Title: Artistic Research to develop a Science Fiction Cantonese Opera
6 week seminar on Friday afternoons (between 2:30 and 5:15 pm)
22 Jan – 4 Mar 2016
Venue: WMY_402 (Wu Ho Man Yuen Building)
Time: 14:30 – 17:15
Introduction:
As a multi-media artist, Ming Wong’s work brings together cinema history,
media studies, gender and national identities, language and performance.
For the past year he has been doing research and field work in Hong Kong to
develop a new art work, which combines traditional Cantonese opera together
with Chinese science fiction. M+, the new museum of visual culture that is
being built in West Kowloon, is commissioning him to create a Cantonese
Science Fiction Opera production, and in order to facilitate the creative
development process he will be doing an artist residency at CUHK in early
2016, where he will continue his research and collaboration with musicians,
composers, writers and Cantonese opera actors from Hong Kong to develop
this new work.
This 6 week seminar would be a good opportunity for a cross disciplinary
approach to look at the cinematic heritage of Cantonese Opera (which
includes forms of Cantonese literature and music) and explore how, by
borrowing elements of contemporary science fiction literature in China, it can
serve as a lens to look at the current and future state of society.
Course activities:
22 January 2016
Introduction to Ming Wong’s artistic practice and current research combining
the history of Cantonese Opera Cinema in Hong Kong and the history of
Science Fiction in China.
Includes screenings of selected artworks by Ming Wong which involve
performing and mixing different genders, races, nationalities, languages,
ages, and other signifiers of identity.
29 January 2016
In depth exploration of early Chinese and Hong Kong cinema, with a focus on
Cantonese Opera films made in Hong Kong and its evolution from the early
days in the 1930s to the golden era of 1950s to its demise by the late 1970s.
Participants will see how Cantonese opera was transformed with the arrival of
cinema technology, how stage and screen media affected each other, and the
evolution of the Cantonese Cinema genre.
5 February 2016
In the run up to Chinese New Year (on 8 Feb), a visit to a live Cantonese
opera performance on a traditional bamboo stage will be scheduled. The field
trip would include visiting the backstage of the Cantonese Opera troupe and
also watching the actors perform on stage.
At the end there will be a post-show group discussion.
19 February 2016
In depth look at how Science Fiction has evolved in China, and to study
notions of the future by drawing from the past. Using his own research
materials as a guide, Ming Wong will show examples of recent science fiction
writing from China that makes use of references to Chinese history and
culture. What is the future? What can we learn from the recent past and
historical past that will enable us to be prepared to face the near future and
beyond?
26 February 2016
Planning and presenting an art exhibition.
Participants will get hands-on experience on how an artist makes an
exhibition to showcase one’s artworks. In this case, they can get involved in
observing and assisting Ming Wong as he prepares an exhibition on his
research on Cantonese Opera cinema and Science Fiction in China, which
will be held tentatively at Chung Chi College.
The materials in the exhibition include multimedia components (moving
image, sound) as well as 2-D materials (drawings, prints, photographs,
collages).
4 March 2016
In this final session, we will have a summary of the seminar and Ming Wong
will share the results of his research and field work during his residency at
CUHK, where he will be working with musicians, composers, writers, and
Cantonese opera performers to develop a Cantonese Science Fiction Opera.
There is scope to visit another department of the CUHK which may include
the Department of Music or the Cantonese Opera Information Centre or a
discussion with other member(s) of the faculty.
Bio of Ming Wong
Ming Wong is a Singapore-born, Berlin-based multi-media artist whose work
builds layers of cinematic language, social structure, identity and introspection
through his own re-telling of world cinema. He deliberately ‘mis-casts’ himself
and others in re-interpretations of iconic films and performances, often playing
all the roles himself in a foreign language.
He participated in the 53rd Venice Biennale 2009 representing the Singapore
Pavilion with his solo presentation ‘Life of Imitation’ which was awarded a
Special Mention.
Other exhibitions include ‘Ming Wong: Next Year’ at UCCA, Beijing (2015),
Shanghai Biennale (2014), Lyon Biennale (2013), 'Me in Me' at Shiseido
Gallery, Tokyo (2013), 'Making Chinatown' at REDCAT, Los Angeles (2012);
Performa 11, New York (2011); Singapore Biennale 2011; Sydney Biennale
2010; Gwangju Biennale 2010.
For more information on Ming Wong, please visit his website:
www.mingwong.org