Philip Colbert’s lobsters take over Macau in city-wide exhibition

Interview by Rui Pastorin

        UK contemporary pop artist Philip Colbert’s iconic Lobster cartoon persona is back in Macau, this time in a city-wide multi-venue exhibition presented by integrated resort operator Sands China titled “Coastal Fantasia: The Lobster King’s Vacation in Macao”.

Colbert’s has held over 50 solo exhibitions in different parts of the world, with many in Asia. His Lobster persona is the central character of his works. He had previously exhibited his works in Macau for Sands China during Art Macao in 2023.

“I think this time, the ambition and the scale of the project is far greater”, the artist, often referred to as the “Godson of Andy Warhol”, said in an interview with the Post on Tuesday at the ·ART SPACE at Macau Cultural Centre, during which he added that this was the biggest show that he has done in terms of having multiple locations at the same time.

Taking around a year or more to put together, the exhibition, which also features works specifically created for Macau, had its opening ceremony yesterday and amounts to a “city takeover”, spanning five different locations across the city, according to Colbert, who was born in Scotland.

Signalling his arrival from London to unleash his lobsters on the city is the 15-metre-high inflatable installation titled the “Lobster Submarine”, which is situated off the Macau Science Centre (MSC) in Nape, where four steel  sculptures are also displayed.

Featuring Colbert’s cartoon persona on a yellow submarine, the artist said that the installation was specifically created from the idea of him arriving from the sea. The yellow submarine, meanwhile, is a pop culture reference to The Beatles’ 1966 song of the same name, with Colbert adding: “The sort of spirit of British pop also felt appropriate for me as an artist based in London”.

Moreover, at the Iec Long Firecracker Factory and Taipa Houses, seven sculptures are on display for Sands China’s Community Revitalisation Series: “Philip Colbert’s Macao Art Tour”, with Colbert highlighting that it includes two that draw from the historic venues that will permanently remain here.

Colbert explained that this includes “Macau Lobster Firecracker”, a four-metre steel sculpture that pays homage to the local history of firecracker creation, and “the Lobster Cockerel”, which references the Portuguese legacy of Macau and stems from the idea of creating a mascot for the city.

Another inflatable installation, the seven-metre-high “Lobster Flamingo”, is also floating in The Venetian Macao’s outdoor lagoon in Cotai, while Colbert also makes his Macau debut solo exhibition with “The Journey to the Lobster Planet Macao” at the ·ART SPACE, which comprises over 20 new works including oils and steel sculptures.

Through the works, the artist aims to convey the message of the celebration of creative freedom, the idea that anyone can really have a dialogue with art history, which he said he’s obsessed with, as well as for people to get a sense of positive energy and empowerment from his work. “I’m very anti-pretension, so my work is very accessible and very much a celebration of creative freedom”.

Colbert also said that he hopes that the works would also be accessible to children. “I find that a lot of kids like going to my shows and really connect with my work so I like it to be for everyone”.

Meanwhile, during yesterday’s opening ceremony, Sands China Executive Vice Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai said that by introducing the works to the city, the company aims to boost Macau’s “coastal tourism offerings and promote the beauty of the city’s coastline – while further enriching Macau’s distinctive tourism and cultural atmosphere and enhancing its international reputation through this newly launched maritime and cultural art exhibition”.

The installations, along with the sculptures on display for Sands China’s Community Revitalisation Series, are on display until March 16, while the solo exhibition runs through February 15. Admission is free. More details can be found on

UK contemporary pop artist Philip Colbert poses at his debut solo exhibition in Macau “The Journey to the Lobster Planet Macao” at the ·ART SPACE after Tuesday’s interview. – Photos taken between Tuesday and yesterday’s opening ceremony by Rui Pastorin

These photos provided by Sands China show Philip Colbert’s “Macau Lobster Firecracker” and “The Lobster Cockerel”.