Collateral Event of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia
PARALLEL WORLDS, EXHIBITION FROM MACAO, CHINA
curated by Wang Shu, Lu Wenyu
Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2127/A – 30122 Venice
10 May – 23 November 2025
Opening hours: 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government and implemented by the Macao Museum of Art, with the support of MGM, Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, China will be held from 10 May to 23 November 2025 in Venice, Italy as one of the Collateral Events of the 19th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
The exhibition Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, Chinacurated by well-known Chinese architects Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu consists of two parts. Part I features urban photography of Macao by renowned architectural photographer Iwan Baan, focusing on the contrasts between those parallel worlds of Macao. These photographs will be displayed on the interior walls of the exhibition space. One impactful image will be selected and installed as an outdoor installation on the exterior wall of the venue. The second part is a collaborative study by a team from the China Academy of Art and the University of Saint Joseph, Macao explores the creative possibilities between Macao and the world, aligned with the Biennale Architettura 2025 theme, Intelligens. Natural. Artificial. Collective.The outcomes will be showcased in the form of installations, with one in the venue’s courtyard and other installations presented on pedestals in the central areas of the various exhibition halls.
Macao is a unique city located on the southern coast of China. It is most famously known to the world as the ‘Las Vegas of the East’, but locals cherish it as an old city dating back to the 16th century. Fortunately, this historical city has been largely preserved. The most fascinating aspect of Macao for visitors is that this small city is composed of multiple ‘cities’ coexisting side by side. These various ‘cities within a city’ are so different from one another. They appear unrelated, yet they coexist in astonishing harmony. These ‘cities’ feel like different worlds: historic Macao (World 1), the casino city (World 2), the new city in Hengqin (World 3), and Macao’s invisible digital operation as a cashless city (World 4).
This coexistence of four ‘cities’ makes Macao mind-blowing. Macao’s cultural influence is immense; it’s not just the ‘Las Vegas of the East’, but the inspiration for many cities across Asia. The harmonious coexistence of these different ‘cities’ serves as the secret code to the region’s history and culture. The uncertain interactions between these ‘worlds’ may unleash creative forces.
The International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia is one of the most prestigious events on the global architecture scene. The Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government has actively participated in this great event since 2014, with the hope of showing Macao’s past, present and future urban landscape to viewers all around the world through this international platform, thus showcasing the characteristic and appeal of Macao’s architecture and culture. The exhibition will be held at Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126/A, 30122, Venice, Italy.
For more information about the exhibition, please visit the website of the Macao Museum of Art under the auspices of the Cultural Affairs Bureau at www.MAM.gov.mo.
Organiser
Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government
Coordinator in Venice
CS Art Management
Media Enquiries
CS Art Management
press@csartmanagement.com
www.csartmanagement.com
Further Enquiry
Macao Museum of Art
Ellie Chan
sfchan@icm.gov.mo
www.MAM.gov.mo
