Around sound art festival and retreat

Before participating in this festival, I have a lack of understanding about sound art. Sound art is not very prevailing art practice in Hong Kong still. In the general sense, art mostly relates to painting, sculpture, music, those emphasize in the end product. However, the sound art has a interdisciplinary nature. Different media, subjects and environment can be part of the sound arts. More importantly, the notions of sound, listening and hearing is the focus in the sound art.

The open and quite environment of the Kuwn Tong Ferry Pier.

The Around sound art festival took place in the Kuwn Tong Ferry Pier is a fresh and interesting experience to me. The venue is the right place for sound art and site-specific work. Kuwn Tong Ferry Pier has its own history. Part of the pier is abandoned and becomes a quite place compared to the crowded past. Also, the environment is full of different sound elements. The sea breeze, the sound of ferry,and people's noise, all these become part of the components and inspirations of the sound arts and installation. the festival offer an opportunity for audience to listen the created or composed sound by the artists.

I found a on-site artist, Matt Cook, is working on his installation "Untitled (2013)". This is a good example of site-specific art and sound art as he fixed different components together to coordinate with the sound around the pier. He connected electric wires, motors, metals, and other sound generating objects, part of them seems "unrelated", to create or replay the sound of the pier. It is fascinating to witness the little group of instruments to play like orchestra. Matt said that the sound around could become his inspiration. He can alter parts of the installation to create the sound he heard. His work is lively, variable, and interactive with the sound, environment and audience.

The working process of Matt Cook. "Listen, focus, and work"

Little Orchestra in the pier

Another work presented in the pier is "Momo-tarou (2013)" by Akio Suzuki and Hiromi Miyakita. It is a totally different piece compared with Matt's piece. It is a piece of installation and performance which adds one more layer to the work. The performance needed a couple of tools, hammer, sticks, nails.  Akio was responsible for constructing the frame for Hiromi to perform. Firstly, most of the attention were devoted to Akio as he were constructing the frame and producing sounds "Pang! Pang! Pang!", "Ding! Ding! Ding!". Not many of us notice the other performer. Later on, Hiromi started doing some action to coordinated with or response to the sound. Her movement changed according to the sound produced. In my point of view, no fixed movement or dance was planned before hand. The artists can alter their performance according to the sound and environment. In other words, there can be various performance with the same theme, but under different circumstances. It can be classified as performance art also as it was performed by artists themselves, no limit on venue or time, and relationship between audience and performers. We, as audience, also became parts of the environment and engaged in a closer relation with the artists. The impression become more direct.

 The performance: Momo-tarou (2013)

The Around sound art festival introduce a new art category to me that listening and hearing can embrace with environment and other art forms in some interesting and innovative way. Visiting this festival is a good experience.