Macau’s Cotai Strip: Art Macao Exhibitions Not to Miss

Featured image: The Wanderer, by Wong Ka Long

The Cotai Strip allows for some of Macau’s best panoramic views, great places to shop, Michelin-starred restaurants and so many other unique experiences. From May until October 2019, Art Macao brings exclusive, fun, interesting and beautiful art pieces for all to enjoy throughout the city. While exploring Cotai, why not create an itinerary around Art Macao? Here, we lay down all there is to see in the area, highlighting the best of these exhibitions.

Containing a few ancient pieces and several modern and contemporary ones, this is the ultimate art route for all those looking for something more than dining and shopping. A tour of Cotai can start at any point but we thought of an interesting art trail, leading from Galaxy Macau all the way to Studio City Macau. Come with us and explore Macau’s most complex and vast art exhibition ever!

Wandering Through Taipa Houses–Museum

(See featured image)

We start this magnificent journey at Taipa Houses–Museum, a five-minute walk from Galaxy Macau and the start of our Cotai art tour. “The Wanderer” is presented by local artist Wong Ka Long and his pieces are spread out all around the Taipa Houses–Museum area. He crafted several sculptures representing Fernando Pessoa and his heteronyms. Fernando Pessoa is an internationally renowned Portuguese poet and here, get up close and personal with and wander through this artist’s works.

Made in bronze, each sculpture measures two meters high, standing taller than most people. As the Portuguese poet’s heteronyms, every sculpture looks similar, but they are all in fact different, so be sure to take in all the details. We promise that this beautiful area of Old Taipa is great for an exploratory walk before heading to Galaxy Macau for their great indoor exhibition. “The Wanderer” is part of the Art Macao Outdoor Art Installations.

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Grace Kelly’s Best Actress Academy Award Oscar statuette

Tributes to Artists & More at Galaxy Macau

“Grace Kelly: From Hollywood to Monaco – Artists’ Tributes” was the only event in Macau featuring items and memorabilia of royalty! The exhibition focused on the actress and Monaco princess’s life, with exclusive items such as the gown Grace Kelly was wearing when she received the Best Actress award at the Oscars. Another incredible and valuable piece of art being exhibited here is a color silkscreen print depicting Grace Kelly, by the internationally renowned pop-art king, Andy Warhol. It’s the first time for this silkscreen print to be displayed outside of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.

Galaxy Macau’s exhibition featured photographs and images of the former actress with other public figures, celebrities, and royalties, but also her Academy Award for Best Actress Oscar statuette and a video clip showing this exciting moment. There was an incredible replica of her wedding gown on display and special area you can sit and watch the royal wedding footage. All the way from France is a giant Hermes Kelly bag and her favorite jewelry pieces by Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. Galaxy Entertainment Group, with the Galaxy Entertainment Group Foundation together with Grimaldi Forum Monaco as co-organizers presented this fantastic exhibition.

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Vairocana (2019), by Tetsuya Ishiyama

Ceramic in all its glory

With more than 27 artists represented across Sands Macao’s properties, “All That’s Gold Does Glitter – An Exhibition of Glamorous Ceramics” is highly worth a visit. Just walk over from Galaxy Macau to The Venetian Macao and find a world of amazing pieces with ceramics and porcelain as its main material.

The master behind all this is Caroline Cheng, a Hong Kong-based artist who has dedicated her life to spreading knowledge about this specific material and its beauty. Her own creations are a sight to behold such as “Prosperity” which includes several traditional Chinese dresses covered with tiny handmade porcelain butterflies. And yes, they’re all handmade! These pieces’ vibrant colors, when combined with the silky aspect of the dress, renders beautiful photographs and shows viewers that porcelain’s place is not confined to only at one’s table. Besides some of the curator’s original pieces and from her collection, there are dozens of art pieces from international artists that were invited by the Hong Kong-based artist to participate. Additionally, why not experience The Golden Peacock’s “All That’s Gold Does Glitter” themed menu after checking out this showcase? Admission is free and we suggest starting at The Venetian Macao’s main lobby and ending with the piece in the Four Seasons Hotel Macao lobby.

