Recycled art blends new and old in latest local collaboration

A drinks table and chairs with Portuguese-style tiles

The process of urbanization and modernization in Macau has transformed a once idyllic, sleepy town into the congested and international gaming hub that it is today.
Elements of Macau’s distinct blend of eastern and western cultures are inevitably lost in the process, despite the best efforts of local artists and government initiatives.
Now a new exhibition has opened at the Macau Design Centre, seeking to imbue the MSAR’s exceptional architectural characteristics within modern furniture, while simultaneously recycling old materials.
The exhibition, titled “City Inspire: Macau Culture Regeneration Product Exhibition,” features collaborations by local artists including Calvin Sio, founder of “Hylé Design,” Dave Wan, founder of carpentry company “Zawood” and Eric Fok, a local artist renowned for the use of fine brushstrokes in his art.
At the exhibition’s opening ceremony on Tuesday night, one could not help but be impressed by the striking creations, which are made almost entirely out of wood.
There is a cabinet in the shape of a 1990s handheld gaming console, a wooden tray with detailed carvings inspired by an old map of Macau, and a drinks cabinet-cum-table, adorned with stools infused with traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles.
Taking center stage is a narrow but long dining table, with an antique and genuine arcade door for its base, estimated to be around a century old.

Local artist Calvin Sio beside the wooden tray he co-created with Eric Fok

In fact many of the pieces in this exhibition have been inspired by, and contain parts of, Macau’s historical architecture. The artifacts represent a precious link to Macau’s past, but would end up being discarded if not for the exhibition, as they are often considered to be dangerous or unstable.
Sio, who wanted to reunite the old and new aspects of Macau, came up with the concept for the project. He and his collaborator Wan undertook numerous expeditions to source these genuine artifacts and repurpose them into modern, stylish furniture.
Sio told the Times that his purpose “is to deliver the culture of Macau in an authentic way. I want people to experience the old Macau.”
The Design Centre, which seeks to support the commercialization and sustainability of Macau’s design community, said the exhibition will run until January 6.
The Macau Lifestyle Association also added that they hope the exhibition will teach more people about the lifestyle and essence of Macau.
“To make these products commercial, we need to sell [them] around the world. An exhibition [like this] makes the products more well-known,” explained Sio.
“There are many famous brands in Macau,” he added, “but what we are trying to do now is bring them together. These products and brands should be connected together in a single environment – that’s how you create an industry – it’s just like bringing a family together.”
Asked why he works with wood, Sio said, “it’s personal [to people], and can deliver the feeling of warmth. But maybe next time we will work with copper.” Staff Reporter