TechBox 2021

Hong Kong media artist Kenny Wong and sound artist Jacklam Ho share insight into the creation processes and technology used to revisit two past works – Wong’s 10Hz and Ho’s fractal (previously, Straight Lines Extending) – during the 2021 arts TALKS tech exhibition and sharing at Freespace.

arts TALKS tech is a participatory laboratory where young local artists conduct creative experiments with technology and art. It was presented as part of the TechBox platform for artwork-based inquiry and dialogue – a collaboration between Freespace and the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts – that brings together media artists, theatre designers, faculty members and students to explore new frontiers of technology and performance. 

The presentation with Wong and Ho was facilitated by Joel Kwong and curated by Yuen Cheuk-wa and Bobo Lee.

Read more about arts TALKS tech here.

Between 28 and 31 October, Freespace Jazz Fest 2021 attracted a record-breaking 19,000+ visitors. The popular annual event featured indoor and outdoor performances by an eclectic mix of over 250 Hong Kong-based artists, encouraged new cross-genre collaborations and demonstrated the diversity of Hong Kong jazz.

Our highlight video offers a brief look back at this exciting multi-day festival and a taster of what to expect at Freespace Jazz Fest in future years. Enjoy!

Read more about Freespace Jazz Fest 2021 here.

In addition to her dance work,Chan has collaborated and performed with a number of theatre companies,showcasing her versatility in performing arts. Recent appearances include Candace Chong’s play Wild Boar,directed by Olivia Yun for the 40th Hong Kong Arts Festival; Unlock Dancing Plaza’s first serial cross-disciplinary creation,the trilogy Walls 44; and her own free-form dance theatre production Kidult Ophelia. She was also the director of movement for the Dionysus Contemporary Theatre productions Equus and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Chan featured as an actress in the local independent movie Pseudo Secular,and performed and served as director of movement for O Theatre Workshop’s Black Monday and Reframe Theatre’s A Concise History of Future in Hong Kong’s New Vision Arts Festival.

Come and take a close look at the lively, quirky characters that Ho created for the mural, and snap a picture with them while you are at it. You can also try out the mural-inspired Instagram and Facebook filters and instant messaging sticker pack specially designed by Ho. Download them for free and share with your friends.

Direct download (for mobile devices only):

Instagram filter

Facebook filter

Sticker pack

Getting to Freespace

The 1-on-1 Chat Room is a three-part video series, with each episode featuring two performing artists from different disciplines, as they explore the nature and challenges of performing arts through candid conversations and improvised performances. 

The series was filmed in the lead up to The Battle, which took place in late-2020 as part of the cross-genre dance series Cypher – an encounter with dance and movement. In The Battle, theatre actors, street dancers and contemporary dancers were invited to compete and play on the same stage in a collective effort to push the boundaries of performing arts. During the planning of the show, we asked some of the participating artists to engage in one-on-one conversations on a wide range of topics, from their daily life to artistic visions, and to jam and exchange through improvisation. These interactions were captured by video director Ziv Chun and made into a video series, giving the audience an opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by the artists’ thought-provoking dialogues and movement.

Episode 3 

Tree Kwok (Theatre) X  ManOfGod (Street Dance)

On Connection

The 1-on-1 Chat Room is a three-part video series, with each episode featuring two performing artists from different disciplines, as they explore the nature and challenges of performing arts through candid conversations and improvised performances.

The series was filmed in the lead up to The Battle, which took place in late-2020 as part of the cross-genre dance series Cypher – an encounter with dance and movement. In The Battle, theatre actors, street dancers and contemporary dancers were invited to compete and play on the same stage in a collective effort to push the boundaries of performing arts. During the planning of the show, we asked some of the participating artists to engage in one-on-one conversations on a wide range of topics, from their daily life to artistic visions, and to jam and exchange through improvisation. These interactions were captured by video director Ziv Chun and made into a video series, giving the audience an opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by the artists’ thought-provoking dialogues and movement.

Episode 2

SukiRabbit (Street Dance) X Poon Chun-ho (Theatre)

On Isolation

The 1-on-1 Chat Room is a three-part video series, with each episode featuring two performing artists from different disciplines, as they explore the nature and challenges of performing arts through candid conversations and improvised performances.

The series was filmed in the lead up to The Battle, which took place in late-2020 as part of the cross-genre dance series Cypher – an encounter with dance and movement. In The Battle, theatre actors, street dancers and contemporary dancers were invited to compete and play on the same stage in a collective effort to push the boundaries of performing arts. During the planning of the show, we asked some of the participating artists to engage in one-on-one conversations on a wide range of topics, from their daily life to artistic visions, and to jam and exchange through improvisation. These interactions were captured by video director Ziv Chun and made into a video series, giving the audience an opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by the artists’ thought-provoking dialogues and movement.

Episode 1

Tracy Wong (Contemporary Dance) X Lil Yin (Street Dance)

On Limitation

“The best is yet to come” – Lau Shau Ching (Main Cast of The Impossible Trial – a musical)
“You can do it. Believe in yourself!” – Jordan Cheng (Main Cast of The Impossible Trial – a musical)

Dear 2021
In anticipation of the new year, Xiqu Centre and Freespace invited some of our long-time partners to share their artistry and their hopes for 2021. We are releasing one new video each day for eleven days, starting on New Year’s Eve.
These are portraits of strength, creativity, and hope. These artists have graced our stages, our studios, and in 2020, our online platforms. These are our messages for you, for a better year ahead.

Acknowledgement: Hong Kong Repertory Theatre
Concept and Design: West Kowloon Performing Arts Division
Video Direction and Editing: Kenneth@Gain Production

“Be your best self and live in every moment” – CAL (Tap Dancer)

Dear 2021
In anticipation of the new year, Xiqu Centre and Freespace invited some of our long-time partners to share their artistry and their hopes for 2021. We are releasing one new video each day for eleven days, starting on New Year’s Eve.
These are portraits of strength, creativity, and hope. These artists have graced our stages, our studios, and in 2020, our online platforms. These are our messages for you, for a better year ahead.

Concept and Design: West Kowloon Performing Arts Division
Video Direction and Editing: Kenneth@Gain Production

“Be accustomed to being a free person” – Leung Tin-chak (Performer of Waking Dreams in 1984)
“2021 is a year that we begin to rebuild” – Lau Chun-him (Performer of Waking Dreams in 1984)
“Love is most important; do everything with love” – Cecilia Choi (Performer of Waking Dreams in 1984)

Dear 2021
In anticipation of the new year, Xiqu Centre and Freespace invited some of our long-time partners to share their artistry and their hopes for 2021. We are releasing one new video each day for eleven days, starting on New Year’s Eve.
These are portraits of strength, creativity, and hope. These artists have graced our stages, our studios, and in 2020, our online platforms. These are our messages for you, for a better year ahead.

Acknowledgement: On&On Theatre Workshop
Concept and Design: West Kowloon Performing Arts Division
Video Direction and Editing: Kenneth@Gain Production