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Look at me!, by Paola Pivi

Incredible Encounters at City of Dreams

There are few things in life better than food, culture and travel. Enjoying our Cotai Art Macao itinerary is a happy marriage between all of these. City of Dreams presents an array of artworks focused on contemporary artists and their different ways of working. With aspects evoking a strong sense of critical thinking, pieces such as KAWS’ Good Intentions, Charles Pétillon’s 200 LITOFAIRHOUR, or Erwin Wurm’s, Fat Convertible.

Here, the audience must take into consideration a relevant characteristic of “Unexpected Encounters” where each piece is connected and relates, in some way, with issues such as human behavior, the state of the planet, and pollution, among others. The latter is well represented in “I am busy today & Look at me!”, two true to life polar bear figures, by Paola Pivi. The piece came to life after the author was inspired by a traumatic encounter with an Alaskan polar bear. It also draws on issues related to climate change and others. All these pieces are spread out around City of Dreams integrated resort and have been installed to feel and become part of the surroundings. With works from 11 different artists, all artworks are indoor and open to the public for free admission. Take out your camera, have a wander around and don’t forget to look up to see Charles Pétillon’s 200 LITOFAIRHOUR!

A Metamorphosis: No End to End, by Jennifer Wen Ma

Hua Yuan: A Multimedia Masterpiece

From Morpheus at City of Dreams, it’s a short walk over to MGM Cotai to explore the multimedia exhibition held there. “Hua Yuan” is one of Art Macao’s most eclectic exhibitions to date. Set at the stunning MGM Cotai property, it features three very different and complex art pieces, all of them cross two main elements: calligraphy and Chinese tradition. “A Metamorphosis: No End to End” transforms the Spectacle area of the hotel into a garden landscape with natural, sculptural and virtual textures coming alive while visitors look on.

From Jennifer Wen Ma as well, “Paradise Interrupted: An Installation Opera in One Act” was only for just a few days, so be sure to get there and check it out. As the story unravels, one can easily spot themes such as the Garden of Eden and Peony Pavilion, a 600-year-old Kun opera combined with contemporary Western opera. Be awed by a great show where technology meets artistry to bring audiences a taste of what’s being done in China when it comes to contemporary theater.

Dragon’s Footprint (2019), by Ma Yansong (MAD Architects)

Dragons & Scientific Art at Wynn Palace

Next up, it’s Wynn Palace. This hotel has gathered a series of notable pieces of art to present at this year’s Art Macao. It’s the first time Macau hosts some of these featured artists, including names like Edoardo Tresoldi, Herb Alpert, Jennifer Steinkamp, Refik Anadol, Robert Indiana, Sam Francis and MAD Architects. With sculptures, paintings and art installations that make for amazingly unique photos for all you social media buffs out there, “Wynn – Garden of Earthly Delights” is one of Art Macao’s most picturesque exhibitions to attend.

The experience starts right outside: “Dragon’s Footprint” is an installation by Ma Yansong (MAD Architects) and it’s meant to affect the idea of extinction, where all that’s left of dragons were their footprints. The event’s most striking and interactive artworks might be Refik Anadol’s “Melting Memories” and Edoardo Tresoldi’s incredible “Sacral”. Created in 2016, “Sacral” is a beautiful piece of art where a wire mesh chapel-like structure takes the stage in a combination of perfect lighting and giant dimensions.

This exhibition is influenced by Hieronymus Bosch’s stunning masterpiece–Garden of Earthly Delights–which he painted during the time of the Renaissance.

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Amanami Animated, by MAP Office

Last Stop at Studio City Macau with a Japanese Feel

The final stop on our list to visit is at Studio City Macau. This time they have done something out of the box, inspired by all things Japanese, from paintings to installations and even vintage arcade games. One can feast on various aspects of Japanese culture under the same roof with the “Journey” exhibition at Studio City Macau. There are statues of samurais decorating the whole shopping arcade area, two LED screen installations and an array of amazing items.

Amongst this exhibition’s most popular attractions is clearly the arcade, where everyone can play Mario games and other classic Nintendo titles. There is also an installation full of cool and trendy street art perfect to dress up your Instagram feed. Highlights of “Journey” include Amanami Animated by MAP Office, Mr Waterloo by Rainbo, Waves in Time by Southbend, Blingee by Han Yanjuan, and the “Modern Art of Floating World” collection by Horihiro Mitomo and Ukiyoemon. All these exhibitions are free, so why not make your Cotai art tour a reality and see the best of what Art Macao has to offer!