University of Macau

Everglow

FINALIST Project

Yao Kunsui, Feng Yinuo, Mou Zhenbang, Xu Mingshu, Yao Songwen, Zhou Ze

Everglow is a commemorative project blending traditional Chinese culture with modern biotechnology. It uses innovative biofilm design to safely convert pet ashes into plant nutrients, allowing life to continue in a new form. This process helps people cope with pet loss by transforming sorrow into remembrance. By embracing the cycle of life, the project offers healing and solace, fostering a deeper understanding of life and loss through a meaningful, living memorial.

Shaped Shellac Dehumidifier Box

NonfINALIST Project

LI YUTING, LI JIAHONG, XU MINGSHUO

Shaped Shellac Dehumidifier Box designed to address high humidity levels in coastal towns while repurposing abundant shell waste. The project transforms discarded shells into shell powder, which is then compressed into bio-bricks. These shell biobricks are stacked to form a pendulum-like ornament with a porous structure that naturally absorbs moisture from the air. This eco-friendly design not only reduces air humidity in homes but also promotes sustainable material use by giving new life to coastal shell waste. Shaped Shellac blends function and aesthetics, serving as both a decorative piece and a practical solution for damp environments.

Dr. Hongtao ZHOU is a Full Professor and Design Programme Leader at the University of Macau. Previously, he served as Shanghai Oriental Distinguished Professor and Vice Dean at Tongji University College of Design and Innovation, and Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He is a Scientific Director of the Permanent Collection SaloneSatellite and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 

Hongtao ZHOU is an interdisciplinary artist, designer, and scholar of Art, Design, and Built Environment. His work intersects art, design, architecture, science, and social innovation. He has exhibited his work at Centre Pompidou, the Venice Biennale, and the Milan Triennial. 

Dr. Michael Whittle is an Associate Professor of Contemporary Art in the Department of Arts and Design. His research-based artworks, inspired by scientific and technological discoveries, reflect both his unique background in biochemistry and fine art and his dedication to fostering public understanding of these fields. His recent projects include a large-scale installation at the 2022 Changwon Sculpture Biennale, developed with an astrophysicist at NASA, and “Perpetual Motion” (2020), exploring movement and memory with Nobel laureates in neuroscience. He co-founded “Pollen,” an AI-powered creative studio in Kyoto, and co-initiated the Art Futures Asia Prize.