Celebrating the sea and highlighting the urgent need to protect it for future generations, Melco Resorts & Entertainment will be unveiling the groundbreaking multimedia exhibition 海洋La Mer Art Exhibition July and October, 2021 at City of Dreams.
As the Special Exhibition of Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021, 海洋La Mer Art Exhibition draws together a collection of leading artists and explorers to pay tribute to the beauty, sensuality, inspiration and fragility of the sea and its inhabitants through a series of innovative installations.
Featuring specially commissioned works by pioneering video artist Ange Leccia, renowned composer Thomas Roussel, botanical sculptor Makoto Azuma, and visionary artistic director Franco Dragone, the exhibition takes place at one of Macau’s most iconic venues, the Dancing Water Theater at City of Dreams. Each of the pieces in the exhibition has been created to complement the others, creating a harmonious experience for visitors. This global collaboration of renowned talents also highlights what can be achieved through purposeful cooperation by people from different parts of the world, something that is necessary if humans are to protect the oceans effectively.
La Mer by Ange Leccia is a video work in which the artist records the endless movement of the waves as they emerge and then crash onto the beach. Through Leccia’s unusual perspective, viewers are invited to contemplate the rhythm, colors and relentlessly shifting shapes of the sea, demonstrating why it has been a source of inspiration for artists since the beginning of time.
Ange Leccia’s La Mer
W/AV/E by Thomas Roussel sees the acclaimed French composer using music and artificial intelligence to immerse the audience in a constantly changing audiovisual seascape. To make this cutting-edge work, Roussel wrote and recorded the score with an orchestra in Paris. The musical segments are activated and transformed by real-time oceanographic data collected in the Pacific Ocean to create an ever-evolving symphony. A collective of artists crafted the visual illustrations from digital recordings of around 35,000 marine species.
Sephirothic Flower by Makoto Azuma chronicles the avant-garde Japanese flower artist’s journey to the depths of the ocean. Having previously sent flowers into the Arctic and into space, this installation follows the artist as he joins an underwater research team to take a bouquet of flowers 1,000 meters down to the bottom of Japan’s Suruga Bay. In Oceans by Franco Dragone, the legendary artistic director uses the staging and machinery of the Dancing Water Theater to create a dramatic spectacle that combines baroque performance with modern technology. Addressing the issue of marine pollution, this poignant work draws attention to the destruction of the ocean environment and shows how its beauty hides a manmade monstrosity.
The House of Dancing Water Underwater Discoveries
In addition to the exhibition, City of Dreams is also hosting a series of activities and events that give visitors the opportunity to deepen their appreciation of the sea and make a meaningful contribution towards protecting it. Taking place every Saturday night at 7:30pm, the La Mer Film Festival turns the spotlight on a selection of the greatest movies inspired by the sea, from arthouse films and documentaries to big-budget blockbusters, such as The Big Blue, Finding Nemo, and Life of Pi. The screenings will incorporate some of the Dancing Water Theater’s signature aquatic effects, creating an unprecedented one-of-a-kind viewing experience for the audience.
The House of Dancing Water Underwater Discoveries, meanwhile, gives guests the opportunity to see Macau’s most famous artistic extravaganza from the perspective of the show’s divers, revealing the secret design of the underwater stage and the skills required to control its submerged mechanisms. Visitors can also connect with the oceans spiritually at the Flow Body Mindfulness classes. Led by the Head of Performer Wellness from The House of Dancing Water and featuring music composed by Thomas Roussel that is inspired by the sounds of the sea, this guided session allows participants to clear their minds, stay positive and progress towards a state of wellness.
Flow Body Mindfulness classes
In “Sea x Art” Forum, freediver Wang Aolin, the first person from China to descend to a subaquatic depth of 100m, and underwater photographer Uncle J, share their unique experiences below the waves, and how they relate to the fields of art and sustainability.
Melco has committed to reaching zero emissions and zero waste by 2030. Part of this program is the company’s fight against single-use plastics. Guests in search of a distinctive reminder of the exhibition can head to the Dancing Water Boutique, where Parley for the Oceans bags will be on sale. Created in collaboration with artists Ed Ruscha, Pipilotti Rist, Katharina Grosse, Doug Aitken, Tobias Rehberger, and Bharti Kher, each bag is made from approximately five intercepted plastic bottles and funds the removal of more marine plastic waste by the Parley Global Cleanup Network. Online donations to Parley for the Oceans, a global charity organizing ocean clean-ups around the world, are also encouraged.
When: July 16–October 31, 2021
“Sea x Art” Forum – 4:00pm–5:00pm, Sunday, August 8, 2021
Flow Body Mindfulness classes – Saturdays, 4:00pm–5:00pm
Where: City of Dreams, Estrada do Istmo, Cotai
How much: Free admission
*Online registration is preferred for the “La Mer” Film Festival, The House of Dancing Water Underwater Discoveries, Flow Body Mindfulness classes and “Sea x Art” Forum, limited seats will also be available on-site on a first-come-first-serve basis
For more information, call +853 8868 6767 or check the event’s official page
