• Qi Baishi’s digitized art exhibition opened at Wynn Palace to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland.
• The exhibition immerses viewers in a digital landscape where Qi Baishi’s paintings are vividly animated on surrounding projection screens.

The exhibition “Lotus Blossoms in Pairs, Plum Blossoms in Clusters – The Artistic World of Qi Baishi” opened in mid-December at Wynn Palace in Macau.

Organized to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland and the 160th birth anniversary of Qi Baishi, the exhibition leverages cutting-edge technology to present the famed works of Qi Baishi – one of the most influential and creative Chinese painters of the 20th century – in a digital art format, enabling visitors to traverse time and experience the allure of traditional Chinese art through technology.

The exhibition is structured into two primary sections. The first, “Tianqu Scenery Paintings: Digital Art World of Qi Baishi”, employs sophisticated digital techniques within the Illuminarium at Wynn Palace. It immerses viewers in a digital landscape where Qi Baishi’s paintings are vividly animated on surrounding projection screens, creating a deep dive into the artist’s spiritual domain.

Under two sub-themes, “Blossoming Flowers of Home: Bird-and Flower World of Qi Baishi” and “Joyous Flowers for a Prosperous Year: Auspicious World of Qi Baishi”, the second section showcases Qi Baishi’s masterpieces featuring lotuses, flora and other auspicious subjects, interactively inviting viewers to open the scrolls on their own and experience Chinese literati’s way of appreciating calligraphy and paintings.

Linda Chen, President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Wynn Macau Limited, described the exhibition as a fusion of modern technology and traditional aesthetics, presented through digital media technology. This combination not only perfectly marries Qi Baishi’s artistry with Macau’s cultural heritage as a Culture City of East Asia but also allows visitors to engage in an immersive experience of Qi Baishi’s artistic universe.

She added that the exhibition not only underscores Wynn’s commitment to supporting the Macau SAR Government’s “1+4” diversified development strategy but also illustrates Wynn’s efforts to serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between East and West, propelling Chinese culture and arts onto the international stage.

The event is part of the Beijing Fine Art Academy’s global campaign in memory of the artist’s 160th birth anniversary. Wu Hongliang, President of the Beijing Fine Art Academy, noted that the Macau exhibition has carefully selected 25 pieces of Qi Baishi’s finest calligraphy and paintings.

He introduced that the selection includes several works with lotus themes, not only showcasing the beauty of Qi Baishi’s hometown Xiangtan, also known as the “City of Lotuses” but also symbolizing deep ties with Macau, the “Island of Lotuses”.

During the opening ceremony, representatives from Macau University of Science and Technology, Beijing Fine Art Academy, Macau Lotus TV Limitada, Classic of Mountain and Sea Research Institute of Macao and Wynn Macau Limited collectively signed a cooperation agreement on the founding of the Qi Baishi’s Art International Research Center (Macao). The center aims to connect Macau with Beijing and global art communities, taking a significant step forward in Macau’s cultural development and the international outreach of Chinese culture.

The exhibition is organized by the Beijing Fine Art Academy and the Federation of Associations of Cultural Sectors of Macau, coordinated by the Qi Baishi International Research Center, Macau Lotus TV Limitada, Classic of Mountain and Sea Research Institute of Macao, Wynn Macau Limited, China International Exhibition Agency, and Shandong Goldon Digital Creative Co Ltd, and supported by the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government.

The exhibition is open to the public for free from now until 15 February 2025, excluding Mondays.