Source:
https://scmp.com/culture/arts-entertainment/article/2121696/how-one-hong-kong-arts-festival-putting-little-island-big
Culture

How one Hong Kong arts festival is putting a little island on the big stage – all thanks to the community

This year’s ‘Life by Water’ festival on Cheung Chau has attracted a number of local and international artists, including German photographer Michael Wolf, Japanese filmmaker Takashi Makino and sculptor Cheng Shing

Filipino singer Budoy Marabiles, lead vocalist of reggae band Junior Kilat, will perform at Cheung Chau’s ‘Life by Water’ arts and culture festival.

It might be a little dot in the South China Sea but the island of Cheung Chau has big creative ideas – and this weekend’s “Life By Water” festival is one of its most ambitious.

Now in its third year, the event is all about culture and community and, of course, art. It showcases photography and street performance, video, painting, sculpture, and music, all moulded around the theme of life by water.

This year’s event – from December 1 to 3 – has attracted a number of artists from abroad, including German photographer Michael Wolf, Japanese filmmaker Takashi Makino and Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

Others include French photographer and collage artist Camille Levert, 13-year-old Thai piano prodigy Lert Lertwongwanit – who will play his own compositions as well as classics – and Budoy Marabiles, lead vocalist of Filipino reggae band Junior Kilat.

A photo by Michael Wolf.
A photo by Michael Wolf.

Others include French photographer and collage artist Camille Levert, 13-year-old Thai piano prodigy Lert Lertwongwanit – who will play his own compositions as well as classics – and Budoy Marabiles, lead vocalist of Filipino reggae band Junior Kilat.

“We’re very excited about Budoy – he’s quite famous in the Philippines and was on the celebrity reality TV show Big Brother,” says event co-organiser Christina Jensen, who has been involved with the festival since its inception in 2015. “He paints in his spare time and fell in love with Cheung Chau when he visited a while ago.”

Japanese filmmaker Takashi Makino.
Japanese filmmaker Takashi Makino.

The island’s many local artists will also be out in force. Among them is Cheng Shing, whose sculptures are constructed using materials collected from the island’s streets and woods.

Sculptures by Cheung Chau artist Cheng Shing.
Sculptures by Cheung Chau artist Cheng Shing.

“Cheng is a well-known artist on the island,” Jensen says. “He makes the most amazing metal sculptures from scraps he finds while cleaning the streets of Cheung Chau.”

Hong Kong artist Paul Yip will also take part in ‘Life by Water”.
Hong Kong artist Paul Yip will also take part in ‘Life by Water”.
Hong Kong artist Foo Sai-heng will show at the event.
Hong Kong artist Foo Sai-heng will show at the event.

Jensen says another local artist, Yeung Cheung-ming, uses household items such as toilet paper and envelopes as canvases to write calligraphy – not with a brush, but with single strands of hair.

Butoh dancer Ioku Ero Nikaido will perform at the festival.
Butoh dancer Ioku Ero Nikaido will perform at the festival.

The festival, organised by Cheung Chau Wave, a charity community project that promotes local art and culture, will also hold dance and music workshops for children.

“This festival has come about thanks to all the help from volunteers – it really is the biggest little festival in the world,” Jensen says.

Gothic violinist Fleurs du Mal will also perform at the festival.
Gothic violinist Fleurs du Mal will also perform at the festival.

An online interactive map will help visitors navigate the many sites on the island.

Life By Water, December 1, 6pm-10pm; December 2-3, 11am-10pm. Main venue: Cheung Chau Fisheries Joint Association Public School. HK$160 weekend pass (HK$80 for Cheung Chau residents and students). Tickets from Pelago. More details at www.cheungchauwave.com