Fans of Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos will be thrilled to hear that MGM MACAU will soon present the first exhibition of her work in China.
The first woman and the youngest creative to exhibit her work in the Palace of Versailles in Paris (in 2012), Vasconcelos will showcase new work specially conceived for the Grande Praça at the heart of MGM MACAU. This intervention will be part of the art programme with a focus on Macau's integral role in the 500 year history of trade between China, Portugal and the rest of the world. In the 16th century Emperor Ming invited indeed Portuguese merchants to settle in Macau. From there, the merchants traded between China and the rest of the world.
Moving from the Portuguese heritage in Macau, Vasconcelos will unveil a new piece inspired by the marine and the maritime. This is not the first time Vasconcelos plunges into the abyss to provide us with her own vision of the deep sea environment: at the 55th Venice International Art Biennale, the artist represented Portugal with an intervention on the floating Portuguese pavilion, an old cacilheiro that featured inside its cabin illuminated crocheted tentacles in several blue shades that looked as if they belonged to a mysterious creature haunting the ferry.
Yet this time Vasconcelos has gone for a gigantic Octopus from her "Valkyrie" series. Expected to be installed in March at the MGM MACAU, the "Valkyrie Octopus" will occupy several metres and integrate LED lights. According to a statement by the artist's studio, this is also among the most complex pieces ever created by Vasconcelos.
Further exhibitions featuring Vasconcelos will follow in Brazil, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, so try to catch her this year in a museum or art space near you.
Joana Vasconcelos' installation will be at MGM MACAU from 16 March to 31 October 2015.
Image credits for this post
1. - 2. Joana Vasconcelos, Golden Valkyrie, 2012, Installation view. Handmade woollen crochet, industrial knitted fabric, fabrics, ornaments, polyester, steel cables, polystyrene 650 x 1140 x 1360 cm, Kalfayan Galleries, Athens. Photo: Luís Vasconcelos / Courtesy Unidade Infinita Projectos and Château de Versailles
3. Studio shot, Joana Vasconcelos at her studio, © Alfredo Cunha
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