[Thursday, May 26] Aspired to rejuvenate Chinese arts and culture, this summer MGM once again joins hands with internationally acclaimed cross-media artist Jennifer Wen Ma to present a new, sublimated large-scale immersive sculptural landscape installation, A Landscape of Metamorphosis: No End to End, at MGM COTAI. Originating from the topos of Chinese ink painting, this latest addition to MGM Chairman’s Collection is an ever-altering 3D Shan Shui installation - Taking inspiration from traditional art forms, philosophies, aesthetic theories, and practices, such as Literati landscape painting, classical garden design, and the Book of Rites, Jennifer Wen Ma fuses them with cutting edge technologies, which invites audiences to immerse into and be part of the art piece.
This latest artwork of Jennifer Wen Ma came to life after over two years of enrichment, which continues its Chinese ink root while at the same time paying tribute to contemporary art. The artist’s unique honeycomb-structured paper sculpture, which utilizes laser-cutting technique to mimic ancient Chinese accordion folds, builds an immersive, handscroll-like painting under the roof of the Spectacle with a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title.
The sculptural garden in a form of three islands that is inspired by Macau’s geographic composition, has been made to be a site-specific work that integrates seamlessly into the public space of the Spectacle. The three islands together create a reminiscent of a landscape painting that extends wide-open to invite audiences into its vista, welcoming everyone to wander and soak in the ambience of a classic Lingnan style garden.
“Change” remains to be the core message of the art piece – that it offers different look and feel from different perspective, time and audiences. Incorporating the Five Elements mentioned in the Book of Rites that describe the rotation of seasons, the artist depicts the theme with two sets of paper sculptures, themed "Spring and Summer" and "Autumn and Winter", which alters season by season. The "Spring and Summer" set represents the fresh revival of liveliness with hints of tender greens, pinks and reds; whilst the "Autumn and Winter" set coats the atrium with darker hues with sparkles of silver to mimic the calm, snowy hills during the chilly days.
The islands and the ponds beside them, all embedded with LED panels as their bases, reflect colored beams that change along the dynamics of nature. On top of the paper sculpture garden are three butterfly-shaped flying creatures of metamorphosis hanging in the air, which are inspired by Rorschach image-making and the shape of three Chinese characters, “nothingness” (無), “exhaustive” (窮) and “limit” (盡). These creatures embody the never-ending source of metamorphic content and inspirations, which is to echo the continuous innovation of Chinese culture.
Known as a public space of architectural wonder, the Spectacle is home to infinite possibilities transcending limits of a physical venue that offers a one-of-a-kind art viewing experience different from any ordinary gallery space. The nature of the Spectacle contributes to creating an ever-altering 3D Shan Shui installation, bringing forth the very essence of “metamorphosis” in nature and at the same time highlighting the interactivity of the artwork. Audiences are welcome to walk around the paper sculptures or across the Spectacle to experience the art in different perspectives and to witness the metamorphosis of the artwork within a day by the change of lights and colors.
A Landscape of Metamorphosis: No End to End marks the second partnership of MGM and Jennifer Wen Ma since Macau’s first mega international art and cultural event “Art Macao” back in 2019. The artwork is now acquired into MGM’s Chairman’s Collection. A Landscape of Metamorphosis: No End to End redefines classical Chinese fine art with contemporary artistic languages, enabling audiences to appreciate the aesthetics of Chinese ink painting in a setting that mimics a Chinese garden. In the future, MGM will continue to present an array of cross-sectorial, innovative exhibitions and performances for Macau locals and tourists which are based upon the aim of passing on Chinese traditional culture. The Company endeavors to give undivided support in strengthening Macau’s positioning of World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, as well as developing the city into a base for exchange and cooperation where Chinese culture is the mainstream while diverse cultures coexist.
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About MGM
MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions/subconcessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau.
MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.
MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.
MGM China Holdings Limited is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Jessie Kuan
Director of Public Relations
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3412
Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo
Karen Lam
Senior Corporate Relations Manager
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3421
Email: karenlam@mgm.mo
