‘Apparition’ means appearance, especially the becoming visible of a supernatural existence. Deriving from the Latin word apparere, the word was originally used in reference to the epiphany of the Son of God. Taking ‘Apparition’ as its title, this edition of the Macao-China Pavilion alludes to the resurrection of Macao, once known as the City of the Name of God, in the current global political and economic landscape, in a strand of extraordinary tales to be unfolded throughout the exhibition.

The exhibition showcases ceramic works by the Macao artist Heidi Lau. Her work often resembles the crumbling remains of historical relics and features imageries of Taoist and folk mythologies. Influenced by childhood memories of Macao, the artist centres the vernacular experience, perspective, and position in her approach to the subject, so as to probe forgotten spirits, beliefs, and narratives of history.