Destined to be a global cultural ambassador for Macau, Valkyrie Octopus, a monumental art installation co-created by MGM and world-renowned Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos in 2015, once again makes another remarkable appearance on the international art scene – the artwork has set sail to Europe for Joana’s latest solo exhibition Plug-in at the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon, Portugal, after tracing the route of the Maritime Silk Road to the Venice Biennale in 2019. Currently housed in the grand exhibition hall of Oval Gallery at the international institution MAAT, Valkyrie Octopus presents a truly immersive experience to audiences from near and far.

“This collaboration with MGM has been a great pleasure. Not only does it celebrate my traditions and culture, but also the relationship between China and Portugal. It is the best example of how MGM endorses tourism together with arts and culture and helps artists to bring to the world better things,” said Joana Vasconcelos. 

This “voyage” of the Valkyrie Octopus from its home in Macau to Lisbon is a gesture to celebrate the long-established Sino-Portuguese diplomatic relations ahead of its 45^th anniversary in 2024. Upon completion of its exhibition at the MAAT in March 2024, Valkyrie Octopus will carry on with its mission of sparking global cultural exchange – leveraging MGM’s international art network, and make a triumphant return to China next year, before settling back in MGM MACAU to mark the 25^th Anniversary of the establishment of the Macao S.A.R. by the end of 2024.

With Valkyrie Octopus on display in Lisbon, MGM also presents Joana’s latest installation art, Valkyrie Miss Dior in collaboration with Dior, Paris, in Macau, featuring its first public display after an exclusive appearance at the Dior runway to celebrate the “art of living” together.

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About Valkyrie Octopus (2015)

The Valkyrie Octopus was designed specifically for MGM MACAU and its European-esque skylight dome atrium – the Grande Praça – it is the first-ever commissioned public art installation inside an integrated resort of Macau, meticulously exemplifies MGM’s innovative fusion of “Art+Tourism”. Symbolizes Macau’s unique position as a gateway to Sino-Portuguese cultural exchange, Valkyrie Octopus has become an iconic cultural tourism landmark in Macau that seamlessly integrated into the hotel’s public space, illustrating and also celebrating MGM’s ethos of “Art of Living”.

Valkyrie Octopus is the largest piece to date in Joana Vasconcelos' iconic Valkyries sculptures series, which is inspired by the female figures from Norse mythology who flew over battlefields, bringing the bravest warriors back to life to join the deities in Valhalla. The Valkyries are made from textile materials, using a variety of fabrics, crochet and ornamental trimmings.

The end result is a surprising play of volumes, textures and colors, which uses skilled craftsmanship and brings the link between arts and crafts into the contemporary context. In Valkyrie Octopus, the artist used noble fabrics that take us back to the Silk Road and the interconnection among Portuguese, Chinese and Macanese traditions in a site-specific creation for MGM MACAU, while it continues in this spirit to promote culturally diverse exchanges that reflect Macau’s offer as a cultural destination of world repute. 

About MGM

MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau. 

MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.

MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.

MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:    

Jessie Kuan                                                              Juliana Kung

Executive Director of Public Relations                 Assistant Director of Public Relations

MGM                                                                           MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3412                                               Tel: (853) 8806 3424

Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo                                 Email: julianakung@mgm.mo