City’s lantern event aims to be internationalized

The second Macau Lantern Festival, which kicked off at the beginning of Golden Week, features a total of 10 large-sized contemporary rabbit lanterns with the theme “Happy All Together.”

Currently showcased at the Promenade of One Central Macau, the installations were created by local architect and artist Carlos Marreiros, cooperating with five other artists from the city, Hong Kong and Macau.

Standing from five to eight meters, the lanterns are designed as ‘happiness generators’ to bring the Mid-
Autumn Festival to life for both locals and visitors alike.

Speaking to the Times, Marreiros explained that the second edition of the Lantern Festival has shifted to the concept of urban light sculpture rather than the traditional lanterns.

“Last year was successful and I’m sure this year will be even more successful,” he said.

Marreiros expects the third edition of the festival to feature larger lanterns with more light sculptures with the aim to reflect the spirit of the festive season.

“With this festival, my idea is to keep it as it is for the time being: using the concept of traditional lanterns […] but we’ll reinvent a contemporary approach [yet] neither for the shapes nor the philosophy. This second festival already reflects this spirit,” the artist said.

Alongside the festive season, Marreiros believes that the Macau Lantern Festival adds value to the city’s overall cultural and artistic image.

With the location of the festival, the architect noted that  both residents and visitors will be attracted to immerse themselves into the festive spirit.

“They can have the experience of leisure moments, and [also] making the other part of the city not so congested,” he said.

In the future, the local architect and artists hope that the event will be internationalized, describing the festival as a ‘unique and one of a kind’ event as it features large-scale urban sculptures with contemporary designs.

According to him, Macau is the only city, which holds an event that showcases large-scale contemporary design installations to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“I hope that our cultural event moves to be a kind of international exhibition holding big size urban lights sculptures [but still] keeping the spirit of lantern [because] that is unique,” he noted.

The festival also aims to invite more artists for its third edition.

The second Macau Lantern Festival also extends its exhibits to Anim’Arte Nam Van, adding atmosphere to the space through light installations, which have been made by two local designers, Nono Leung and Wakka Cheang.

The eight neon illuminations reflect the fusion of the traditional nature of the festival and the localized culture.