A new exhibition exploring the history and social role of Macao’s street hawkers has opened at the IAM Gallery, offering a detailed look at a trade that shaped neighbourhood life for decades.
Titled Imprints on Street Corners, the show is co-organised by the Municipal Affairs Bureau (known by its Portuguese initials IAM) and the Associação de Auxílio Mútuo de Vendilhões de Macau. It is being billed as Macao’s first large-scale exhibition dedicated specifically to hawkers – who once played a central role in the city’s economy and streetscape.
The exhibition presents archival photographs, text panels and objects such as old vending licences and tools, alongside newly produced interview videos with former and current hawkers.
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Organisers say the aim is to document how the sector developed, adapted and was gradually formalised over time.
Set along a chronological timeline, the show covers the post-war boom in street vending during the 1940s and 1950s, followed by the tightening of regulations from the early 2000s. Curators have also created photo spots that recreate traditional stall setups, giving visitors a sense of what historic street markets once looked and felt like.
The exhibition runs daily from 9 am to 9 pm until 1 March. Guided tours will be offered throughout the period. Further information is available on the IAM website.
