Closer To Heart

The Fringe Club's Economist Gallery features the sparkling works of Thai artist Vajaraporn Sukanich, who sews tiny, multi-coloured beads and sequins into the surfaces of her watercolour paintings. The mosaics recall the walls of traditional Thai temples, radiating peace. Open Monday-Thursday, noon-midnight; Friday 11am-3am; Saturday 11am-3am. The Economist Gallery, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. Tel: 2521 7251. Ends August 13

Face To Face, Back To Back

This is the third exhibition of works by a group of young, local designers who presented cloud rice at the Arts Centre in May and SIZE cloud rice at the Fringe Club last October. The group continues its artistic process at Para/Site Central - the alternative exhibition space sponsored by the Hanart TZ Gallery - until January. Today is the final day of animation by Mary Cheung while Johnson Chui exhibits 'The Space Between Duality' throughout August from Saturday. Open Monday-Friday 10am-6.30pm; Saturday 10am-6pm. Hanart TZ Gallery, 2/F Henley Building, 5 Queen's Road, Central. Tel: 2526 9019

Chinese Operatic Art Series

This, the fourth programme in the summer series, showcases the Operatic Music Ensemble Of Jinan City Of Shandong Province. Founded in 1959 the troupe includes veteran artists such as Guo Wenqiu, who sings ballads to a zhuiqin accompaniment; Liu Yanguang, who is recognised for his pingshu singing; Yao Zhongxian, a master of the Beilu Shandong - a style unique to the troupe - and his disciple Yang Po. The troupe will perform pieces such as King Chu Bidding Farewell To His Concubine and Tongue Twisters. $80-$150. Tomorrow and Saturday, Tsuen Wan Town Hall; Friday and Monday, City Hall; Sunday, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre. Inquiries: 2268 7323. Urbtix

The Pet Shop Boys

The high lords of British pop arrive in Hong Kong for a one-night-only gig today at the Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition Centre. They perform hits from their new album, Release, which sees the duo fuse guitars and good old rock'n'roll sounds into their electro melodies. Today, 8pm. $280-$680. Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Ticketek

Life's A Bitch And So Am I

Reuban M has thrown himself on to the Hong Kong stage as a stand-up comic for the past 10 years. The Atlanta, Georgia native returns this weekend with a two-part show: Why I Love Being From The South and What's Wrong With America. The 90-minute show features the live music of blues band The Tribal Blues Children (supposedly inspired by its long-standing, original name, To Be Confirmed). Friday-Saturday, 9pm. $100 ($80 members). Fringe Studio, Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. Tel: 2521 7251

ROTA

Brazil's Companhia De Danca Deborah Colker has astounded audiences globally with this show, which melds classical ballet with contemporary dance to a musical score ranging from Mozart to Miles Davis. The show consists of two acts. The first, Gravity, mixes everyday movements with classical ballet to represent the slowed-down world of astronauts in outer space. The second, Wheel, features dancers on a seven-metre-high Ferris wheel. Friday and Saturday, 7.30pm, Sunday, 3pm. Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, Tsim Sha Tsui. Inquiries: 2370 1044. $100-$250 Urbtix

Xue Wei Violin Concerto

It has been a great year for the Chinese-born violinist, Xue Wei. He has been invited to be the youngest member of the jury for the International Tchaikovsky Competition For Young Musicians (in which he won the silver prize in 1986). Xue has also been asked to be acting professor at the Shanghai Music Institute. He moved to Britain in 1985, sponsored by the Lord Mayor of London to study at the Guildhall School of Music with Yfrah Neaman, and will step on to the City Hall stage this Sunday with the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Yu Fang. $100-$380. Sunday, 8pm. City Hall Concert

Hall, Central. For information, call

2377 2326. Urbtix

Urbtix: 2734 9009

Urbtix/CityLine credit-

card booking: 2111 5999

Fringe: 2521 7251

CityLine: 2317 6666

TicketNet: 2312 9998

Ticketek: 3128 8288