Artists

Fok Hoi Seng, O Chi Wai, Lei Fung Ieng

Press release

Jacone's Polyphony is a Collateral Event of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Macao Museum of Art. The exhibition draws inspiration from the life and writings of Wu Li, also known as Jacone, a Qing Dynasty artist who studied theology in Macao. Using 'polyphony' as both structure and metaphor, the pavilion unfolds as a layered conversation between past and present, East and West, faith and artistic practice. Through multiple voices and temporalities, Jacone's Polyphony positions Macao as a porous cultural hinge, proposing a space where distinct identities coexist without dissolving. The proposal was selected from six submissions through Art Macao 2025's Local Curatorial Project. The adjudicating panel praised the proposal's approach, drawing on Wu Li's historical connection to Macao, transcending religious and cultural backgrounds to resonate with the context of Venice, Italy, demonstrating academic depth and originality while embodying cultural fluidity and spiritual dialogue. The project explores the flow and integration of culture, faith, and spirit in the context of globalization, while investigating pathways toward cross-cultural understanding and self-dialogue that preserve cultural distinctiveness. The exhibition resonates with the Biennale's theme 'In Minor Keys,' emphasizing diverse voices and marginalized perspectives in global artistic discourse, while showcasing Macao's historical role as a cultural bridge between China and the West.