The Lobster Takeover: Philip Colbert’s City-wide Macao Pop Art Exhibition

Sands China Ltd. has unveiled “Coastal Fantasia: The Lobster King’s Vacation in Macao,” a colourful maritime and cultural tourism art exhibition featuring massive installations of world-famous pop art master Philip Colbert’s iconic Lobster cartoon persona.

Described as the largest single artistic takeover in Macau’s history, it has brought a burst of creativity to iconic locations with larger-than-life installations and themed sculptures concurrently showcased at five different locations in the city: the Macao Science Center waterfront, ‌‧ART Space at Macao Cultural Centre 1F, The Venetian Macao outdoor lagoon, and two of Sands China’s revitalisation areas – the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory and Taipa Houses.

This city-wide art exhibition by Colbert seamlessly blends large-scale public installations with more intimate museum exhibits. Some of the installations are making their global debut and have been specially created for Macau.

Highlights include the Lobster Submarine, a towering inflatable sculpture at the Macao Science Center waterfront; the Lobster Firecracker, a four-meter-tall steel sculpture installed at the former Firecracker Factory; and the Lobster Cockerel at the Taipa Houses.

Colbert specially crafted the latter two installations by drawing inspiration from the two historic locations, paying homage to the city’s cultural heritage while showcasing his signature playful and vibrant style.

Sands China aims for this innovative, city-wide pop art installation to enhance the city’s maritime tourism offerings, enrich the cultural experiences for both locals and tourists, and foster the development of new tourism products to attract domestic and international visitors. This accessible art series is brought to Macau by Sands China with the support of the Marine and Water Bureau, Municipal Affairs Bureau, Macao Government Tourism Office, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Public Security Police Force and Macao Science Center.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd., said: “Sands China is delighted to partner with globally acclaimed British contemporary pop art master Philip Colbert to bring his iconic Lobster back to the city in this new year with Coastal Fantasia: The Lobster King’s Vacation in Macao.”

Key Installations

LOBSTER SUBMARINE

The Lobster Submarine showcases Philip Colbert’s iconic Lobster at the helm of a vibrant yellow submarine, arriving in Macau via the waterfront of the Macao Science Center. This inflatable art installation, with its bold colors and oversized forms, pays tribute to The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine and Claes Oldenburg’s soft sculptures.

LOBSTER FLAMINGO

The Lobster Flamingo features The Lobster King lounging in a bright pink flamingo life ring at the Venetian Macao Outdoor Lagoon, soaking in the captivating views of the Cotai Strip during the Lunar New Year festivities. With his signature playful pop art style, Colbert transforms the space into a whimsical holiday retreat, bringing Lobster on a vibrant and relaxed vacation to Macau.

LOBSTER FIRECRACKER (MACAO, EDITION) 2024

Lobster Firecracker (Macao Edition) is a giant stainless-steel sculpture specially created by Philip Colbert for the former Iec Long Firecracker Factory. At 4 meters high and wearing The Lobster King’s signature egg suit, this sculpture acts as the guardian of the venue by holding a giant firecracker, sending best wishes to all citizens and tourists during the festive Lunar New Year season.

LOBSTER COCKEREL (MACAO, EDITION) 2024

Lobster Cockerel is a stainless-steel sculpture specially created by Philip Colbert for the Taipa Houses. Inspired by the rich Portuguese cultural environment, The Lobster King changed into a distinctive cockerel mascot and stands outside of the Loja Portuguesa de Macau, acting as an ambassador of hospitality to local and international visitors.

“Macau is a port city located on the coast of the South China Sea, naturally endowed with significant geographical advantages. With its unique blend of East meets West culture spanning over four centuries, the peninsula possesses characteristics that are truly one-of-a-kind in the world,” he added.

The exhibition’s installations showcase both the classic and new look of Colbert’s Lobster to highlight the importance of preserving the ocean and ecological environment.

Showcasing Macau’s multicultural charm, the event also seeks to introduce internationally renowned masterpieces to the city, as the integrated resort operator said it “aims to boost Macau’s coastal tourism offerings and promote the beauty of the city’s coastline – while further enriching Macau’s distinctive tourism and cultural atmosphere and enhancing its international reputation through this newly launched maritime and cultural art exhibition.”

The art extravaganza is not just a collection of artworks; it is a celebration, a carnival of creativity, with nearly 40 pieces scattered throughout Macau.

Colbert’s creative process was a labor of love, spanning a year filled with sketches and prototypes. “I wanted to create new works that truly related to the city,” he said, adding that the installations were not merely spectacles but dialogues with their surroundings.

Colbert had also infused each piece with elements that connected to Macau’s history and culture, like the Lobster Firecracker at Iec Long.

“It was important for the Lobster to hold a firecracker—it’s a symbol of the area’s heritage,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Colbert hopes his art brings joy and empowerment.

Referring to the motif of one of his van Gogh inspired Lobster installations, he said, “I think I’ve always been inspired by the sunflower, the power of the sunflower, because I think the energy of the sunflower gives off such empowering spirit, a bit like the power of sunshine. […] I want my work to uplift people… Bright pop art can bring a sense of energy and color into our lives.”

Reflecting on his journey, Colbert recalled his first visit to Macau for Sands China’s Art Macao exhibition, noting that he had sensed its potential as a canvas for his vibrant creations.

“When I first came to Macau, I really felt a connection to the city. I was like, wow, this city is inspiring me. It feels like a city of the future.”

Questioned as to what his artistic plans are for Macau, Colbert said: “Probably a Lobster hotel, that would be great!”

A Rich Legacy

Colbert is often referred to as the “godson of Andy Warhol.” He has held over 50 solo exhibitions around the world since 2014 across Asia and Europe, including China, Japan, Korea, Italy and France, where he held a public exhibition of his giant Lobster sculptures at Station F for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Sands China has always aimed to introduce greater diversity to art exhibitions in Macau and enrich the artistic experiences of local residents and tourists.

For Dr. Wong, this mega-event “demonstrates Sands China’s ongoing support for the government’s vision to promote Macau’s diversification, ushering in a new chapter for the city’s cultural and arts industries.”

“Macau’s exhibition of this globally recognised artist once again highlights the city’s unique integration of Chinese and Western cultures and its cultural charm,” he said.

Community Engagement

Sands China also hosted a sharing session at‧ ART Space at the Macao Cultural Centre, where the pop art master shared his experiences in art creation with 20 art students from local tertiary institutions.

At the Iec Long installation, Sands China is providing free lobster-themed fai chun by an on-site calligrapher on January 25-26, from 3-5 p.m. and Chinese instrumental music performances on February 1-2, from 4-6 p.m., enriching the festive Lunar New Year atmosphere.