From surreal ink animations to dragon inspired paper cutting installations, from the soundscape of Shanghai to the landscape of Tatton Park, we’ve got a veritable banquet of exciting events and exhibitions for you this month.
Contemporaneous
Chen Shaoxiong & Qiu Anxiong
Until 15 June
Contemporaneous presents Chinese ink painting…but not as you know it. Chen Shaoxiong and Qiu Anxiong create stunning animations concerned with contemporary issues using the ancient medium of ink painting.
Chen Shaoxiong’s The Days tells of the artist’s everyday life in the rapidly developing city of Guangzhou. Scenes, faces and places captured in ink reveal Chen’s individual perceptions whilst also telling a more general story about the urban experience.
Dominating an entire wall of the gallery, Qiu’s captivating animation The New Book of the Mountains and Seas uses strange creatures from Chinese mythology to illustrate man’s abuse of the world’s natural resources. The work is made up of over 6000 stunning ink paintings which come together to form a compelling critical warning about the consequences of rampant industry.
Breathe Residency
Kongkee
1 May – 29 June
Open Studio 26 – 29 June
Chinese Arts Centre is delighted to be hosting Hong Kong comic and animation artist Kongkee as part of Tatton Park Biennial and Asia Triennial Manchester 08. During his residency Kongkee will be working with Manchester’s elderly Chinese community inviting them to share their experiences of migration and dislocation. Using their stories, Kongkee will create new animations to be shown at Tatton Park which explore migration and diversity in peoples and plants in response to the biennial’s Botanical Collection theme.
CHINA NOW
(Un)familiar Territories
24 May – 22 June
As part of CHINA NOW, the UK’s largest ever festival of Chinese culture, Chinese Arts Centre hosts (Un)familiar Territories, a series of headphone walks which provide a unique glimpse into life in China today using the evocative qualities of sound. Using sounds captured during their everyday encounters, sound artists Yan Jun (Shanghai) and Zhang Liming (Harbin) have each created an eleven track work which links to locations on a half hour walk around Manchester city centre. Listen to the bustling electronics markets of Harbin whilst wandering through the Arndale Centre or the food sellers of Shanghai fighting for your attention on Market Street. The carefully edited tracks move fluidly as the walk takes in entertainment centres, busy streets and tram stops.
From 24 May to 22 June Chinese MP3 players loaded with the tracks will available from Chinese Arts Centre along with a map of the route and the artists track descriptions. The tracks will also be available for download from Chinese Arts Centre website. For more information visit www.chinese-arts-centre.org/events
Chinese arts events across the UK
Fiona Wong and Wilson Shieh
The Terrace Gallery, Harewood House
18 May- 10 August
Preview 17 May with exhibition talk
Fiona Wong and Wilson Shieh both share a thoughtful understanding for traditional techniques and media and play with modern motifs. For their first major exhibition in the UK, they are making new work that specifically responds to the newly installed Chinese wallpaper and collection of ceramics at Harewood House.
Chinese Arts Centre has been working in close collaboration with Harewood House Trust Curator Sarah Brown. Further information is available online at www.harewood.org
Dragon
Monkwearmouth Station Museum, National Glass Centre, Bede’s World
Opens 24 May 2008
Dragons have a strong presence in the human imagination and are a powerful symbol in both Anglo Saxon and Chinese culture. Specially commissioned works by Kongkee and Karen Tam will explore the theme of dragons. For Monkwearmouth Station Museum, Kongkee will show an animation while Karen Tam will exhibit a paper-cutting installation. Karen Tam will also create a site specific installation in the cafe in National Glass Centre and Bede’s World.
Organised in collaboration with Tyne and Wear Museums. Further information is available online at www.twmuseums.org.uk
Creative Hong Kong in London
Design Museum
28 May – 12 June
Creative Hong Kong in London is an exclusive exhibition organised by the Hong Kong Design Centre of 10 new products by 10 international brands including Alessi, Royal Copenhagen and Salvatore Ferragamo, designed by 10 renowned HK designers. These exclusive products, which range from fashion, an audio system and a watch to a bamboo chair and dinner service, will be displayed at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, in late May to early June for a week, and then will move to the Design Museum near Tower Bridge. For more information visit www.designmuseum.org
Creative Hong Kong in London forms part of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office’s Hong Kong Week, a series of special events celebrating Hong Kong during the first week of June. Other highlights include the London Hong Kong Dragon Boat Race on 8 June and a British Council exhibition of Hong Kong artists. For more information visit www.hketolondon.gov.hk
Tatton Park Biennial 2008
3 May – 28 September 08
Featuring on site commissions, residencies, tours and performances, Tatton Park Biennial is a new contemporary art event for the UK in the grounds of this amazing National Trust property. Breathe resident artist Kongkee’s animations form part of the ongoing commission programme alongside a wide range of artists including Lisa Cheung who is developing a sculptural and performative work based on the idea of the Chinese ‘Kitchen God’. Of the many sited commissions watch out for Gayle Chong Kwan’s Stellar Dentrite, a continuous photographic landscape wrapped around the Conservatory of Tatton House. For more information visit www.tattonparkbiennial.org
Diabolic Kyogen
Contact Theatre
14 – 17 May
Leading British Chinese theatre director Jonathan Man presents Diabolic Kyogen, a double bill of plays where East meets West via The Young Ones and Beckett. A rare chance to see Japanese comedy Weighed Down by Love is followed by a new play The Diabolic Banquet by up and coming Manchester playwright Rob Haynes. Jonathan is also chairing a series of talks and workshops to accompany the production. Tickets £7/£4. For information and bookings visit www.contact-theatre.org
Opportunities
Breathe Artist in Residence Programme, Chongqing
Chinese Arts Centre and 501 Artspace are calling for applications to the Breathe Artists in Residence Programme, Chongqing. Open to all artists, the residencies provide successful applicants with the time to contemplate and reflect on their practice, make new works and benefit from the support of Chinese Arts Centre and 501 Artspace. For full details and how to apply email info@chinese-arts-centre.org. Deadline for applications 30 June 2008.
Executive Director – Chinatown Arts Space
Chinatown Arts Space is seeking to recruit an Executive Director. The post holder will be required to work 30 hours per week. Salary range is from £32 – 35K pro rota, depending upon experience. The closing date for applications is Tuesday 27th May at 5pm. For more information on the role and the type of person Chinatown Arts Space is looking for, please log on to www.chinatownartsspace.com/executivedirector
Step Change
Step Change is a professional development project for individuals working in the performing arts. A collaboration between the Young Vic, BAC, National Theatre and Royal Opera House, the programme offers masterclasses, secondments and mentoring to performing arts professionals in an early-mid stage in their careers. For more information and how to apply contact Anna Silman at asilman@nationaltheatre.org.uk. Deadline for applications is Friday 30 May.
