Macao Youth: Unleashing their Dreams in the Cultural and Creative Industry

　　The outer packaging is printed with a dinosaur pattern, with bright and fresh colors, and the inside is actually a hamburger;

　　Crabs on an orange-red background, carrying a time-honored Chinese signboard;

　　The light green red-eared turtle "He Xiaoyong" has a shell of pineapple buns and almond biscuits;

　　Street signs with blue characters on a white background and a model of a dark green trash can, which correspond to everyday objects in Macau;

　　...

　　The creators of these ingenious and integrated cultural and creative products are a group of Macao "post-90s".

The works have different colors and patterns, which are novel and agile, decorating the streets, shops and businesses of ancient Macau, showing the vitality of the city.

　　"Do what no one else has done first"

　　The "Tap Siac Art Market" in the spring recently opened as scheduled at Tap Seac Plaza in Macau. More than 100 Macau original literary and art brands gathered to display and sell cultural and creative products.

　　At booth No. 4, "Fang Studio" is full of models of Macau's historical buildings, street signs, stop signs, etc., attracting many people to stop and buy.

These small ornaments can be placed on the desk or used as refrigerator magnets, and many people love them at a glance.

　　"Architectures carry the memory of the times and life. They are physical history, tangible time, warmth and emotion," said Lao Jianwei, the founder. Macau is a city with a history of more than 400 years, with Chinese culture as the core and multicultural integration. Many buildings tell the story of Macau, integrate cultural heritage, and are worthy of diligently excavating value and protecting inheritance.

　　"Fang Studio" was founded by three Macao "post-90s" who used 3D printing technology to design and produce models of historical buildings in Macao, including public buildings such as the Macao Municipal Affairs Office, Dom Ding Theatre, bus stop signs, street signs and other daily facilities, and even Models of daily necessities such as trash cans.

　　"Look, this is the first product we made." Lao Jianwei picked up the "Decheng Press" model and told reporters that this was the pawn shop he had worked in.

"Have you found it? We didn't make the most famous archway of St. Paul's in Macau, but chose to make something that others haven't done first." Lao Jianwei pointed to street signs, stop signs and other seemingly bland models, saying that they It is easier to be ignored and forgotten, but it contains stories and carries the memory of the city.

　　"What impressed me the most was last year at the 'Tap Siac Art Market' last autumn, when a blind man was led by a friend, walked to the booth, picked up the model of the Macao Municipal Affairs Bureau, touched it repeatedly, as if 'seeing' it, his face covered Glad." Lao Jianwei said that the customer's recognition made him discover his own value at that moment, and also strengthened his entrepreneurial ideal.

　　"Know what your back is"

　　I met Ou Junxuan when he was awarded the 2021 Medal of Cultural Merit at the award ceremony of the Macao SAR Government.

How did a "post-90s" graphic designer win such a high honor?

　　In a face-to-face interview, he answered the reporter's questions as soon as he opened his mouth.

　　"Good design can create a distinct image of the city. I was born and raised in Macau, and I can win recognition only by showing my foothold in China. Otherwise, no matter how glamorous the work is, it will have no soul." Ou Junxuan turned on his mobile phone and showed his many award-winning design works. It is a Chinese character set off by bright colors.

　　"Look, the crab shape on the orange-red background represents the delicious taste of Macau water crab porridge; the fresh dinosaur shape makes people want to take a bite. Although these are commercial brand designs, they have won international awards and won in The unique Macau design style marked by Chinese culture." Ou Junxuan said.

　　"The results come from learning from the mainland design team. The teachers taught me not only professional skills, but also the principles of life." Ou Junxuan said of his internship experience in the mainland, "When I was following the trends in Europe and America and hoping to gain international recognition, The teacher told me: You need to know what you are relying on, what always identifies you and makes you different from others." Since the summer vacation of freshman year, Ou Junxuan has been to Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Changsha and other inland cities. Internships with designers and their teams made him understand that in the field of design, he can take advantage of the profound Chinese culture to soar into the sky.

　　"Although I have won many awards in the field of design, in my heart, the most important is the Macao Cultural Merit Medal." Ou Junxuan said that how to better showcase Macao with design works is a great responsibility for young people.

　　"Slowly, faster"

　　Dome hat, black-rimmed glasses, and a shy smile, "I am the creator of 'He Xiaoyong'." Macau youth Cen Jianheng reported to his family.

　　"He Xiaoyong" is the name of a cartoon turtle, which comes from the Yayong River Park in Macau.

The whole body is light green, and the characteristic is the shell of the tortoise-Macau delicacies such as pineapple buns, macaroons, egg tarts, etc. are all its shells.

"He Xiaoyong" dolls, stickers, handbags, pillows, T-shirts, masks and a series of cultural and creative products are very popular in the market.

　　During his university days, Cen Jianheng created the cartoon image of "He Xiaoyong" based on the red-eared turtle with congenital shell deficiency syndrome, and made a full essay on the turtle shell to give it Macau characteristics.

"'He Xiaoyong' carried a pineapple bun on his back and pretended to have a turtle shell. He looked like other turtles, but he had a low self-esteem." Cen Jianheng told the story of "He Xiaoyong", who rescued the turtle in a car accident. A normal turtle whose shell got stuck and couldn't turn its body over, only to find out that its mutilated body without a shell can help others, and since then it has become self-confident and loving.

　　Cen Jianheng spoke in a succinct manner, occasionally "chattering", and some words were repeated again and again.

"Maybe because I was not good at expressing since I was a child, I know that I can't be in a hurry when speaking and doing things. Take it slow, as long as you accept yourself and stick to it, it will be faster." The reporter understood the deep meaning of his creation of "He Xiaoyong".

　　After graduating from university, Cen Jianheng became more mature and productive. His animation works "Turtle Bus" and "50%-60%" won animation design awards. He gradually developed the idea of ​​starting a business.

In 2018, the "Zhidou Animation" studio was established, and a series of products with "He Xiaoyong" as the IP have won market recognition.

　　"If it catches up with festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, 'He Xiaoyong' will also carry dumplings, moon cakes, and turtle shells with the character "Fu" on his back." Cen Jianheng said that among many cartoon images, "He Xiaoyong" has its own unique identity.

　　"The Macao SAR government has set up a market for start-up small and micro enterprises and provided financial support, so that our products can directly enter the market and face consumers, accumulating experience." Cen Jianheng said.

　　Nowadays, more and more people like "He Xiaoyong", they feel that it is friendly and close to the life of Macau, and it is the spokesperson of Macau's fireworks and humanity.

"Our goal is to make 'He Xiaoyong' a household name in Macau, and to go to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the whole country." Cen Jianheng said.