"Mother Pavilion" Proposal for the 2021 Venice Biennale

This is a proposal for the Macao Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2021. The concept is by Crystal Wai Man Chan with animation and curation by Benjamin Kidder Hodges. The exhibition ‘Mother Pavilion’ takes inspiration from traditional Chinese practices and new scientific understanding of outer space. The name ‘Macau’ is believed to be derived from A-Ma Temple, or Ma-gok in Cantonese, which literally means ‘Mother Pavilion.’ In line with Venice Biennale Curator Cecilia Alemani’s theme ‘Milk of Dreams,’ artist Crystal Wai Man Chan has re-imagined the story of A-Ma, who used her fantastical ability to save her family feared lost at sea. The traditional culture of A-Ma, also known as Mazu, is thus very connected with the long history of travel and trade associated with the Maritime Silk Road. The name of this exhibition highlights the relationship between Earth and space, inviting visitors to reflect on the care needed when taking the journey to explore the unknown. The exhibition brings together elements such as coil incense, spouting bowls, black holes, gravitational waves and Chinese Medicine mixed together to evoke a futuristic experience. This connects the intangible cultural heritage of Macao with the latest in scientific exploration.