'Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition' Opens at Sands Gallery

Unique and creative showcase open daily until June 24

(Macao, May 16, 2023) – Sands China launched its latest art exhibition, Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition, with an opening ceremony Tuesday at the Grand Suites at Four Seasons.

Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition is part of Sands China's ongoing commitment to the diversification of art and culture in Macao, providing a platform for promoting extensive exchange and cooperation among local and international art talent.

The exhibition presents nearly 60 works of art from Fang Lijun, an internationally sought-after artist known as one of the Four Giants of Chinese contemporary art. A native of China's Hebei province, he is a graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts and the first modern Chinese artist to have his work featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine.

Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition features the artist's unique skin-like ceramics, which are densely structured and highly delicate. They are the result of a creative approach in which he has used the artistic language of ceramics in a brand-new artistic experiment – a departure from his iconic bald-headed figures and flamboyant colour aesthetics.

The exhibition theme, “Bone of the Bone, Flesh of the Flesh,” is inspired by the story of God creating Eve with one of Adam's ribs, and examines the idea that bones and flesh are the origin of life and looks at their connection with the process of creation.

Fang is a pioneer of China's "Post-1989 New Art Movement," "Rascal Culture," and "China Pop." Over the past decade, he has continuously experimented with different materials, media, visual effects and artistic forms, applying them in projects like ceramic installations, ink paintings, videos and outdoor public artworks. He is a pursued artist whose works have been featured by major international art museums, art foundations, and public exhibitions.

"Macao's connection with ceramics and its export is centuries old, as an important port on the Maritime Silk Road," said Grant Chum, chief operating officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd. "Sands China has held several international ceramic exhibitions featuring innovative artworks at our integrated resorts in recent years, bringing enlivening art experiences to our guests. We are honoured to shine a spotlight again on this ancient Chinese artistic medium – this time featuring Fang Lijun, one of the paramount representative figures of Chinese new art movements. Exhibitions like this one, featuring unique and exquisite artworks, support Sands Gallery's development into a high-level platform for artistic showcase and exchange. We hope this and other exhibitions will cultivate art appreciation among our visitors, inspire Macao's artists, and stimulate the local cultural and creative industries. Our gratitude goes to the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR, the Macao SAR Government, and members of Macao's art and cultural sector."

Fang said: "Artistic creation centres around humanity, without a fixed standard. I have used ceramic as the medium to imitate the physical layers of the human body, thereby initiating broader and more direct representations of life through lifelike ceramics. Thanks to the invitation from Sands China, I have the opportunity to showcase the process and results of my recent experimental ceramic creations for the first time in Macao through this exhibition. I am honoured to share and exhibit my ceramic artwork with the audience in Macao."

The exhibition was curated by veteran curator Luo Yi, who has more than 20 years of experience in the creative industry, including 18 years curating and managing museums in the contemporary art and design industry. She previously served as the deputy general manager of Today Art Museum (TAM, the first non-profit art museum in China) and the executive director of Today Design Museum (the designing house of TAM). Since 2012, she has worked as a consultant for many important domestic museums, curated a series of contemporary art and design exhibitions and academic activities, and participated in consultations organised by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Civil Affairs on art gallery system management methods.

Luo said: "As a new medium, ceramic seldom appears in Fang's frequent exhibitions; this exhibition implements his intention and concept of using art to subvert the way we view and think about things. I would like to thank Sands China for their invitation to showcase Fang Lijun's ceramic creations in this land, which boasts a special history and sentiment towards ceramic art, and I hope to bring more conceptual depth and creative motives to ceramic art, an ancient art form that is still very vibrant."

Guests of honour at Tuesday's opening ceremony were Chum; Cheong Chok Man, director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau of the Macao SAR Government; Ricky Hoi, deputy director of the Macao Government Tourism Office; Susanna Un Sio San, representative of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR and director of the Macao Museum of Art; Wang Yuwei, representative of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Fang; and Luo.

Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition is open for public viewing daily at Sands Gallery with free admission, May 17-June 24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., on the 6th floor of the Grand Suites at Four Seasons.

Since its launch in 2022, Sands Gallery has been dedicated to introducing a greater diversity of art exhibitions to the city and promoting the sustainable development of the local art and cultural industry. This permanent art space was born out of Sands China's increased investment in art and cultural development and its commitment to support the SAR government's implementation strategy of non-gaming development. Sands Gallery regularly invites internationally renowned artists to host a variety of types of art exhibitions in Macao to enrich the art experiences of local residents and tourists. To date, Sands Gallery has already organised six art exhibitions that feature Chinese and international artists.

Photo caption: Guests of honour cut the ribbon Tuesday at the opening ceremony of Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition at the Grand Suites at Four Seasons. The exhibition is open for public viewing daily at Sands Gallery with free admission, May 17-June 24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., on the 6th floor of the Grand Suites at Four Seasons.

Photo caption: Grant Chum, chief operating officer and executive director of Sands China Ltd., delivers his remarks Tuesday at the opening ceremony of Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition at the Grand Suites at Four Seasons.

Photo caption: Artist Fang Lijun addresses guests at the opening ceremony of Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition at the Grand Suites at Four Seasons Tuesday.

Photo caption: Exhibition curator Luo Yi speaks to attendees of the opening ceremony of Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition at the Grand Suites at Four Seasons Tuesday.

Photo caption: Guests receive a guided tour on Tuesday of Sands China's latest art exhibition, Fang Lijun Ceramic Works Exhibition, by the exhibition's artist. The exhibition is open for public viewing daily at Sands Gallery with free admission, May 17-June 24, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., on the 6th floor of the Grand Suites at Four Seasons.