Created by Macao artist Wong Weng Cheong and curated by Chang Chan, the large-scale installation art work Above Zobeide will represent Macau at the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, starting this month.
The open call for proposals to select an artist to represent Macau in Venice took place in July last year, and after two rounds of rigorous evaluation and interviews, the final choice was made in November.
“We were both really surprised to be chosen. It’s amazing and we feel so lucky to have this opportunity,” said Chang Chan when we spoke with her and Wong Weng Cheong just before they headed off to Venice.
The selected artwork was inspired by the famous novel Invisible Cities by Italian writer Italo Calvino. The novel presents the fictional city of Zobeide and Wong draws on the story of its founding – a collective endeavour by a group of foreign men who are each pursuing the same woman through their dreams.
The members of the jury were impressed by the concept for the artwork and the way in which it expressed concern about the development of human civilisation through a striking desolate ambience. The work also reflects the intense anxiety of our era and echoes the theme of this edition of the biennale ‘Foreigners Everywhere’.
In choosing this theme, the chief curator of the biennale, Adriano Pedrosa stated that he hopes to explore the concept of ‘foreigners’ and pay attention to marginalized populations and the displacement of humanity.
“I think this idea is something that really resonates with all of us,” says Chan. “Because it focuses on displacement, the spiritual and physical displacement that we all feel in this turbulent world of ours. Also, as a young man and an artist living in Macau, Wong Weng Cheong feels that he is living a somewhat marginalized lifestyle in society. I think a lot of people feel that if you are an idealist or if you are pursuing something creative, it is difficult to live well in society these days.”
Embarking on a journey of self-exploration and self-projection, Wong Weng Cheong has been creating this series of works since 2018, which includes prints, installations and videos. Above Zobeide showcases his latest works on this theme and takes the exploration further into self-analysis, reflecting on the common challenges faced by human beings in today’s world. In the midst of intensified geographical disputes and cultural conflicts in our present world, Wong’s otherworldly creatures serve as a reminder of the idea of a ‘higher place’ – one that transcends the pursuit of individual desires, while also revealing its absurdity.
Wong Weng Cheong obtained his bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Goldsmiths, University of London. He specialises in creating immersive experiences through computer technologies including artificial intelligence and 3D graphics and has held solo exhibitions and participated in joint exhibitions in London, Kyoto and Macau.
Chang Chan is an independent curator who divides her time between Macau and London She obtained a master’s degree in Arts and Cultural Management from King’s College London and has curated several exhibitions in both cities.
Established in 1895, the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia is the oldest biennale and largest international contemporary art exchange platform. Macau has been participating in the Collateral Events since 2007, with the goal of introducing contemporary artworks from Macau to the international arena and showcasing the unique appeal of the city as a hub where Chinese and Western cultures converge. This is the ninth year Macau artists have presented their works at this prestigious international art event.
Organised by the Macao Museum of Art under the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, and coordinated by the PDG Arte Communications based in Venice, Above Zobeide, Exhibition from Macao, China will be held from April 20 to November 24. For more information about the exhibition, visit www.MAM.gov.mo.
