For art lovers, summer in Macao is synonymous with the Macao International Art Biennale, or Art Macao as it’s simply known. This year’s extravaganza runs until October and will showcase the works of dozens of local, national and international artists at exhibitions across the SAR, under the curatorial theme of Hey, what brings you here?
As a supporter of Art Macao – and a destination for cultural and entertainment events – Wynn Resorts Macau has organised a special exhibition for the festival this year, which has also been included in the Culture City of East Asia 2025 programme. Staged at Wynn Palace, Hello China, Hello Macao is the world’s first large-scale art exhibition that brings the ancient Chinese art and history of Jingdezhen porcelain to life with state-of-the-art technology.
[See more: Art Macao’s main exhibition kicks off on Saturday]
Known as China’s porcelain capital, Jingdezhen has nominated its handmade porcelain heritage sites for the UNESCO World Heritage List. Hello China, Hello Macao opened its doors to the public last Saturday and is divided into two sections – a dramatic digital showcase and an exquisite art exhibition.
Be transported back in time
The digital exhibition takes place in the Illuminarium, a 360-degree immersive space capable of producing 4K ultra-HD projections. Upon entering visitors are immediately transported back into the rich history of Qing dynasty Jingdezhen porcelain. Visitors can observe dynamic portrayals of craftsmen in deep concentration as they create, shape, decorate and fire porcelain at wooden-slatted imperial kiln sites. You can stroll through the ancient lantern-lit streets of Jingdezhen at night amongst locals from centuries past and even enter into the emperor’s gilded palace.
The digital exhibition then goes beyond China’s borders, and sends visitors out to sea on the Maritime Silk Road to discover how Jingdezhen’s craftsmanship helped inspire an international innovation in ceramics. The past is realistically and faithfully depicted, but the exhibition exercises artistic freedom through cutting-edge technology: A grand golden dragon curls through the sky above Chinese traditional and contemporary architecture, and larger than life depictions of porcelain masterpieces hover above calm water beneath a moonlit sky.
Historical and contemporary masterpieces
Starry-eyed visitors can then appreciate the real deal at the Palace Reserve Club Gallery, where they can see the four porcelain varieties from Jingdezhen as well as Clark porcelain, which features unique craftsmanship born from Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange. There are also artworks by more than 30 national and contemporary masters, including Lu Ru, Ning Gang, Liu Wei, Huang Jingzang, and Liu Wenbin.
The star of the exhibition is the Peace Dove, a Cloisonné decorative plate designed by renowned Chinese traditional artisan Chang Shana. An artist, designer and educator, Chang is a renowned figure in China’s arts and cultural scene and is the chief aesthetic advisor for this exhibition. She is the former president of the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts and Peace Dove has been kindly donated by Chang to become part of Wynn’s permanent collection.
Another masterpiece that would be hard to miss is the exquisite set of Qing Dynasty Buccleuch Vases. Measuring 130 cm tall, they are part of Wynn’s impressive permanent collection of artworks and showcase an artistic fusion of Eastern and Western techniques, likely created in London by an 18th century French artist. These are so rare that the only similar set that can be found resides in London’s Buckingham Palace.
Artist Liu Wei, who has his porcelain vase Snowy Harvest Year on display, emphasises the important role Macao has played in bringing Chinese ceramics to the rest of the world through the Maritime Silk Road, and the role it continues to play as a city where East and West converge.
[See more: Hengqin is hosting a Salvador Dalí exhibition until October]
This exhibition will be on throughout the Art Macao Biennale until 19 October. Check out Hello China, Hello Macao at the Illuminarium and Palace Reserve Club Gallery at Wynn Palace from 11 am to 7 pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. Reserve your ticket here for free admission.
