City of Dreams Macau has officially unveiled a dual exhibition by French contemporary artist Laurent Perbos — ‘Artletics’ and ‘Beauty and Gesture’. Through Perbos’ distinctive artistic language, the exhibitions reinterpret the intersection of sports and art, explore the relationship between power and beauty, and present a cross-disciplinary cultural experience.
Mr. Lawrence Ho, Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, and Mr. Laurent Perbos attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Renowned athletes including Chak Lam Coleman Wong, Jie Zheng, Yaping Deng, Yining Zhang, Yueru Li and Yue Sun (listed alphabetically by first name), were also in attendance, alongside distinguished guests from the art, sports, and media to celebrate this highlight of culture and athletics.
Mr. Lawrence Ho said, “Ahead of the 15th National Games in November ¡V jointly hosted for the first time by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau – City of Dreams is honoured to present this dual exhibition by Laurent Perbos, which not only redefines the relationship between art and sports but also deepens Macau¡¦s multicultural expression. Through ‘Artletics’ and ‘Beauty and Gesture’, we hope our audiences will experience the humanistic beauty that arises from the fusion of competition and art. In the future, City of Dreams will continue fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and cultural exchange with both international perspective and local sensibility.”
Mr. Laurent Perbos added, “Art knows no borders. It is a universal language that connects us beyond cultures, distances, and languages. Here in Macau, I am deeply honoured to witness the encounter between my works and your gaze, between a French imagination and a Chinese reality”.
Born in Bordeaux, France, in 1971, Laurent Perbos now lives and works between Paris and Marseille. Drawing inspiration from art history and personal experience, he is renowned for his cross-disciplinary approach. At City of Dreams Macau, he brings this creative vision into the realm of sports through ‘Artletics’, deconstructing familiar sporting scenes to create an artistic space that is both recognizable and novel. The exhibition invites audiences to actively participate in the interactive gameplay with the artwork, creating a uniquely immersive experience.
With the 15th National Games opening imminently in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, ‘Artletics’ responds to the athletic spirit through the language of art, offering a vibrant cultural prelude. The exhibition consists of three core sections: “Dream Court” which presents the installation artwork Aire, specially created by Perbos for City of Dreams, and inspired by a tennis court. Through turf and spatial dislocation, it creates an immersive environment where audiences feel as if they enter an inverted tennis world. “Body Myth” employs the principles of optical illusion. This section reimagines Venus dribbling a basketball. It deconstructs and recomposes the basketball to create sculptural heads of ancient Greek heroes and deities. These iconic symbols, reinterpreted under contemporary aesthetics, shape new images while humorously addressing paradox and irony. “Ping-Pong Garden” breaks existing competitive rules by twisting, folding, and extending tables to create playful and interactive scenes. The installation artwork Puzzle is formed by three joined ping-pong tables to accommodate seven players at the same time, encouraging audiences to engage and interact through sports.
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Perbos was invited to create ‘Beauty and Gesture’, which was exhibited at the French National Assembly and attracted significant attention. This series is now brought to City of Dreams Macau, allowing audiences to experience its unique presence up close. Inspired by the iconic Greek sculpture Venus de Milo, the work features six colourful Venus sculptures, each carrying instruments symbolising different Olympic sports. By “Reconstructing Venus’ Arms”, Perbos reinterprets the goddess of love and beauty as a symbol of resilience, drive, and self-transcendence. This echoes the core values of the Olympic spirit – freedom, equality, and fraternity.
On the evening of the openng, City of Dreams Macau hosted a dinner at its outdoor tennis court, inviting distinguished guests to celebrate the exhibition launch. The dinner featured special live performances that blended the power of art with the passion of sports, creating an extraordinary experience.
City of Dreams has long been dedicated to bringing world-class art exhibitions and cross-disciplinary cultural projects to Macau, expressing the diversity of art in all its forms. With the opening of the 15th National Games, the arrival of Laurent Perbos’ dual exhibition pays tribute to the spirit of sports through contemporary art. It also adds cultural distinction to the sporting events hosted in Macau – underscoring Melco’s commitment to promoting international art exchange and enriching Macau’s cultural tourism landscape.
The indoor exhibition ‘Artletics’ will be on view from October 17, 2025, to January 4, 2026, while the outdoor exhibition ‘Beauty and Gesture’ is currently on view and will display until November 26, 2025. City of Dreams warmly invites audiences to explore these exhibitions, witnessing the Olympic spirit and contemporary art illuminated in Macau.
