following the Nostalgia of Macao – “Memories of Fishing” Exhibition of History of Fishing Industry held two years ago, IAM organises the exhibition of the shipbuilding industry from a similar industrial chain this year. Macao’s shipbuilding industry played a significant role in supporting the development of the fishing industry in the whole surrounding area. Over its history of more than a century, the fishing industry gave rise to multiple industrial chains, thus being called the “fourth largest traditional industry of Macao” during its heyday. Many people entered the shipbuilding industry through apprenticeships.

There are abundant traditional customs and humanistic stories in the shipbuilding industry that form an integral part of Macao’s history. This exhibition consists of four parts: “Stories of the Guildhall”, “Stories of the Ships”, “Stories of the Craftsmen” and “Images · Craftsmen”, showcasing the local shipyard workers association, membership benefits, rules of entering the industry, apprenticeship system, tools and steps, techniques and different customs.

With the development of society, the shipbuilding industry has gradually declined and made transformation. Through the information and exhibits systematically collated and displayed, the organisers hope that the public can better understand the vicissitudes of the once-thriving industry and the economic and industrial developments of Macao. During the exhibition period, visitors can also grasp the opportunity to learn from experienced master shipbuilders who are specially invited to the venue to demonstrate how to build a ship every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Members of the public and tourists are welcome to the exhibition.

The exhibition will take place until 28 February 2025, during which guided tour service will be available every Saturday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and experience workshops will be available every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. The public can sign up on-site for each workshop session 15 minutes before it starts, until the 8 places per session are filled.