“Macau 2049” had its premiere last night at MGM COTAI, during which the mechanical flipping matrix kinetic art installation “The Dancing Lion: Rise of Good Fortune” was also unveiled.
The 80-minute show, directed by leading Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou and marking the MGM Theatre’s first residency, features chapters that use advanced technologies from 20 countries and regions to reimagine eight forms of Chinese intangible cultural heritages, with the chapters being: “Drumming·Shadows”, “Khoomei·Ethereal”, “Miao Songs·Transcendent”, “The Crossroads Inn·Masks”, “Yangge · Robots”, “Yi Song·Ocean”, “Lion Dance·Radiance” and “Storytelling·Origin”. It is also presented with subtitles in eight international languages.
On the show, Chief Director Zhang Yimou was quoted in a statement provided at yesterday’s packed premiere as saying: “If we view the progression of civilisation through a linear lens, one end represents the 5,000 years of ancient civilisation, while the other signifies a future driven by rapid technological advancement. Macau 2049 brings together the two ends of time and space at this moment, converging horizons of East and West in this place. We seek harmony without uniformity, thus celebrating the diversity of civilisations around the world.”
Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited Pansy Ho Chiu-king said: “Macau is a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures, and we hope to truly integrate both cultures into the show. Macau 2049 opens up new pathways for preserving, innovating, and promoting intangible cultural heritage in modern society. The show enables audiences to appreciate the charm of traditional culture and infinite possibilities of advanced technology. It also acts as a catalyst for the growth and development of the performing arts industry in Macau”.
Meanwhile, the installation, the prototype of which came from the show’s “Lion Dance·Radiance” chapter, comprises 3,988 gold bricks and features both ancient and modern influences, while using advanced technology for its mechanical flipping and dynamic graphic displays, according to the statement.
Tickets are priced between 288 patacas and 888 patacas, with more details available on https://www.mgm.mo/en/cotai/entertainment/Macau2049.
Macau 2049 Chief Director Zhang Yimou (left) poses with Chairperson and Executive Director of MGM China Holdings Limited Pansy Ho Chiu-king after unveiling the matrix kinetic art installation “The Dancing Lion: Rise of Good Fortune” at MGM COTAI’s Lion Lobby. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
