- Sands China participated in Hong Kong’s Art Central exhibition with a Sands Gallery booth.
- The booth was centered around the works of three young Macau artists – Lei Ieng Wai, Leong Chi Mou and Lio Hak Man.
Sands China recently promoted Macao’s arts and cultural scene with a Sands Gallery booth at Hong Kong’s premier annual international art event, Art Central, which concluded on 29 March.
Over the five-day exhibition, the booth attracted widespread interest from international gallery representatives, collectors and artists, facilitating in-depth cross-cultural exchanges centered around the works of three young Macau artists – Lei Ieng Wai, Leong Chi Mou and Lio Hak Man.
Additionally, the booth exhibited a curated collection of firecracker packaging labels and a firecracker catalogue from “A Century of Iec Long Firecracker Factory in Radiance – An Exhibition on the Resonant History and Aesthetic Memory of Macao Firecrackers,” which is currently on display at Sands Gallery in Macau. The booth captivated the event’s international audience, highlighting the enduring allure of Macau’s cultural heritage.
Sands Gallery’s participation reaffirms its role as a bridge connecting Macau’s art and culture with the world, allowing local artists to shine on the global stage. It also reflects the richness and uniqueness of Macau’s artistic and cultural heritage, enhancing the city’s international reputation in arts and culture.
A milestone for Macau in the international arts scene
With this year’s Art Central, Sands China became the first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise in Macau to be invited as an Associate Partner. The event was of record-breaking scale, featuring 117 galleries and over 500 international artists and attracting more than 40,000 visitors.
Sands China is the first integrated tourism and leisure enterprise in Macao invited to join Art Central as an Associate Partner.
The Sands Gallery booth showcased over 40 exhibits, featuring the works of the three Macau artists and the original firecracker packaging labels from Macau’s cultural history as a firecracker producer and exporter. The exhibition included a seminar devoted to firecracker aesthetics and collaborative art tours, fostering greater socio-cultural exchange and dialogue between Macau and the global arts community.
Dr Wilfred Wong, Executive Vice Chairman of Sands China Ltd, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We are deeply honored to join Art Central as Associate Partner, and sincerely grateful to the organizer for their recognition and support of Sands Gallery. As a prominent platform in the global contemporary art scene, Art Central has provided a valuable opportunity for Sands Gallery to showcase Macau’s cultural depth and artistic vitality to the world; the ensuing recognition received from the international art industry, academia and visitors is deeply meaningful and profoundly encouraging to us.
“We are delighted to see the works of Lei leng Wai, Leong Chi Mou and Dor Lio Hak Man garnering such high acclaim from collectors, visitors and media from all over the world, which has enabled them to broaden their international perspectives and networks, and also laid a robust foundation for their future international advancement in the global art scene.”
Global recognition for local talent
Corey Andrew Barr, Fair Director of Art Central, lauded Sands China for its influential role, saying, “Sands China embodies a spirit of partnership that goes far beyond the conventional – building genuine pathways for the exchange of art and ideas between Macau and Hong Kong, rooted in a deep sense of shared heritage that binds our two cities like family. We are honored to welcome Sands China as Associate Partner of Art Central and to celebrate this relationship as one of our most meaningful.”
The participation of Macau artists also received high praise from industry professionals, with their works making notable impressions on the international stage.
Lei Ieng Wai expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “I sincerely thank Sands Gallery for its dedicated efforts in broadening international horizons for Macau artists and providing us with valuable opportunities to showcase our work to an international audience.”
Leong Chi Mou shared similar sentiments, reflecting on the event’s impact.
“I am grateful to Sands China for fully supporting our participation in Art Central, which allowed us to engage with international galleries, curators and artists, and gain deeper insights into the preferences of global audiences and markets,” the artist said.
Debuting at Art Central, Lio Hak Man was equally inspired, adding, “I would like to express my gratitude to Sands Gallery for facilitating my debut at Art Central. Beyond the opportunity to present my work, this has been a cherished learning experience that has fostered significant growth. I was deeply inspired and impressed by the creations and perspectives of global artists on this international art stage, which has led me to further contemplate my own creative direction.”
Extended exhibition lecture: Preserving Macau’s cultural memory
To provide international audiences with a deeper understanding of the history and aesthetics of Macau’s firecracker culture, Sands China organized a special lecture on 29 March at Art Central, delivered by Professor Ung Vai Meng, a distinguished professor at the Macau University of Science and Technology and curator of the firecracker exhibition.
Its booth included a curated firecracker catalogue and a precious collection of original firecracker packaging labels.
Professor Ung presented a detailed discussion on the development of the firecracker industry, focusing on the intricate designs of firecracker packaging, the symbolism and aesthetic influences behind the artwork, and how these designs were crafted to meet the demands of cross-cultural markets.
The lecture was met with great enthusiasm, attracting audiences from around the globe. It evoked shared memories among residents of Hong Kong and Macau while offering international attendees profound insights into the cultural and historical significance of Macau’s firecracker legacy.
By participating in Art Central, Sands China showcased Macau’s diverse culture and rich artistic heritage to the world, enhancing the global visibility and influence of Macau’s artists on the international stage. In the future, Sands China said it plans to continue promoting cross-border collaboration in arts and culture, contributing to Macau’s further development as a diverse and culturally significant international city.
