Macao Returns to Venice Biennale with Jacone's Polyphony
Macao, China, is showcasing its tenth exhibition at the Venice Biennale as a collateral event, continuing a tradition that started in 2007. The show, titled Jacone's Polyphony, kicked off on May 9th as part of the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. It focuses on Wu Li, a Qing dynasty artist known in Portuguese as Jacone, emphasizing his ties to Macao and the cultural exchange between East and West. The exhibit makes connections between Macao and Venice, both water cities. Curators Feng Yan and Ng Sio Ieng developed the concept from a proposal chosen for the 2025 Macao Biennale’s Local Curatorial Project, featuring new works by artists O Chi Wai, Lei Fong Ieng, and Eric Fok.
Key facts
- Macao participates for the tenth time as a collateral event at the Venice Biennale.
- Macao's presence at the Venice Biennale has been continuous since 2007.
- The exhibition is titled Jacone's Polyphony.
- It opened on May 9th at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
- The exhibition traces the life of Qing dynasty painter Wu Li, also known by his Portuguese name Jacone.
- Wu Li stood at the crossroads of East and West.
- The show draws a resonance between Macao and Venice as water cities.
- Curators are Feng Yan and Ng Sio Ieng.
- The narrative originated from a shortlisted proposal from the 2025 Macao Biennale’s Local Curatorial Project.
- Three artists present newly commissioned works: O Chi Wai, Lei Fong Ieng, and Eric Fok.
- O Chi Wai and Lei Fong Ieng previously participated in the Macao Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- Wu Li
- Jacone
- O Chi Wai
- Lei Fong Ieng
- Eric Fok
Institutions
- La Biennale di Venezia
- Macao Biennale
- Local Curatorial Project
Locations
- Macao
- China
- Venice
- Italy