Photography @ Pátios da Claridade

Counting back two decades ago after the handover to motherland, Macau has led numerous successful development opportunities.

In Macau such a small city’s enriched cultural connotations that holds, the formation of all intense old streets have clearly shown its prosperity in certain prime moments. Many street official names like roads, lanes, bays, and pátios (or alleyways) etc. – showed reflections on small local community’s evolutionary alterations and urban new rapid development achievement results.

Rua da Praia do Manduco owned large number of low-rise building along the Manduco roadways. Other identified ancient streets, alleys, walls, and yards which, all contribute its significance to current preserved historical values – have lively inscribed the development of local’s communities changing lifestyles.

Pátios vs Becos

Pátios and Beco were classified as the smallest street in Macau; more or less three meters wide, both look very similar. The only difference is Pátios have one single entrance, and Beco are accessible both ways, in a long alleyway. Pátios is a no-through-road; It’s Macau’s old neighboring practice setup benches and tables all placed in public area to eat, chat, having close contact with all neighbors. Basic elements like archways; low-building sky walk; the land of god and public drinking well culture can be traced.

Hundreds of Pátios and Becos exist in Macau. Most old houses built in the alleyways have converted into modern low-rise buildings. Around twenty historical Pátios were left behind; Each alleyway that added up, approximately a hundred architectural buildings kept in good shape.

Pátios da Claridade

In the past, Rua da Praia do Manduco owned most Pátios; Among all, Pátios da Claridade owns the largest, hundred year old historical alleyways in Macau. The main distinct differences from the other Pátios was that the Claridade owned the most unique, non-old style green brick houses and the iconic long alleyways that symbolises the Pátios.

The entire Pátios da Claridade composed of ten blocks roughly, most of which are two-storey old buildings of the same types. There were no running water supplies in the past; Common wells were in service for public use only. Water pipes and drainage infrastructures implemented right after; all pipes exposed along the wall, visible outside the building. Residential blocks facing the main street normally owns a terrace, which represents its unique building’s features. Most dilapidated buildings remained intact. The Pátios often regarded as the most unique, cultural building complex in town.

Photography Exhibition at Pátios da Claridade – Jason Li

Most people moved out in 2018. The liveliness of the neighborhoods have left empty . Photographer Jason Li extended an outdoor photograph exhibition called “Photography at Pátios da Claridade”. Most art piece post outside the walls of many buildings focus on a exhibition walk through.

All contents filled up the daily lives of the Pátios through photos. His snapshots all well captured in black and white, reflecting how the locals went passionate about their lifestyles. His recorded feelings of human touches were his most passionate thing extract from his camera. The old environmental lifestyles, special architectural, and humanistic precious moments all appeared in front of his eyes. He claimed there are event of people and things that walked pass you day by day, seemed like an ordinary thing. One day look back, you’ll find all went departed or even vanished.

Hope through this art exhibition intro can attract more locals and tourists pay attention to these ignored old streets and lanes, maintaining its special look. Same time wishing more audiences making good use of “All people left within the empty space” perspectives appreciating art; reminisce about the cordial neighborhood feelings in the past.

If time allows, please do take a stroll around Pátios da Claridade to know more the culture of this old district and understand their related development history.