Green Shields: Nature’s Defense for Our Future 2025 Photography and Art Exhibition Opens with Great Success at The Venetian Macao

904

news

Green Shields: Nature’s Defense for Our Future 2025 Photography and Art Exhibition Opens with Great Success at The Venetian Macao

2025-12-09

09

Dec

09/12/2025

Exhibition merges science, art, and community to showcase nature-based solutions for urban resilience.

The “Green Shields: Nature’s Defense for Our Future | 2025 Photography and Art Exhibition” officially opened on 9 December 2025, at The Venetian Macao’s Circle Hall. The opening ceremony welcomed competition winners, participants, students, school representatives, and senior executives from Sands China Ltd., alongside the academic leads of the Green Shields project.

Organised by the University of Saint Joseph’s Institute of Science and Environment (ISE) and Faculty of Arts and Humanities (FAH), and supported by the Drop by Drop Project of the WASH Foundation, Las Vegas Sands, and Sands China Ltd., the exhibition features winning and selected works from the “Green Shields: Nature’s Defense for Our Future | Photography & Art Competition 2025.” This competition drew wide participation from students, youth, and adults in the community, receiving over 500 submissions from local schools and the public. Through their creative works, participants highlight nature’s vital role as a shield against climate change, collectively envisioning a resilient future where mangroves, wetlands, urban gardens, and green architecture form our community’s first line of defense.

A Fusion of Art, Science, and Community

The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests from Sands China Ltd., including Mr. Charlie Cai, Vice President of Procurement and Sustainability, who delivered the opening address, and Mr. Paulo Cheong, Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Also present were Ms. Annie Lam, Director of Corporate Communications and Community Affairs, Ms. Mabel Wu, Director of Corporate Communications & Community Affairs, and Ms. Stephanie Zhao, Associate Director of Sustainability.

Representatives from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) included Prof. Karen Tagulao, Principal Investigator of the Green Shields project and Coordinator of the Drop by Drop Project at USJ, Prof. Alexandro Lobo, Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation, Dr. Teresa Loong, Vice-Rector for Student Life, and Prof. Carlos Sena Caires, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Faculty members from ISE and FAH were also present, including Prof. Alexandre Lebel, Prof. Miguel Repas, Prof. Filipa Martins, Prof. Joao Brochado, and Prof. Daniel Farinha.

Winning Voices: Creativity Inspiring Action

This year’s winners shared a powerful, unified message: art can mobilize us to protect the natural systems that protect us. A standout message come from the Primary School Coloring Category winner 官澔錡, who said he found the theme “very interesting and immediately decided to participate “, collecting leaves, flowers, and twigs from a park with his mother to create his artwork, which carries the simple call to action: “Plant a tree, set it free.” His sentiment was echoed by other young creators:

Primary School Artwork winner Chan Hei Ut Esme hopes for “greener cities that make the planet healthier and happier.”

High School Photography winner 馬少穎 reflected: “May the natural ecosystem thrive in harmony with humanity.”

Immersive and Educational Displays

Beyond the competition artworks, the exhibition features displays on nature-based solutions such as green roofs and rain gardens, with case studies from Zhuhai and Portugal. A central highlight is the Digital Mangrove Tree, an immersive installation that symbolizes the profound connection between people and the environment while educating visitors on the critical role of mangrove ecosystems.

Supporting a Resilient Future

The exhibition is part of the project “Green Shields: Mangroves as a Nature-Based Solution for a Resilient Macao,” supported by the Drop by Drop Project of the WASH Foundation and Sands Eco360 Programme. It continues USJ’s commitment to fostering environmental wareness and actionable sustainability through creative community engagement.

Inspiring a Sustainable Future

In her closing remarks, Prof. Karen Araño Tagulao, Principal Investigator of the “Green Shields” project, stated: “This exhibition sits at the crucial intersection of science, art, and community. By visualizing nature as our protective shield, we aim to inspire tangible steps toward sustainable urban development across Macao and the Greater Bay Area.”