Hong Kong culture is currently on display at the Setouchi Triennale in Japan, with a group of artists showcasing a range of disciplines and taking up residence in Shodoshima
For the third time, the Hong Kong Arts Centre (HKAC) is participating in the Setouchi Triennale at Fukutake House Asia Art Platform on the island of Shodoshima, Japan. The event brings together artists from across Asia along with visitors to explore cross-cultural dialogues and ideas such as identity and globalisation.
Déjà Vu | the Living Heritage
For the 2019 edition of the show, the theme is Déjà Vu | the Living Heritage, in which participants particularly explore intangible cultural heritage, or ICH. HKAC’s presentation includes a group of artists working in a variety of mediums, and coming together to show as one performance.
Hong Kong costume designer Mandy Tam has combined Chinese traditional costumes with the local culture of Shodoshima to create the stage-set installation artwork titled: Life. “The installation draws from the Hong Kong Wishing Tree and the inspiration for the work is people-oriented. The work has the image of a female body, symbolising the mother and human ancestors. Hanging rectangular cloth is in order to visualise the inverted Hong Kong (the sight of Hong Kong’s high-rise buildings), and also includes Japanese patchwork elements,” explains Tam.
Hugh Cho, a Hong Kong choreographer, and the TS Crew perform a blend of dance, acrobatics and kung-fu inspired by happiness inside the installation, while Hong Kong Art School alumni Lit Wing-hung and Chung Siu-fung share their experiences learnt from the Jockey Club ICH+ Innovative Heritage Education Programme.
Artists in residence
All of the participating Hong Kong artists will be showcasing their artistic ideas with the local residents of Fukuta area through artist residency programmes and workshops. Chung Siu-fung explains, “I want to use the paper-cutting workshop to express the concept of common culture. The significance of paper-cut culture is a blessing. I hope to bless the local residents with the Chinese culture of paper-cutting.”
Ms. Connie Lam, Executive Director of the HKAC, says of the event, “Over the past few years of exploration, HKAC has gradually developed a new direction of fostering contemporary arts and culture by means of the promotion of ICH with emphasis on the connection between creativity and cultural inheritance. With the funding support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Hong Kong Art School launched the 4.5-year Jockey Club ICH+ – Innovative Heritage Education for Youth in 2018; and this year, our participation in Setouchi Triennale will follow the same spirit.”
It is hoped that the project shows that ICH is a vital tool in reconnecting with the past and driving future creativity and innovation, and that cumulative wisdom creates unique shared human experiences necessary for a brighter future for all.
Setouchi Triennale 2019–Déjà Vu | the Living Heritage
19 July-25 Aug, 2019
11:00-17:00
FUKUTAKE HOUSE, Fukuda, Shodoshima, Kagawa, JAPAN
Co-presented by: Fukutake Foundation and Hong Kong Arts Centre
Supported by: Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo), Arts Development Fund of the Home Affairs Bureau, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
This post is sponsored by the Hong Kong Arts Centre.