Poly MGM Museum unveils epic exhibition

In a grand celebration of intercultural dialogue, the Poly MGM Museum in Macao has launched its landmark exhibition, “Silk Roads Beyond Borders.” Timed to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, the large-scale exhibition revives the epic history of the ancient Eurasian trade routes through more than 200 rare artifacts, immersive technology, and a forward-looking vision.

The narrative begins with “Through Sand and Wind,” which traces the arduous journeys of early pioneers. Here, models of camel caravans and ancient coins evoke the vast deserts traversed by merchants and envoys, illustrating how these early contacts formed an economic lifeline. This is followed by “Gilded Threads,” a chapter dedicated to the exchange of craft and aesthetics. Exquisite displays of silk, ceramics, lacquerware, and metalwork demonstrate how artistic techniques and sensibilities flowed seamlessly between East and West.

Exhibits on display at the “Silk Roads Beyond Borders” exhibition. File photo

“The Golden Bough” section explores the spiritual and artistic dimensions of the Silk Road. Religious statues, manuscripts, and musical relics from Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Christianity reveal the route’s role as a corridor for the human spirit. Finally, “Road to the Future” projects this rich heritage into the modern era, showcasing how the Silk Road’s legacy continues to inspire contemporary art and foster mutual understanding in a global community.

The exhibition features treasures on loan from nearly 20 prestigious institutions, including the Palace Museum and the National Museum of China, alongside artifacts from the National Museum of Damascus in Syria and Japan’s Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum. Masterpieces such as the Bronze Procession of Chariots and Cavalry from Gansu and a Gandhara Buddha statue from Japan create a truly multinational narrative.

The exhibition also features immersive “Night Tours.” This program fuses live dramatic performance with static displays, allowing visitors to experience the tales of the Silk Road through a multisensory journey of sight, sound, and emotion.

Extending the exhibition’s experience into the realm of performance, a concert by prestigious musician Tan Dun premiered on Oct. 6. Before an audience of 500 cultural leaders, Tan conducted the Dunhuang Academy Ancient Music Consort in performing Tang-era melodies on instruments reconstructed from Dunhuang murals. The stage, transformed by multimedia and AI technology into an echo of the Mogao Caves, merged history, art, and innovation into a single resonant experience.

“Whether through the exhibition of ancient Silk Road instruments I’ve reconstructed, or this concert that revives millennia-old melodies, we offer a tribute to the spirit of the Silk Road,” Tan remarked after the performance.