China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is often described in terms of its booming economy, global finance, or engineering marvels. However, a new exhibition at the Guangdong Museum of Art shifts the lens, showing how art can capture the cultural heartbeat of this dynamic region.
The "Contemporary Art Exhibition of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" brings together nearly 40 artists from across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. As part of the 5th GBA Culture and Arts Festival, it presents works that span from Lingnan painting traditions to bold multimedia experiments.
First exhibition to focus on the Greater Bay Area
This is the first time the museum has curated a large-scale exhibition centered on the GBA. The region has witnessed key moments in modern history—from the arrival of industrial civilization and the transformation of trade to the flourishing of multicultural urban life. Hong Kong's role as an international financial hub, Macao's position as a cross-cultural bridge, and Guangdong's pioneering reforms have collectively shaped the GBA's distinctive spirit of innovation.
Culturally, shared traditions such as teahouse mornings, local dialects, and everyday street life intertwine across the three places, forming a deeply connected cultural fabric. In recent years, infrastructure projects like the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge and the Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong high-speed rail have expanded the "one-hour living circle," drawing the cities closer together in daily life. Alongside this, artistic collaborations, residencies, and exhibitions are flourishing, creating an open and diverse creative network.
"This is our first time hosting an exhibition under the name of the Greater Bay Area," said Lin Lan, President of the Guangdong Artists Association. "Previously, we presented works from the three places side by side, but this show focuses more on cultural interaction and integration."
Lin added that the exhibition is not only about individual artworks but also about shaping the artistic atmosphere of the entire region. Guangdong artists root their practice in local experience; Hong Kong artists bring critical perspectives through global contexts; Macao artists merge East and West, linking history and the future. Together, they form a vibrant cultural landscape of coexistence and exchange.
Stories told through art
Organized into three sections—cultural roots, ecological reflection, and social relations—the exhibition highlights how contemporary art addresses urban transformation, environmental awareness, and human connections. The works range from deeply local reflections to global dialogues, offering a multidimensional picture of the region's identity.
A special highlight is Macao artist Wong Weng Cheong's Above Zobeide series, first shown at the Venice Biennale, which reimagines migration and cultural memory through monumental installations.
On view until October 31, the exhibition offers international visitors and art lovers a chance to experience the GBA through its creativity—beyond skylines and statistics, into the living spirit of the region.
Reporter: Li Fangwang
Photo: Li Fangwang
Editor: Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
