Art Macao 2025: global question, local voices

The Macao International
Art Biennale 2025 opened this week with nearly 30 citywide exhibitions lumped in
six sections.

Central to this year’s
edition is the curatorial theme “Hey, what brings you here?” – framing the
exhibitions as a space for introspection.

Chief curator Feng Boyi
described at the opening ceremony on Friday the theme as rooted in everyday
encounters— “simple gestures that open the door to deeper existential
reflection”.

Through this lens, the
exhibition explores Macau’s cultural memories and evolving identity amidst globalisation.

Artists responded to
the theme with works that span personal, local and global narratives.

Some drew inspiration
from Macau’s urban texture and historical background, engaging in fieldwork and
site-based research to interpret the city’s identity.

Others approached the theme from broader perspectives, reflecting on global tensions and shared human experiences.

International
participants – from over a dozen countries including Portugal, Japan, Mexico,
and Germany – explore expansive themes such as war and peace, the boundaries
between public and private space, and the shifting line between reality and virtuality.

The biggest highlight
of the main exhibition is how it boldly subverts conventional spatial organisation.
Unconventional spaces, including stairwells, corridors, and even restrooms, have
been activated as sites of artistic dialogue.

This same spirit of
breaking convention extends to the public installation theme, “Waves & Ways”.
Moving beyond traditional formats like sculpture, these works prioritise
interaction with the community and local residents, transforming publicly
displayed art into a process of personal engagement.

Feng said, “We hope to promote Macau’s history and urban culture, while embracing a shared responsibility rooted in its heritage, global outlook, and multicultural foundations.”

Chief curator Feng Boyi

Championing homegrown artistic voices

This year’s biennale
places strong emphasis on the involvement of local artists, aiming to strike a
meaningful balance between creatives from Macau, mainland China, and the
international art scene.

Leong Wai Man, the director
of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, said on Friday, “Since Art Macao expanded its
local curatorial programme in 2023, this year its number has grown from four to
six.”

This broader platform
allows local artists to create projects that resonate and attach with the
community. Their works explore themes such as the blending of local languages,
the fading presence of old neighbourhoods, and the evolving identity of local
women.

Leong said she hoped this would highlight the SAR government’s strategic vision for nurturing local artistic talent— charting a progressive path from local development to  international recognition.

Leong Wai Man, director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau

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