Co-curated with cross-disciplinary artists from Hong Kong, Asia and Europe, the events span across performing arts, installation exhibition, urban exploration, and “chill chats” on arts and artistic creation. The festival is taking the contemporary art experience to the theatre and beyond, traversing the city’s old and unknown corners, a hustling and bustling mall, the harbourfront of lost times, a restaurant, virtual living spaces and the no-trespass zone at the HKAC. The programmes seek to catalyse cross-media creation, foster human interaction, challenge and open up the senses, and reveal the fascinating dynamics between the arts and our day-to-day existence. Both paid and free events are available and full details can be found at www.culturalmasseur.hk.
Supported by the Springboard Grant under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and sponsored by Hysan Development Company Limited, Cultural Masseur is a 1.5-year arts and cultural programme presented by the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Body massage stimulates circulation, and massage of the mind stimulates the circulation of ideas, particularly creative ones. The Dragonix Multi-Arts Festival is the final stage of the Cultural Masseur programme.
The Dragonix Multi-Arts Festival consists of 12 programmes in 4 series: 【Theatre+Exhibition】, 【Site-specific Performance】, 【Thematic Walk】 and 【Chill Chat】. Full details are as follows.
【Theatre+Exhibition】series (4 programmes)
【Theatre】 MYOUSIC – A soundscape theatre experience
Created by Swiss artist Dimitri de Perrot and debuting in Hong Kong, Myousic is in a mind-blowing sensory experience where sound and light form a surreal theatre-scape. It collapses the distance between the audience, shifts the familiar hierarchy and challenges the established ways of thinking.
- Created by: Dimitri de Perrot(Switzerland)|Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 19-21/7, $280
【Theatre】 PIU3 – “Bleaching” life, re-making Hong Kong theatre
Artist Jaffa Lam for the first time turns a Hong Kong theatre into a laundromat that washes fatigued souls. What emerge between the sweet scents and pungent odors are the essence of life and reflections on societal issues.
- Concept & Artistic Director: Jaffa Lam |Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 6, 7, 13, 14/7, $280
【Theatre】 Unknown: living in progress – 40-year time travel, memories and youthful dialogues
How does art influence your life? Under teachers’ mentorship, acting and playwriting students from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts will take audience members on a journey through the Hong Kong Arts Centre. As this new generation of art practitioners engage in a “dialogue” with different spaces of the 40-year-old establishment, old and new memories shall cross paths and weave new meanings…
- Creative team: Janice Poon, Alex Cheung and Shaw Mei Kwan | McAulay Studio, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 29/6-1/7, $140
【Sound Installation】 UNLESS – A sonic oasis in hectic Hong Kong
What can you hear in a shopping mall? This Hong Kong debut of sound installation UNLESS collects sounds in-situ in a hustling and bustling mall, and reminds us of the overlooked, ordinary moments in daily life. Audience members are invited to savour the trivial and sacred of life walking through or lying down in a world of sonic harmony and discords.
- Created by: Dimitri de Perrot(Switzerland)|1/F Atrium, Hysan Place, 13-24/7, Free admission
【Site-specific Performance】series (3 programmes)
【Site-specific Performance】 Love & Diversity – Speed-dating music theatre
In this restaurant-turned-music-theatre (speed dating night in disguise), seven musical instruments (seven lovers in actuality) eagerly await their turn across the table. As each swap of places brings on a wave of frenzied anticipation, the participant and a new instrument get upclose and gaze into each other’s minds. Swipe left or right? And will you find your Mr Right? (Each ticket includes a non-alcoholic cocktail)
- Created by: Manos Tsangaris(Germany) |Venue and date to be confirmed, $180(online registration)
【Site-specific Performance】 Space in Hong Kong – An installation of light, sound, projection and cramped spaces
Inspired by the Sham Shui Po neighbourhood and Hong Kong’s housing estates, this interactive installation examines the forever dwindling living spaces in Hong Kong. Led by artists of 4 disciplines (theatre, lighting design, new media arts and urban design), students from the HKAPA and City University of Hong Kong will create three cramped apartments through light, sound and projection, and viewers will be led to rethink about space in Hong Kong in a personal, psychological and emotional experience.
- Creative team: Roy Szeto, Leo Cheung, XPLOR, Tony Ip and students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and City University of Hong Kong | Multimedia Theatre, Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, City University of Hong Kong, 13-24/7, Free admission|Admission by small groups in sessions(Online registration)
【Site-specific Performance】 Gone Wood –Hong Kong’s old Jianghu brought back to life in Kungfu and dance
The show’s Chinese title “Jianghu”means the way of life of itinerant martial arts performers and fortune tellers in the bygone era. The Sheung Wan harbourfront bazaar, aka The Poor Man’s Night Club, was one such thriving hub of entertainment, and had ended to make way for reclamation in the early 1990s. This outdoor performance is going to bring back the good old days of “Jianghu” with dazzling tumbling, parkour and Kungfu-infused dances.
