Arts preview: Oculus is a moving tribute to the late Wu Kuo-chu

OCULUS
Cloud Gate 2

A revered figure among the younger members of Taiwan's performing arts scene, the late genius Wu Kuo-chu was appointed artistic director of the dance company of Staatstheater Kassel, Germany in 2004.

Oculus, which is often seen as the choreographer's most representative work, was initially performed that spring by the Taiwanese modern dance troupe Cloud Gate 2 as a 40-minute piece, before the 70-minute version premiered at Staatstheater Kassel the following November.

Wu was diagnosed with leukaemia between these two premieres; he passed away in January 2006 aged only 36. Cloud Gate 2 founder and director Lin Hwai-min resolved to preserve the entire piece, and invited Wu's dancers from Kassel to rehearse the piece, and pass it on to his company that very summer.

This full-length version of Oculus was first performed by Cloud Gate 2 at Taipei's National Theatre in 2007, and it has continued to be part of the company's repertoire.

Performances in Shanghai and Beijing in October sold out, and Wu's celebrated work will receive its long-awaited Hong Kong premiere this week as part of both the Zuni Icosahedron's Architecture Is Art Festival and the Taiwan Culture Festival presented by Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Centre.