Macao was a Portuguese colony until 1999 and is now a special administrative region on the south coast of the People's Republic of China, around 50 kilometres west of Hong Kong. Colonial times and contemporary China, gambling and communist ideology meet in the city - Macau is often described as the ‘Las Vegas of the East’ and was already a famous trading port in the 16th century.
With a population of around 650,000 (2015 estimate), Macao may not be one of the largest cities in China, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. This is because the city's historical structures have been preserved to this day – and continue to exist alongside current Chinese developments.
Text: Sandra Hofmeister
Photo: Iwan Baan
According to Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, the main characteristic of the city is that it consists of ‘multiple cities, side by side’. The first Chinese Pritzker Prize winner in 2012 and the Chinese architect form the curatorial team of the small exhibition in Venice. In Macao, there are many contrasts and parallel worlds that exist side by side at the same time. The exhibition and the small accompanying catalogue, published by Lars Müller Publishers, get to the bottom of these parallel worlds - and this could not work better than with the photos by Iwan Baan.
Photo: Iwan Baan
The Dutch photographer's view of the former colonial city is divided into four chapters: the old and the new city, the casino city and the digital city. People, aerial shots, detailed discoveries such as a tree whose roots have taken on a life of their own on the pavement. Baan's unrivalled view captures life and everyday life in Macao – people, buildings and places – from close up, from a distance and from the air. The most exciting shots are of the old city, where colonial heritage and modern China meet in a confined space. How good that there are photographers like Iwan Baan who explore cities on location and take us on a journey with their images. If you want to discover Macao, you should definitely begin with this book!
Photo: Iwan Baan
Wang Shu, Lu Wenyu (eds.), "Macao: Parallel Worlds", photographs by Iwan Baan, design: Haller Brun, 12,8 x 19, 5x7,5, 256 pages, 146 illustrations, paperback, English and Chinese edition, ISBN 978-3-03778-796-0, Zurich 2025.
Parallel Worlds, Exhibition from Macao, China, curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, Arsenale, Venice, Campo della Tana, Castello 2126/A, until 23. November, Tuesday – Sunday, 11-19:00
