The public can experience the concept of“Unintended Architecture” through the blanks in complex spaces that allow them to reflect their feeling, memory and imagination.
Organised by the Macao Museum of Art (MAM) of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), in co-operation with the Architects Association of Macau (AAM), the exhibition “Unintended Architecture – Exhibits from Macao, China” was inaugurated at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia in Venice, Italy, at 6pm (local time) on 25 May. This is the third time Macao architects have presented their works in this major international architecture event. The exhibition team, comprising curator Manuel Lam Lap Yan and local architects Eddie Ieong Chong Tat, Vong Ka Ian and Benny Chu Hou San, introduced Macao’s characteristic “Freespace” through abstract means to audiences from around the world.
The opening ceremony was officiated by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Italy, Li Ruiyu; the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government, Leong Wai Man; the Special Representative for Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs to the European Union, Shirley Lam Shuet Lai; the President of the Member’s Assembly of the Architects Association of Macau (AAM), Leong Chong In; the exhibition curator, Manuel Lam Lap Yan; and the members of exhibition team, Eddie Ieong Chong Tat, Vong Ka Ian and Benny Chu Hou San. During the ceremony, the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leong Wai Man, and the exhibition curator, Manuel Lam Lap Yan, delivered their speeches. The ceremony was attended by the representatives from the organising committee of the Chinese Pavilion at the International Architecture Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia; the Deputy General Manager of China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), Wang Chen; the Deputy General Manager of China International Exhibition Agency (CIEA), Liu Zhenlin; the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC), Winsome Chow; the Vice President of Member’s Assembly of the Architects Association of Macau, Donna Wu Kim Kam; the Director of Macao Museum of Art (MAM), Chan Kai Chon; staff members of MAM, Yamanaka Rie, Tong Chong and Lou Mang Ioi; professionals and curators of the international architecture industry as well as other professionals and art lovers from Macao.
In her speech, the Vice President of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, Leong Wai Man, extended her gratitude to the AAM, the exhibition team and all staff members of the exhibition, admiring the exhibition team for their keen perception and immense creativity to integrate the city’s economic, cultural and historical characteristics with local traditional architectural culture in the form of “playing cards”, presenting Macao’s unique charm to the tourists from all over the world.
Curator and architect Manuel Lam Lap Yan expressed thanks to the guests, family and team members for their support as well as the organiser and co-organiser for providing young architects to have opportunities on the international architectural stage. Through this exhibition, the exhibition team strives to explore more representative local elements and spaces that can reflect the interactive relationship between designs and human, thereby allowing Macao to break away from the usual stereotype and provoking deeper thought about human participation and humanistic needs in the process of urban planning.
The exhibition is based on the concept of “Unintended Architecture”, which leaves blank in architectural design modestly and room for people to intervene, participate and extend. It reinterprets the spaces of Macao in an abstract approach through different arrangements of the “playing cards”, thus allowing the audience in Venice to experience the urban spaces beyond the landmarks of Macao - the “Freespace” that constitutes the city’s architectural network.
The exhibition “Unintended Architecture” runs until 25 November, daily from 10am to 6pm (local time) and closes on Mondays. The exhibition hall is located in front of the Arsenale, the Biennale’s main building, with address at Arsenale, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126/A, Venice, Italy. For more information, please contact the MAM, during office hours (Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6:30pm) through the telephone no. 8791 9814.
