Sands China ignites local art scene for Art Macao 2025

From dopamine-infused sculptures to reimagined childhood icons, Sands China’s contribution to Art Macao 2025 captures an eclectic celebration of emotion, identity, and cultural dialogue through contemporary art.

The integrated resort has once again positioned itself in the city’s cultural landscape with the launch of two striking exhibitions for Art Macao 2025 – the Special Exhibition “Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness” at The Venetian Macao and the Collateral Exhibition “Beyond the Frame: International Contemporary Masterpieces” at Sands Gallery.

With more than 80 original works by globally renowned artists on display until October 15, the exhibitions reinforce the SAR’s evolving identity as an international art city.

Themed around the power of dopamine – the chemical messenger associated with pleasure and joy – “Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness” invites visitors to experience a technicolor emotional journey.

Set against the ornate backdrop of The Venetian Macao’s European façade, the exhibition features works by nine artists from Asia, Europe, and the United States, all reinterpreting beloved Sesame Street characters through the lens of Roman mythology, personal storytelling, and the energy of vivid colors.

A cultural dialogue beyond borders

Sands China created the exhibitions in alignment with the local government’s vision to bring an immersive cultural atmosphere to the entire city for the Art Macao Biennale.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., noted the inclusive spirit of the project.

“We believe that the most important thing in promoting art is to set the target audience, so that everyone can resonate with it and be touched by it.”

“Through this exhibition, we hope to create the factor of happiness for everyone – dopamine,” he added.

This belief is echoed through Sands China’s thoughtful curatorial approach, which aims to create an immersive, uplifting space for local residents and international visitors alike.

Finding harmony in contrast

Among the nine featured artists is Macau’s own Lok Hei, who blends cultural storytelling with architectural elements in his bold mixed-media creation.

“In this exhibition, I am presenting a sculpture that combines the image of the ancient Roman god Apollo, Sesame Street’s Elmo, and my own self-portrait,” he explained.

“It’s a combination of these three elements.”

While Lok Hei’s work draws inspiration from classical mythology and childhood symbols, it also engages with modern questions around identity and urban belonging. He admits that bringing these elements together was no simple feat.

“First of all, I think my work is a bit challenging, because it’s about how my image conveys a message to the audience,” he said.

But this very challenge is what gives the piece its power.

Viewers are invited to explore the interaction between place, self, and storytelling. And for Lok Hei, the presence of global artists only deepens that narrative.

“Bringing together different cultures from various places into Macau is already unique in itself,” he shared. “That’s why I believe this exhibition’s theme delivers an important message – because Sesame Street is globally recognized, and it’s now being merged with local art.”

Myth, memory, and color

Joining Lok Hei are international artists Ilya Milstein and Jonni Cheatwood, both of whom contributed Sesame Street-inspired works with deeply personal and distinct approaches.

Milstein, who exhibited two works – one in the Dopamine show and another as part of the collateral exhibition – spoke about the new challenges and inspirations these projects provided.

“One is a fiberglass painted statue depicting Sesame Street characters rethought of as Roman gods,” he said. “My Sesame Street one is a depiction of Ernie as the goddess Fortuna, heavily inspired and referential to medieval depictions of that goddess.”

The other work, inside the Sands Gallery, “is a very detailed, nearly one-to-one installation depicting a street of sorts in New York – inspired a little bit by the surroundings, given there are three larger replicas of cities just outside of the gallery.”

Known primarily for two-dimensional work across editorials and books, Milstein said working on sculpture and installation was a transformative experience. “It was all extremely new for me, and just a lot of fun to get outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “At a certain point, things get repetitive. So, having new challenges and learning as much as I have from this process has made me feel energized about drawing again.”

His intricate style, characterized by heavy detail and texture, is a deliberate choice.

“The world we live in is an extremely detailed place, and the demands of daily life sometimes prevent us from slowing down and looking at the small phenomena that define our lives. I hope that my work sometimes is able to get people to reflect on their own lived environments and indeed try to slow down.”

Artist Cheatwood, another contributor to the Dopamine exhibition, created a sculptural piece that reimagines Grover as Mercury. “I just wanted to create a work that kind of remixes a childhood memory with the complexities of being an adult,” he explained. “Grover was the perfect character to do that.”

For Cheatwood, the use of bold colors and movement in his work comes naturally.

“All my work generally has been very colorful. I think it’s just a part of my cultural upbringing – just being around so many different colors in the Brazilian culture. I think just naturally, my work is about blending colors.”