- Creative team: Hugh Cho & TS Crew | Central (Date & exact location to be announced), Free admission
【Thematic Walk】series (3 programmes)
【Thematic Walk】 ENGEKI QUEST – The Rainbow Masseur – Urban exploration project in Choi Hung created by Japanese artist
Day to day we construct tangible and intangible walls that narrow our perspectives. Japanese artist Chikara Fujiwara has created an urban exploration project called ENGEKI QUEST in different cities to break through these walls. Having toured to Germany, Korea and the Philippines, the project’s next stop will be Choi Hung, Hong Kong! As “Rainbow Masseurs”, participants will be given an adventure book and ramble through both Insta-worthy and hidden spots in Choi Hung, celebrating the district’s beauty through a foreigner’s perspective.
- Guest curator: Chikara Fujiwara(Japan)|Choi Hung Village, 28-29/7, $220(Online registration)
【Thematic Walk】 Bon Voyage – A “dancing” walking tour
When we encounter new adventures on a journey, we conquer the unknowns and unleash our potential. In Bon Voyage, artist Enoch Cheng will take participants on a special journey to the unknown corners at the Hong Kong Arts Centre - one that combines elements of contemporary dance and Cantonese Opera movements with a guided tour. Participants will be led by dancers to move, dance, and walk - sometimes barefooted - as they explore every single corner of the building and uncover various hidden stories.
- Created & performed by: Enoch Cheung|Hong Kong Arts Centre, 26 -27/7, $80(Online registration)
【Thematic Walk】 Before Tomorrow.Fallen City – Listening to our city before it gets underwater
What would you do if your city were to be underwater in 24 hours because of global warming? The Victoria Harbour we so dearly loved has turned against us and the city is in full-blown panic. In this thematic walk, participants will go on an adventure through the coastline in the Central and Western District and listen to the nature.
- Concept & playwright: Thealosophers|Sai Wan, 7, 8, 14, 15/7, $150(Online registration)
【Chill Chat】 series (2 programmes)
【Chill Chat】 Chill Chat – A platform to make interdisciplinary art proposals happen
Chill Chat is an initiative to help aspiring artists who can use some guidance and expertise from 8 local and international experienced art professionals. Send in an interdisciplinary art proposal that addresses current issues, and you will stand a chance to meet the art professionals face to face and turn your ideas into a reality. 3 best proposals will be awarded not less than HK$50,000 as start-up capital! (Actual amount will depend on the nature of proposal)
- Proposal submission deadline﹕1/7|Ping Pong 129 Gintonería, 15/7
【Chill Chat】 Panel Roundtable – Exchanging perspectives on art with 8 art professionals
8 local and international experienced art professionals will offer their own perspectives to the meaning of art as they share their thoughts and insights on the Dragonix Festival. Join the conversation and let us hear your experience and ideas!
- Art professionals include: Manos Tsangaris (Artistic Director of Munich Biennale for Music Theatre), Tang Fu Kuen (Artistic Director of Taipei Arts Festival), Tang Shu Wing (Artistic Director of Tang Shu-wing Theatre Studio), Pawit Mahasarinand (Director of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre), Cheng-Han Wu (Dramaturg, Instructor at Department of Drama & Theatre, NTU) | Ping Pong 129 Gintonería, 15/7
【Ticketing Discounts】
Early-bird Discounts
Ticketing Discounts |
Price (HKD) |
Discount Period |
How to buy tickets? |
Package(Including 1 ticket each of PIU3 and MYOUSIC) |
Package costs $336 |
19/4 – 18/5 |
Fill in the early-bird booking form on or before 18/5.
|
PIU3 or MYOUSIC |
Each ticket $196 |
||
Unknown: living in progress |
Each ticket $98 |
Other Discounts
Ticketing Discounts |
Price (HKD) |
Discount Period |
How to buy tickets? |
Each purchase of any combination below: ●PIU3 - 2 tickets ●MYOUSIC - 2 tickets ●PIU3 and MYOUSIC - 1 ticket each |
Package costs $448 |
19/5 – 14/7
|
Available at URBTIX from 19/5 onwards. |
Thematic Walk Package includes: ●Before Tomorrow.Fallen City - 1 ticket ●Bon Voyage - 1 ticket ●ENGEKI QUEST – The Rainbow Masseur - 1 ticket |
Package costs $290 |
Available at www.art-mate.net from 19/5 onwards. |
【Ticketing & Enrolment information】
【Theatre & Exhibition】 |
●PIU3 ●MYOUSIC ●Unknown: living in progress ●UNLESS(Free admission without enrolment) |
Tickets available at URBTIX from 19/5 onwards. |
【Site-specific |
●Love & Diversity ●Space in Hong Kong ●Gone Wood(Free admission without enrolment) |
Tickets and enrolment available at www.art-mate.net from 19/5 onwards. |
【Thematic Walk】 |
●Before Tomorrow.Fallen City ●Bon Voyage ●ENGEKI QUEST – The Rainbow Masseur |
|
【Chill Chat】 |
●Chill Chat(Selected art collectives will be invited to attend) ●Panel Roundtable |
Cultural Masseur Full Programme Details:
Website: www.culturalmasseur.hk
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/culturalmasseur/
Click here for past events.