MGM’s M-Shaped booth fuses tech and culture

MGM China unveiled an “M-shaped” booth at this year’s Art Basel Hong Kong, amplifying Hong Kong-Macau synergies through innovative design.

Developed in partnership with Chinese tech giant BOE, the booth highlighted East-meets-West themes and distinctive MGM cultural projects.

Its fourfold, high-definition, small-pixel-pitch LED screen ditched conventional flat panels for a hyper-real virtual space that wrapped around viewers.

The screens featured visuals from the POLY MGM Museum’s “Silk Roads Beyond Borders” exhibition, along with clips from MGM’s “Macau 2049” production.

MGM China Holdings CEO Kenneth Feng connected these efforts to a broader vision in a press release, stating, “MGM remains committed to leveraging Macau’s unique role as a vital gateway for cultural exchange between East and West.”

“Through our global network, we continue to create platforms that connect Macau’s arts community with the world, helping industry professionals gain deeper insights into global art market trends and the practical dynamics of the art economy,” added Feng.

Nurturing talent through art basel

MGM has collaborated with Art Basel Hong Kong since 2017, regularly bringing Macau artists, cultural figures, and students to the fair.

On Friday, the company led approximately 30 young artists and students through the fair’s galleries before joining afternoon “Conversations” panels with collectors Saeb Eigner and Uli Sigg, who explored art markets, cultural diplomacy, and Asian trends.

That same day, the announcement of the second edition of the MGM Discoveries Art Prize took place.

Launched in 2025 with Art Basel to spotlight emerging international artists, the award recognizes “emerging international artists for their originality and innovative practices along their artistic journeys,” according to MGM, while offering a cash prize and an invitation to visit Macau for exchanges, exhibitions, and collaborations that deepen the city’s ties to the global art scene.

This year, the award went to Natsuko Uchino of France’s Galerie Allen for “originality and forward-looking artistic vision.”

Art Basel Hong Kong director Angelle Siyang-Le praised the partnership with MGM, stating, “At Art Basel Hong Kong, we are committed to connecting artistic voices from Asia with the world and opening up meaningful exchanges across cultures. The MGM Discoveries Art Prize reflects a shared belief between Art Basel and MGM in supporting the next generation of artists and the galleries that stand behind them, while recognizing the originality and energy of emerging practices.”

The fair, at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai, featured more than 240 modern and contemporary galleries from over 40 countries. It ran until yesterday, Mar. 29.