He emphasized the importance of viewer interpretation.

“I make work that I want viewers to be able to step into. It doesn’t have to have a clear intention or motive. I’m making what I’m feeling. But I don’t want you to feel exactly what I’m feeling. I want the viewers to kind of put themselves in the story themselves.”

Reflecting on his participation in Art Macao, Cheatwood remarked on the significance of global collaboration.

“I think it’s essential. Just to be with other artists from areas that I’ve never been to. I think that when you have a bunch of different artists from different backgrounds and places, then you kind of have this new visual language that’s being created. In my opinion, that’s how contemporary art grows.”

Fusing nostalgia and contemporary art

Two standout contributors to this year’s Art Macao, Japanese artist Jun Oson and GRAFFLEX from Korea, are drawing attention with their bold and unconventional collaborations.

For Oson, blending childhood memories with classical themes was an “interesting challenge.” His featured installation juxtaposes ancient Roman gods with Sesame Street characters, born from a desire to explore irony and contradiction.

“I usually love to take two different elements and combine them,” he shared.

His creative process began with sketches, which evolved into 3D designs and were ultimately brought to life through printing and painting.

“I think it’s interesting to have a background that people can see and feel, […] it comes out organically,” he added.

Meanwhile, GRAFFLEX’s contribution spans both sculpture and painting, including dynamic works inspired by ancient Greek statues.

“I wanted to create something that would be a record for us a thousand years later,” he explained. For GRAFFLEX, Sesame Street holds a deeply personal resonance – his first exposure to foreign television as a child in Korea.

“Even when I didn’t understand a single word of English, I liked it,” he said.

Both artists acknowledged Art Macao as a valuable platform for showcasing their work alongside a diverse group of international peers.

“It’s rare to exhibit alongside so many global artists at once,” Jun noted.

GRAFFLEX emphasized the power of connection: “In Macau, all the [invited] artists actually came. That doesn’t always happen.”

Stacking Jenga and joy

Adding a playful twist to the exhibition, Sands China teamed up with artist duo Craig & Karl to launch a limited-edition version of the classic game Jenga – a collectible designed exclusively for Art Macao 2025.

Featuring six unique patterns that reflect the artists’ bold, high-energy style, the game is available at The Venetian Macao’s outdoor lagoon area and serves as a symbolic reminder of how joy, creativity, and cultural fusion can go hand in hand.

Exploring what’s “Beyond the Frame”

Running in tandem with the special exhibition is “Beyond the Frame,” held at Sands Gallery. This collateral exhibition pushes artistic boundaries with over 60 works by six global artists, who use diverse media – including painting, sculpture, and installation – to create immersive micro-universes.

“We always believe that art is a force that can transcend language and culture,” said Ken Wong, co-founder and director of curatorial team ARTICROSS.

“By working with [the two exhibitions’] nine international artists, we transcend the boundaries of culture, language, and style to create a colorful and imaginative artistic dialogue in the multicultural city of Macau.”

Creating a sustainable future through art

Sands China’s ongoing involvement in Art Macao demonstrates its commitment to cultural development.

The company has supported not only exhibitions but also outreach and community engagement initiatives.

From left: Lok Hei, GRAFFLEX, Ilya Milstein, Jonni Cheatwood and Jun Onson

At the “Art Sharing Session” held July 30 at The Londoner Macao, artists engaged directly with local creatives and students, sparking conversations on art, place, and creative growth.

Local artist Bibi Lei’s homecoming featured her “The Home of Flower Energy Swirls Workshop” brought families and children together July 26 to explore the theme of “home” through tactile painting. These moments demonstrate how art can offer more than visual pleasure – it can also build emotional bridges between generations and across communities.

A dynamic city of art

As Lok Hei noted the growing visibility of local artists on international platforms is helping Macau strengthen its cultural identity.

“Many international exhibitions are being held in Macau, enriching the local cultural scene and broadening the horizons of residents and art lovers,” said Lok Hei.

“The visiting artists also interact and exchange ideas with local artists. These exhibitions and exchanges play a big role in strengthening Macau’s artistic and cultural connections with the outside world,” he added.

The Special Exhibition “Dopamine: Fountain of Happiness” at The Venetian Macao’s main lobby and outdoor lagoon and the Collateral Exhibition “Beyond the Frame: International Contemporary Masterpieces” at Sands Gallery at The Grand Suites at Four Seasons together feature more than 80 artworks, on display from July 29 to October 15, 2025.