Interview by Yuki Lei
Local artist Wilson Lam Chi Ian, managing director of Macau Creations, talked to The Macau Post Daily recently about his views on the government’s revitalisation programme about six old quarters in the peninsula, Taipa and Coloane, namely, the Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro area, Coloane’s Lai Chi Vun Shipyards, the pedestrianisation of Rua da Felicidade (“Street of Bliss”), the Barra area, Pier 23 and Pier 25 in the Inner Harbour district and the area surrounding Mount Fortress, as well as Taipa’s Iec Long Firecracker Factory, Pátio da Eterna Felicidade and Rua das Estalagens.
Lam made the remarks during an interview with The Macau Post Daily at his creative products shop in the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
In line with the government’s six new gaming concessions which include the integrated resort (IR) operators’ obligation to invest in non-gaming attractions, SJM, Galaxy, Wynn, MGM, Melco and Sands are taking part in the government’s ongoing programme to revitalise the city’s six historic areas.
The government-Wynn cooperated project – the Rua da Felicidade pedestrianised area – got off the ground on September 29, the first among the six projects.
Lam described the involvement of the six IR operators in the government’s revitalisation programme as a “good” start: “They are a business institution in themselves, with resources and connections including money and influence and, therefore, it would be easier for them to invite an artist from outside Macau thanks to their popularity.” Lam also said: “If they [the six IR operators] do a good job in their respective projects, the whole revitalisation will look great,” pointing out that today’s younger generation have different concepts of civil society and understanding of things than in the past and, therefore, to change a place or develop an area is not just to rebuild a building, but to seek different “contents” and “attractions”, adapting them to the conditions of each place.
“The six IR operators act as a director and also an investor who writes, directs, acts and produces their own revitalisation project in their designated area”, Lam said, adding that in order to do their “scene” well and tell the “story” well, they have to understand the features of the respective revitalisation areas and where their attractions lie, thus presenting their own projects with different effects.
Lam highlighted the point of revitalisation as keeping each area the same as before, pointing out that “each area has its own characteristics.” He urged the six IR operators to do their revitalisation projects well and seriously, and not just to hand in their homework.
However, speaking about the restoration of some historic buildings, Lam was quick to add that members of the public should also come up with a consensus first before the government reconstructs those buildings that cannot be restored or may be too dangerous for pedestrians to walk past.
In terms of two possible views about the programme, Lam said that there was always a certain number of residents who are not interested in the development of civil society so what the IR operators have to do is to make residents’ different opinions integral parts of their “scripts”. He added: “Once you have revitalised the area, you will not be able to give it exactly what it should have and, therefore, you should properly retain some things to enable the residents living in the respective area to develop it freely.”
Whenever the areas are revitalised, IR operators must show the proper respect and awe, respecting the culture, the residents, and their lives, Lam noted.
How do we define “revitalisation”? The point is to plan and create a distinctive area environment by making use of its characteristics through its own features, history, culture and residents’ livelihoods in conjunction with the area’s cultural landscape, Lam said.
Local artist Wilson Lam Chi Ian, managing director of Macau Creations, poses during an interview with The Macau Post Daily on September 28 at his creative products basement shop in the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. – Photo: Yuki Lei
