The Chinese mainland’s independent publishing and creative market brand BIGGER Art Fair made its Macau debut yesterday, bringing more than 20 artists, illustrators, designers and independent publishers to Macau Fisherman’s Wharf as part of the broader “Flip Macau: A Dialogue of Design & Community” event.
Held at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf’s AfriKana in Nape, the four-day BIGGER Art Fair Macau Special Edition has gathered creators from Macau, the Chinese mainland and overseas, providing visitors with a platform to explore independent publications, handcrafted products, illustrations and contemporary design works.
The fair forms part of “Flip Macau: A Dialogue of Design & Community”, organised by the Macau Overseas Design Student Association (MODSA). The wider programme also includes community aesthetics and intangible heritage exhibitions, alongside talks, workshops and guided tours.
Addressing the opening ceremony, BIGGER Art Fair Planning Director amd SendPoints Curatorial Director Justin Yao (姚澤斌) said the event prioritises artists’ ideas and creative expression. “The culture of BIGGER Art Fair is to make the ideas of artists more important”, Yau said, adding that the fair also serves as a platform to introduce more artistic drives to Macau while creating opportunities to showcase local works in cities across the Chinese mainland.
Among the exhibitors is Marina, 23, who studied in New York. Her booth, titled “Moodit Studios”, features handmade ceramics and candles inspired by circular forms.
“I’ve always been fascinated by anything that’s round or circular because they feel really soft and balanced,” Marina said, adding that she launched Moodit Studios in 2020 and began working with ceramics last year. In order to prepare for the art fair, she spent most of June producing works and building the booth following her graduation in New York earlier this month.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Kris’s booth, named “Botanique Cabinet”, showcased preserved plant specimens collected from different locations and transformed into framed artworks and bookmarks. Kris said the concept originated from a desire to preserve fleeting moments of natural beauty. “We sometimes buy flowers and put them in a vase for a few days. This is basically doing the same thing, but for a much longer time period”, she said, noting that all of the plants displayed were collected this year. She described the collection as preserving this year’s memories
Another exhibitor, Kay, 27, who studied in the UK, presented collage-based artworks, postcards and risograph* prints. Kay said many of her works originated from illustration challenges and personal projects centred on healing and self-expression.
Kay said she began participating in art fairs and selling artwork in 2020, adding that many of her creations are inspired by messages she wants to share with friends and family.
Running until Sunday, BIGGER Art Fair’s first Macau edition provides a platform for independent creators to connect with local audiences while highlighting the growing role of creative markets in the city’s cultural landscape.
*The risograph is a high-speed digital duplicator developed in Japan in 1980 by the Riso Kagaku Corporation. Often described as a cross between a photocopier and a screen printer, it is widely used by artists, zine-makers and independent publishers for its vibrant spot colours, eco-friendly soy-based inks and tactile aesthetic. A zine-maker is someone who creates zines –short for “magazines” or “fanzines.” - Gemini
BIGGER Art Fair Planning Director Justin Yao (姚澤斌) addresses yesterday’s eponymous four-day event at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf’s AfriKana in Nape. – Photos: Khalel Vallo
A visitor checks out Kay’s booth at the art fair in Nape yesterday.
