Above Zobeide
Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia
Istituto Santa Maria della Pietà Venice, Italy
April 20 – November 24, 2024

Organised by the Macao Museum of Art under the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, and coordinated by the PDG Arte Communications based in Venice, Above Zobeide, Exhibition from Macao, China will be held from 20th April to 24th November 2024 in Venice as one of the Collateral Event of the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Curated by Chang Chan, the exhibition showcases large-scale of art installations and digital prints by Macao artist Wong Weng Cheong. Inspired by the fictional city of Zobeide in Italo Calvino’s novel Invisible Cities, Wong draws on the story of its founding – a collective endeavour of a group of foreign men who each pursue the same woman through their dreams.

Wong’s artwork explores the historical impact of materialistic desire within the context of colonisation and globalisation. By presenting an urban-pastoral landscape inhabited by mutant herbivores with unnaturally elongated legs, the stark juxtaposition of civilisation and mutation mirrors universal apocalyptic anxiety, prompting contemplation of the intricate relationship between humanity and its environment. As visitors step into the exhibition space, they enter an alien world where boundaries between natives and intruders become blurred. The artist invites observers to navigate this strangely (un)familiar terrain and reflect on their own escalating physical and spiritual displacement.

In a journey of self-exploration and self-projection, Wong Weng Cheong has been creating this series of works since 2018, which includes prints, installations and videos. Above Zobeide showcases his latest works on such themes and takes the exploration further into self-analysis, reflecting on the common challenges faced by human beings in today’s world. In the midst of the growing geographical disputes and structural cultural conflicts in our present world, Wong’s otherworldly creatures serves as a reminder of the idea of a ‘higher place’ – one that transcends the pursuit of individuated desires while also revealing its absurdity.

Since 2007, Macao Museum of Art has been participating as Collateral Event in the International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, one of the most prestigious art events in the contemporary world. This participation aims to introduce representative contemporary artwork from Macao to the international arena and showcase the unique appeal of Macao as a hub where Chinese and Western cultures converge. The Collateral Event Above Zobeide, Exhibition from Macao, China bears witness to the ninth year of Macao artists presenting their works in this prestigious international art event.

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