On Saturday evening, the opening ceremony of the Art Macao Collateral Exhibition, titled “Since it is•The Future: Media Art Exhibition,” was held at the Cardinal Newman Centre for Culture and Arts Performance of Macau (CCCN).
Part of “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2025”, the exhibition is co-curated by local curators Willa Chan (陳穎藍) and Ha Tin Cheong (夏天翔). It brings together the works of four local artists under the narrative framework of “post-apocalyptic cultural archaeology,” creating a reverse timeline that reimagines the present by looking through the lens of a speculative future.
The curators explained that the exhibition is rooted in a simple yet thought-provoking question: “Hey! What brings you here?” This daily greeting opens a space for reflection between Macau’s past and future. The exhibition seeks to explore how a city, when constantly questioned by outsiders, can find its voice between “passive acceptance” and “active creation.”
Using media art as the primary medium, the curators said, the exhibition draws inspiration from Confucian wisdom in the Analects: “Since it is here, let it be settled.” It examines how Macau, amidst globalisation and digitalisation, maintains its calm and inclusive urban character, transforming external challenges into sources of creative energy.
At the opening ceremony on Saturday, the four local artists took turns to introduce their artwork to visitors.
Ng Man Cheng (吳文政): RE:BIRTH
Ng Man Cheng’s work RE:BIRTH features retro television installations that conduct futuristic archaeology on the memories of civilisation. The artist uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate media, which is then reinterpreted with a futuristic aesthetic. Ng reflects on how civilisations can grow anew by transforming historical memories into creative processes.
His work draws parallels to Macau, a city shaped by its cultural evolution from colonial times to the present, emphasising resilience and creativity. The artwork is inspired by Matteo Ricci, symbolised by six fictional “heroes” who embark on a journey through a crystallised memory palace, exploring themes of cultural preservation and transformation in a modern context.
Cheong Ka Kit (張嘉杰): Re:flections
Cheong Ka Kit’s Re:flections creates a dialectical space between perception and reality using delayed projection technology. Several projectors and cameras are used to display visitors’ own reflections with a delay of several seconds. This interactive artwork explores the concept of time inflation, asking how humans perceive and interact with the elusive fourth dimension – time.
The installation disorientates visitors by juxtaposing their present selves with delayed reflections of their past. This creates a distorted sense of time and space, encouraging audiences to question their relationship with the temporal flow. Visitors are invited to engage in introspection and dialogue as they navigate this altered reality.
U Ka Kit (余家杰): Resolve
U Ka Kit’s artwork Resolve constructs a deforming mirrored landscape that reflects the endless cyclical dialogue between cities and their visitors. The installation features projections onto the floor, a silver pillar, and a wall. These projections display the same video of a man perpetually walking through doors on a globe.
Depending on the viewer’s angle, the movement can be perceived as walking forwards or backwards, creating an optical illusion. This work symbolises the cyclical nature of Macau as a tourist city and explores the tension between passive reception and active creation. By immersing themselves in this distorted spatial environment, viewers are prompted to reflect on the motivations and interactions of those who traverse the city.
Lo Hio Leng (羅曉瑩): Reframe
Lo Hio Leng’s Reframe uses dynamic symbols to deconstruct layers of history, releasing new narrative possibilities. The artwork responds to the question, “Where are we going?” by examining Macau’s current state amidst global flows and regional transformations. Lo employs non-thematic elements inspired by local accounts and incorporates them into a visual narrative that reinterprets the city’s identity.
Through dynamic forms and abstract visuals, the work challenges audiences to reconsider their understanding of Macau’s cultural and historical complexity. Lo’s approach highlights the interconnectedness between the city’s past, present, and future, encouraging viewers to engage with the artwork’s layered meanings.
The exhibition runs until November 2, and is closed on Mondays. Visitors can explore the artworks daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Cardinal Newman Centre for Culture and Arts Performance of Macau (CCCN) on Calçada da Vitória.
Television installations display Ng Man Cheng’s AI generated videos.
This photo shows myself taking this photo a few seconds earlier.
Curator Ha Tin Cheong performs experimental music on Saturday at the Cardinal Newman Centre for Culture and Arts Performance of Macau (CCCN). – Photos: William Chan
U Ka Kit’s Resolve display projections on the floor, a silver pillar, and on a wall.
Artist Lo Hio Leng presents her work Reframe.
