Fung Lam X Wing Shya: Nocturnes

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Nocturnes, an artistic collaboration between the leading composer Fung Lam and the internationally acclaimed photographer cum director Wing Shya, will be brought to the stage for the first time by the Hong Kong Contemporary Music from 2nd to 3rd September, 2022 at the Grand Theatre of Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The quietness of the night is often the inspiration for artistic creations. Based on the idea of “nocturnes”, Lam and Shya write a wordless love letter to Hong Kong in music and cinematic art, and explore the relationship between oneself and the city.

A Dialogue Between Music and Cinematic Art
In this collaboration, Lam turns his thoughts and feelings about the night into music, and Shya develops a ten- chapter art movie based on Lam’s music, projecting his imaginations in the still of night to the stage. This is the first time Wing Shya has created a cinematic work for a stage setting.

Lam will perform the ten pieces of music live on piano, alongside his music ensemble, the Hong Kong Contemporary Music Group. Together with the featuring saxophonist Timothy Sun on the stage, they will bring the audience to a poetic space where they can let their imagination fly freely.

12 young actresses and models, including Natalie Hsu, Bonny Kong, Kuku So, Helen So and Elizabeth Tang, among others, will appear on screen in this art movie that evokes emotions of the audience.

Exploring the Relationship Between Oneself and the City
Being the first Hong Kong composer ever commissioned by the BBC, Fung Lam’s music has been performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world. Besides concert music, with a focus primarily on orchestral composition, his output also includes music for dance and theatre, soundscape composition, multi-media installation, as well as inter-disciplinary works. He was a Composer-in-Residence and the Director of Artistic Planning with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

Wing Shya is a Hong Kong-based photographer, director and graphic designer, who has worked with various musicians and artistes on music video and photo shooting projects. His work has been exhibited in Hong Kong and numerous international exhibitions and he was the first non-Japanese photographer invited by Mori Art Museum, Tokyo to have his solo exhibition. Nocturnes is his first ever work created for the theatre.

Nocturnes is a non-narrative multi-arts collaboration that focuses on emotions and thoughts, and the dialogue between music and cinematic art. Out of their love for Hong Kong, the two artists hope to bring consolation in the beauty of Hong Kong’s tranquillity and share the experience of the relationship between oneself and the city.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Fung Lam is a composer born in Hong Kong in 1979. He is the first Hong Kong composer ever commissioned by the BBC and his music has been performed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Konzerthaus Berlin, Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall and South Bank Centre in London. He has to date written over ten orchestral works, including Endless Forms, a commission for the BBC in 2012, and Quintessence, a work in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Besides concert music, with a focus primarily on orchestral composition, his output also includes music for dance and theatre, soundscape composition, multi-media installation, as well as inter-disciplinary works. He was a Composer-in-Residence and the Director of Artistic Planning with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He received the Young Artist Award 2011 from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2012.

Wing Shya is a Hong Kong-based photographer, director and graphic designer, who works in fashion, film and art. He has worked with various musicians and artistes, such as Karen Mok, Jacky Cheung, Maggie Cheung and many others, on music video and photo shooting projects. He has also been the exclusive photographer and graphic designer for Wong Kar Wai’s films. His work has been exhibited in Hong Kong and numerous international exhibitions and he was the first non-Japanese photographer invited by Mori Art Museum, Tokyo to have his solo exhibition.