The heritage of the Orchid Island - a Millennial Culture in Contemporary light
The heritage of the Orchid Island - a Millennial Culture in Contemporary light
What happens if we process the traditions of a people with a millennial culture by contemporary means? Researchers from the Vienna Academy of Music were hosted by the Tao ethnic group on the island of Orchidea near Taiwan for three years. After mapping out the local artistic heritage, they are now attempting to translate it into their own contemporary mode of expression on a special evening. What is the result? A live exhibition with musicians, film screenings or Taiwanese metal building on traditions.
During the magical evening, we will remember the exotic culture of LanYu, the island of Orchidea, in many different locations within the House of Music Hungary. In our lecture hall, from 6 pm until closing, video and audio installations show the three years of research, which can be joined at any time. As a live exhibition installation after the opening, contemporary musicians engage in a dialogue with traditional Tao art on screens. The highlight of the evening will be a joint concert of contemporary artists from Berlin and a Taiwanese metal band, followed by a joint, closing event in the most open spaces of the house.
18.00-19.00 Foreplay – free video and audio installations, waiting for the opening (Lecture Hall)
19.00-20.00 Opening, live installation based on a dialogue between screens and musicians (at several points in the house)
20.00-21.30 Inspired by the culture of the island, a genre-diverse concert (Concert Hall)
21.30-22.30 Open, community happening (Entrance Hall, Open-air Stage)
The basic question of the program is what inspirational practice based on mutual solidarity can connect researchers from Vienna, Berlin and Budapest with artists from LanYu, the island of Orchidea inhabited by the Tao people. Is it possible to reconcile the definitions of art and life in these two different worlds at all? This is what the Creative (Mis)Understandings artistic project, led by the Vienna Academy of Music (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien / MDW), has been about for the past three years. Its first closing event will take place on May 20 in Vienna, during the Researchers' Night program, within the walls of the Weltmuseum Wien. Three days after the presentation, a revised version of the program will arrive in the interior and exterior of the House of Music Hungary, completed with Hungarian participants.
The event presents the exciting results of the research in a broad spectrum of genres, in an overarching artistic form.
This includes:
- Numerous video and audio installations
- Several interviews about the Hungarian revival movement and saving Lanyu's ancient culture
- Original versions of the island’s vocal traditions and those processed by the Taiwanese rock band Wild Thing
- Electronic improvisation
- A live installation by Sandeep Bhagwati employing screens and instrumentalists
This comprehensive program is crowned by an open-form, community closing happening, along the lines of instructions for members of the audience.
Participants
Johannes Kretz (A) - composer, project manager
Weiya Lin (A) - ethnomusicologist, violinist, co-leader of the project
Si Pehbowen (TWN) - dancer, researcher
Siaman Vongayan (TWN) - tao singer, music researcher, translator
Gryllus Samu - composer
Hui Ye (A) - artist, composer
Wolfgang Liebhart (A) - composer
Chiao-Hua Chang (A) - erhu artist, ethnomusicologist, translator
Daliah Hindler (A) - Project Assistant
Sandeep Bhagwati (DE) - composer, artistic director (Ensemble Extrakte)
Elshan Ghasimi (DE) (Ensemble Extract) - Tar
The Wild Thing (TWN)
Tara Khozein - voice
Bakos Bettika - voice
Endre Vazul Mándli - disharmony
Dániel Váczi - glissotar
Sarnyai Dalma - flute
Rubik Ernő Zoltán - piano, objects, movement
Kornél Fekete Kovács - trumpet
Viktor Sápi - trombone
Ming Wang (A) - composer
Voice of Ocean (TWN) - Traditional Tao singer
Partners
According to current regulations, from March 7, 2022, it is no longer obligatory to wear a mask when visiting the House of Music Hungary. Concerts, programs and exhibitions can be attended without a vaccination certificate or card.
Nevertheless we still encourage you to wear a mask during concerts. All current rules are subject to change based on the all-time rules and regulations of the government. We kindly ask you to check all current regulations for your event on our website before your visit in each case.