Featured image: Mr and Mrs Lion by Hung Yi
MGM Macau and MGM Cotai are home to some of the most sumptuous, modern, and sleek environments in the city. Besides loving their dining spots and art happenings, we sometimes just head there to take in the beauty and artistry. MGM Cotai’s Spectacle is the ideal place to take the whole family and show the kids some great architecture but also check out some artistic installations along the way. This time, we bring you a series of lion-inspired deals that will definitely land you there more than once.
MGM Art Macao is an initiative happening at both MGM Macau and MGM Cotai where these two properties will be filled with art and food for all to savor and enjoy. Besides the jaw-dropping Awakening exhibition at the Spectacle, MGM is also hosting the art symposium Contemporary dialogues of Chinese Culture Awakening, and a series of wonderful lion-related dining deals. Read on to find out more!
Conveying the spirit of the lion, the MGM Special Exhibition “Awakening” is a unique and forward-looking exhibition, where Chinese artists from all over the world come together to present their creative ideas in Macau. Many artists have taken the imagery of MGM and the lion motif as the theme while combining the cultural significance of the “waking lion” from the Cantonese Lingnan tradition in their artworks.
The “Greater Bay Area Art Symposium – Contemporary Dialogues of Chinese Culture Awakening” was held in the MGM Theater on July 16 with an audience of around 300 guests. Top speakers including Pansy Ho, Calvin Hui, Wang Huangsheng, Liu Guofu, and Xue Song, came together to discuss on how to awaken the Chinese art and culture, and explore on its innovation and revival based on the current development of Chinese art. The symposium has also attracted over 140,000 viewers during its live streams partnering with two popular online media platforms: Artron, Chief Art Media Partner and Zai Art, Official Livestreaming Partner.
At the symposium, Curator Calvin Hui said: “MGM’s ‘Chairman’s Collection’ includes paintings and art installations from various important Chinese contemporary artists. Inspired by Eastern aesthetics while immersed in diverse cultural threads and ideas amid an era of globalization, these artists create a contemporary expression cohering distinctive aesthetics of Chinese art, blazing their own path apart from the monotonous mainstream discourse. Their artworks enrich and diversify the ecology of Chinese traditional culture, hence helping to realize the creative transformation of the fine Chinese culture in the Greater Bay Area and contribute to the development of a Cultured Bay Area.”
Exhibition “Awakening”
The MGM Special Exhibition “Awakening” is one of the core activities of Art Macao. Curated by Calvin Hui, the exhibition draws from the cultural symbol of the lion and interprets it through contemporary art, in response to the longstanding historical and cultural roots and to demonstrate cultural confidence in the post-pandemic era. Chinese contemporary artists, Xue Song and Liu Guofu have created brand new artworks inspired by the imagery of the lion.
The exhibition also features numerous works from the Chairman’s Collection, including important works by such preeminent artists as Cai Guo-Qiang, Wang Huangsheng, Liu Jianhua, Yu Yang, Yuan Jai, and Chloe Ho, as well as the imperial carpet of the Qing Dynasty – Five Lions. These grandiose exhibits all explore the old and new artistic traditions with the audience and broaden their mind and sight of the future.
To spread a positive vibe to the guests while echoing the Art Macao theme of “To Create for Well-being”, famous sculptor Hung Yi, presents the public art project MGM Lion Party, in the lush Nature’s Art at the Spectacle, expressing a sense of joy and sustainability. Among his iconic animal sculptures in this project, there is the Mr. and Mrs. Lion, the first MGM Lion Family sculpture in his career, which staged a joyous party with other 12 animal sculptures to bring happiness to all ages through art.
The exhibition “Awakening” takes inspiration from the visual and cultural symbolism of the lion and incorporates de cultural significance of the “waking lion” from Cantonese Ningnan tradition. The lion represents prestige, confidence, determination, and strength, much-needed characteristics in this new era the world is experiencing. According to MGM, “In the post-pandemic era, the waking lion stands for creativity and vitality that fuses ancient, modern and contemporary art and culture. It is a symbol of encouragement, revival, and a return to even greater heights, creating a positive social atmosphere.”
When: July 16–October 31, 2021
Where: Spectacle, MGM Cotai, Avenida da Nave Desportiva, Cotai
How much: Free admission
For more information, check here
Lion-themed bun at Imperial Court and Chun
Savoring “Roaring” dining offers
MGM felt so inspired by the power and will of the lion that decided to created different foods and drinks inspired by this beautiful animal. To celebrate the different artistic happenings in place, MGM has several morsels and cocktails on offer, including the delightful Awakening Lion Bun, a themed snack available at MGM Macau’s Imperial Court, and MGM Cotai’s Chun, starting on July 1, 2021.
If you’re more into sweet snacks and also want to involve the whole family in these happenings, you should head to Anytime, MGM Cotai’s own glasshouse in the middle of the Spectacle! The MGM Awakening Lion Sugar Crush is available from July 1 till the end of August.
Anytime is also bringing the Leo: Zodiac Sign afternoon tea set for everyone to enjoy a roaring good time around food, friends, and family. This is also available to everyone from July 1 till the end of August. As for drinks, cocktail lovers can head to Bar Patuá and have some of their all-time favorites or choose to try something new: for a limited period of time only, Bar Patuá is having a themed treat, the Lion Cocktail!
When: July, 2021–February, 2022
Where: Imperial Court at MGM Macau, Avenida Dr. Sun Yat Sen, NAPE, Macau, and Chun and Anytime at MGM Cotai, Avenida da Nave Desportiva, Cotai
How much: Price depends on the chosen item
*For more information on the promotional periods of each dining offer, check here
Lion Cocktail at Bar Patuá
