Taiwan offered a plethora of Hong Kong’s artistic goodies
There is no more telling way to convey to a Taiwanese audience that Hong Kong life goes on despite the political noise than to present the city's culture at its best, the mastermind behind an annual cultural roadshow says.
"Hong Kong Week 2015@Taiwan", this year's edition of an annual cultural exchange that has taken place since 2012, will present some of the city's most accomplished arts and exhibits against a volatile backdrop as both societies gradually emerge from political disputes.
"Many may feel that lots of things have been happening in Hong Kong recently, and that's why this year's Hong Kong Week could have a purifying effect," said Fredric Mao Chun-fai, convenor of event organiser the Hong Kong-Taiwan Cultural Cooperation Committee.
"I hope our guests will look at our culture and arts with a tranquil mindset so that they will see life goes on despite noises around us and that the city's culture did not come to a standstill. That is something I am very proud of," the renowned theatre director added.
Dubbed "Arts through Time", the month-long event from 10 September to October 11 will open with the Hong Kong Contemporary Art Exhibition that features works by eight artists reflecting their take on city life.
"We have an open agenda and take what the artists submit to us," said Eve Tam, director of the Hong Kong Museum of Art.
She cited two examples which some may associate with, among other things, the "umbrella movement", such as the artificial rain in Luke Ching's Weather Report: Liquefied Sunshine and the large cloth that covers the sky in Jaffa Lam's collective.
In performing arts, three critically acclaimed local productions by top artists will showcase Hong Kong's artistic excellence.
In drama, theatrical guru Chung King-fai will partner with former student Chan Kwok-pong in the Cantonese version of Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie.
"It is very special for me as it will be my first performance in Taiwan since the 1970s," Chung said of his 18th re-run of the tragic play that made him the best leading actor in 2008.
City Contemporary Dance Company founder Willy Tsao will present As If To Nothing, a 2009 thought-provoking masterpiece on bits and pieces of memory by resident choreographer Sang Jijia.
The most inclusive work of all is composer Law Wing-fai's When Petals Fall in Serenity - Atmospheric Music Theatre for voices and Chinese and Western instruments that involves Hong Kong musicians, mainland 8dancers and Taiwanese fashion designers.
"I wrote the piece to express my genuine feeling for the glory and ruins of Dunhuang on the ancient Silk Road after a visit there two years ago," Law said of the work which premiered last December.
