Open Day – Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau｜Introduction of “Prints by Sandro Pazzi: An Artist from the Hometown of Matteo Ricci”

This exhibition is organized by the Centre for Chinese History and Culture of the University of Macau, with the support of the Global Affairs Office, the Department of Arts and Design, and the Macau Academy of Painting. Centered on the theme of “Mutual Learning between Chinese and Western Cultures,” it aims to promote dialogue among civilizations, deepen cultural exchange, and build an artistic platform for Sino-Western interaction. By continuing historical traditions and highlighting Macao’s unique role, the exhibition seeks to broaden academic horizons, enrich aesthetic education on campus, foster the integration of cultural heritage and innovation, and contribute to nurturing a new generation with both humanistic literacy and international vision.

Sandro Pazzi, a printmaker and experimental artist active in Italy’s avant-garde art scene of the 20th century, was a compatriot of the renowned cultural emissary Matteo Ricci. He devoted himself to printmaking while also engaging in the compilation and study of art literature. His works often employ stark contrasts of black and white to explore profound themes such as light and shadow, existence and nothingness, emotion and archetype. Using black and white as his sole thread, he connects visual language with music, psychology (drawing on Kandinsky’s and Jung’s interpretations of color), and Italy’s cultural memory. His art embodies the image of a locally rooted yet constantly experimental pioneer.

Exhibition Venue: Multifunctional Room, Cultural Building, UM (E34-G016)

Exhibition Dates: January 9 – February 27, 2026 (excluding weekends and public holidays)

Exhibition Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (closed for lunch break from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM)

The exhibition ““Prints by Sandro Pazzi: An Artist from the Hometown of Matteo Ricci” is a contemporary echo of Sino-Western cultural exchange and mutual learning. Mr. Pazzi’s works employ a minimalist black-and-white language to explore universal human themes — light and darkness, reality and illusion, order and chaos. This exploration resonates intriguingly with the wisdom of Chinese philosophy, such as the concepts of “the mutual complementarity of yin and yang” and “knowing the white, keeping to the black.”

Mr. Sandro Pazzi’s exhibition is not merely a display of artworks, but also a cultural practice that carries historical resonance and contemporary mission. It responds to the great tradition of mutual learning between China and the West that began in the era of Matteo Ricci, offering new interpretations within the context of contemporary art.

As a compatriot and successor of Matteo Ricci, Mr. Pazzi, through his exquisite printmaking art, consciously places himself within this dialogue that has spanned over four centuries. His work serves both as a tribute to the pioneers and as an inspiration for future modes of cultural exchange.