A large-scale international cultural and artistic event, “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021” (藝文薈澳：澳門國際藝術雙年展2021) is being held at different venues in Macao until October.
Under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture and the Secretariat for Economy and Finance, the event is organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) in conjunction with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and co-organized by the Education and Youth Development Bureau, with the participation of hotels and integrated resorts, various creative cities and local higher education institutions. Curated by Professor Qiu Zhijie, one of the most influential contemporary artists in China and Dean of the School of Experimental Art of the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
The event has brought an immersive cultural atmosphere to the entire city as a gallery and an art garden. A brand-new urban cultural tourism brand is taking shape, generating a huge mass fervour for contemporary art in Macao. Government entities and enterprises together with artists from all over the world have brought diverse visual arts experiences under the theme “To Create for Well-being” (因創造而美好).
The event is divided into several sections – Main Exhibition (主場展), Special Exhibition of Resorts and Hotels (度假村及酒店特展), Creative City Pavilion (創意城巿館), Public Art Exhibition (公共藝術展), Selected Works by Local Artists (本地作品徵集展) and Collateral Exhibition (平行展). By gathering creative ideas from around the world, it aims to promote the reputation of Macao as a world heritage city and reshape the humanistic spirit in the post-epidemic era.
Held at the Macao Museum of Art, the Main Exhibition, with the theme “Advance and Retreat of Globalization” (全球化的進與退), is divided into three parts, namely, “The Dream of Mazu”, “Matteo Ricci’s Labyrinth of Memory” and “Advance and Retreat of Globalization”. According to the statement by Chief Curator Qiu Zhijie (邱志杰) about the Main Exhibition, “the global COVID-19 pandemic since 2020 is posing an unprecedentedly tough challenge to globalization which had suddenly accelerated since the 1980s. As many governments shut down their borders and controlled entry [regulations] and travel, huge pressure has been put on the international trade system… Over the years, populism, separatism, and identity politics have risen in European and Northern American countries, intensifying turmoil around the globe. The pandemic and its prevention and control measures have triggered discussions among intellectuals in these countries.”
Qiu’s statement underlines that the Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021 “is being launched at this special moment, with the theme of Advance and Retreat of Globalization, where we will have a technical discussion on globalization and individuals, on daily life and dreams, on distance and nearness, and on a sense of safety and happiness.”
Artists have been invited from Macao and all over the world to participate in this event. “Art Macao” not only hosts international masters and local celebrities, but also has attracted the participation of prestigious cities such as Macao, Nanjing, Wuhan and Linz under the section of “Creative City Pavilion” (創意城巿館) featured in the “Art Macao” event for the first time this year brings together the distinctive cultural essence of four UNESCO Creative Cities with different themes under the main curatorship of the Macau poet, translator and curator Yao Feng (姚風). Whilst a point of convergence of unique cultural essences originating from various creative cities, Macao once again becomes a great garden filled with artistic creativity.
The Magical Cycle of Birth and Death by Pannaphan Yodmanee
Through “The Magical Cycle of Birth and Death”, Pannaphan Yodmanee explores Buddhism philosophy and cosmology. With the theme of karmic cycle of loss, agony, destruction, death and rebirth, the work provides a hint in the post-epidemic era.
“Macao: City of Gastronomy – Bon Appétit!” (美食之都澳門 – 起筷) being held at the Macao Contemporary Art Centre – Navy Yard No.1, features 15 pieces/sets of works of 16 artists (groups), including Carlos Marreiros (馬若龍) and Konstantin Bessmertny (君士坦丁), who each explore the interplay of “food” in relation to society and history in their own unique way and offer the audience a visual feast not to be missed. The exhibition is curated by local artists Ieong Man Pan (楊文彬) and Wong Weng Io (黃詠瑤). In addition, the award-winning letters of a romantic composition contest are also displayed at the exhibition.
Cheers, Macao! By Lampo Leong & Chao Yang (梁藍波、楊超) Macao: City of Gastronomy – Bon Appétit!
The exhibition entitled “Nanjing: City of Literature – Opening Up the Realm” (南京:文學之都 – 開境) being held at the Tap Seac Gallery features work of dozens of outstanding poets, novelists, critics and artists from Nanjing including Su Tong (蘇童) and Zhao Benfu (趙本夫). The works include manuscripts, calligraphies, documentaries, paintings of worms by Zhu Yingchun (朱贏椿), and an interactive art project known as Ding Cheng Pharmacy (丁成藥店), allowing the audience to reconsider the realm of life through the literary eyes of Nanjing writers. Nanjing is a city of literature and creation, with its literary tradition continuing over 1,800 years, in which have emerged many influential masters and masterpieces. The exhibition is curated by poet and novelist from the mainland Huang Fan (黃梵).
Worms Series by Zhu Yingchun (朱贏椿) Nanjing: City of Literature – Opening Up the Realm
The exhibition entitled “Wuhan: City of Design – Empathy” (武漢：設計之都 – 共情) being held at Mong-Ha Villas features a number of empathetic works inspired by epidemic prevention, including photography works by China Photographers Association President Li Ge (李舸) and artist Luo Xian (羅嫻), as well as the sections “Design in the Epidemic (抗疫海報展), facemask initiative “Color4Smile (口罩藝術展) and an Art of Fashion Exhibition (時尚藝術展), focusing on individuals in grand historical events from a micro perspective, and exploring the most dazzling facet of human nature – empathy. The exhibition’s curator is Tang Jing (唐晶).
Photography by Luo Xian (羅嫻)Wuhan: City of Design – Empathy
The exhibition entitled “Linz: City of Media Arts – The Art of Interface” (林茨：媒體藝術之都 – 接合點) curated by Christa Sommerer and César Escudero Andaluz, which is being held at Mong-Ha Villas, features nine sets of media artworks based on interfaces, demonstrating the cutting-edge charm of contemporary interactive art and leading the audience to search for the form and existing meaning of interface.
From July to October, Macao is connecting the whole world with creativity and allowing the public to enjoy beauty and vividness. “Create for the well-being of the world, create for the evolution of the world!”. More information: www.artmacao.mo.
Homo Insectus by Christa Sommerer & Laurent Mignonneau Linz: City of Media Arts – The Art of Interface
