Jacone’s Polyphony: Exhibition from Macao, China

Organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (IC) and implemented by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM), “Jacone’s Polyphony: Exhibition from Macao, China” is presented as a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Jointly curated by Feng Yan and Cindy Ng Sio Ieng, the exhibition explores the intersection of historical narrative and contemporary practice through the works of artists Eric Fok Hoi Seng, O Chi Wai, and Veronica Lei Fong Ieng.

The project focuses on the spiritual journey of Wu Li, a 17th-century painter and poet whose planned voyage to Rome was diverted to Macao, where he transitioned into life as a Catholic priest and scholar. This unfulfilled physical journey serves as a catalyst for a “spiritual arrival” through a modern artistic lens. Structured around the concept of polyphony, the exhibition uses a progressive layout to link outdoor and indoor environments, creating a temporal loop between the Qing dynasty and the present day.

The participating artists utilise varied media to investigate the persistence of faith and culture within a globalised world. Eric Fok Hoi Seng employs meticulous painting to bridge historical reality and imagination; O Chi Wai uses video and installation to trace the movement of belief systems; and Veronica Lei Fong Ieng explores the delicate ties between memory and site.