MGM commits to nurture local cultural and artistic talents. The large-scale digital art "Giraffe meets Qilin" is a collaboration between MGM and Macau artist Eric Fok, transforms his decade-long art series and the commissioned technical pen drawing "Renaissance" from the "Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2023" into a digital art journey.
MGM has been collaborating with Eric Fok since the opening of MGM COTAI and his works have been collected in MGM Chairman's Collection and displayed in the public space. Eric Fok excels in using technical pen and paper as tools to create intricate ancient maps, incorporating contemporary elements to explore the changes brought about by urban development. The "Giraffe meets Qilin" is Eric Fok's first digital masterpiece, extending the innovative concept of "ART-TECH” at MGM. It expands the realm of the public art space, transforming the Spectacle into a "360-degree art museum" by showcasing the ancient navigation map on Asia’s largest indoor LED screens. The fusion of antique navigation map with iconic architecture immerses the audience in a mesmerizing journey of cultural exchange between East and West and its transformation, spanning from the Age of Discovery to the present.
In the ten-minute journey, the artwork ingeniously integrates the giraffe art installation at the Spectacle and the signature giraffe element in Eric Fok's works as the starting point. Audiences follow the depiction of the Maritime Silk Road on the antique map drawing, sailing from Lisbon, Portugal, crossing the oceans, and arriving in Macau. It marked the history of Macau being the major hub of the world trade network from the 15th to the 17th century. Along the journey, iconic elements and figures from the Renaissance period, such as the armillary sphere, Botticelli's The Birth of Venus, Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man, and Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam emerge, witnessing the dissemination of Western culture, art, science, and technology.
Transitioning from the sea to the land, audience traverses the map that extends from Macau to the Pearl River Delta region and Beijing, showcasing various landmarks and features of the Greater Bay Area and China from a unique perspective. In the latter part of the journey, the focus returns to the Spectacle, highlighting the concept that the starting point can also be the destination. It reflects on the world's past and present, witnessing Macau's transformation in shaping today’s prosperity, and showcasing its important role as a vital node along the Maritime Silk Road and a gateway connecting China with the world.
This immersive digital journey invites audiences to engage in a timeless dialogue and discover Macau's captivating history through art, where East and West entwine in a symphony of creativity. In celebration of the forthcoming 25th anniversary of Macau's return to the motherland, the artwork embodies the "original + innovative" concept that transcends traditional art forms, contributing to the sustainable development of Macau's cultural and creative industries with trailblazing immersive digital technology as the medium. Looking back while aspiring forward to the future, it also expresses MGM's sincerest wishes for the prosperity of the country, fostering an unwavering commitment to patriotism.
- Schedule: 3:10pm, 5:10pm daily
- Duration: 10 minutes
- Location: The Spectacle at MGM COTAI
*MGM reserves the right to adjust the schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
Eric Fok
