Ka-Ching is a city-wide exhibition in Macau. The project appropriates the format of the slot machine to explore ways to connect the multiple sides of Macau as a fishing village, former colony, gambling city and cultural centre.

Macau was an enclave of Portugal for over 400 years before returning to Chinese sovereignty in 1999; many traces of this colonial history remain in the architecture, customs and people. However the gambling industry has become Macau’s most widely known symbol and other sides of the city are being forgotten. This project asks whether these new casinos can help to introduce Macau’s old culture, while at the same time retaining a sense of modern atmosphere. How can churches and other historical architecture be reframed as engaging and attractive places for tourists? Can exhibitions work to revitalise the whole city by bringing to life its forgotten aspects? How can the different voices of history be captured?

In this project, slot machines are used to turn the city into an interactive museum. 56 stories about four areas in the city are embedded into the machines, and narrated by 12 characters across different historical periods, offering tourists a richer, more holistic experience of Macau.