Ghost Project comes to life

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Tel : 604-821-1954

Wed, October 08 2008

The JUNO-nominated Orchid Ensemble presents the multi-disciplinary Halloween spectacular The Ghost Project, in partnership with the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society, Vancouver Community College, and Westcoast Sacred Arts Society.
Performances are on Oct. 25 and 26, at 8 p.m.
In a world where mystical creatures and spirits roam across the stage, the artists of The Ghost Project celebrate Halloween with a combination of Asian aesthetics and modern video technology. Through music, dance, media arts, and scenographic installations, the artists explore legends and folk tales of the cultures of Canada, Taiwan, China and Indonesia.
The Ghost Project tells the story of a love that breaks the boundary between life and death, depicts different shapes and forms of ghost images, and celebrates joy and sorrow in cycles of life. The music in The Ghost Project combines the modes, rhythms, and interlocking patterns in Indonesian gamelan music, with the lyrical phrasings and breath in Chinese music, and the harmonies and precision in western music.
Through acoustic instrumental music, electronic soundscape, choral compositions and spoken words, the artists create a rich sonic environment.
Media artists Kenneth Newby and Aleksandra Dulic use interactive audiovisual techniques to capture and transform the sounds of the musicians into spectral forms that complement the live performance and represent “ghost images.”
An exhibition of body sculptures, Indonesian masks, and shadow puppets made by participants in workshops taught by the featured artists, will be held at the Roundhouse. The Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society will also display traditional offerings to honour their ancestors.
Tickets are $18 regular, $15 students/children/seniors. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca, through TicketWeb toll free number 1.888.222.6608, or at the door from 7 p.m. on the days of the shows. The audience is encouraged to attend in ghostly costumes.

What: The Ghost Project
When: Oct. 25 and 26, 8 p.m.
Where: The Roundhouse
Tickets: www.ticketweb.ca

Your reactions

great article - big oversight by Astri Wright, Victoria

By Astri Wright

tell us what you think | reply »

Professor of Southeast Asian Art

Located in Victoria

Posted on 20 Oct 08 at 19:27

Hi, this is a great little article, describing what looks like it will be a fascinating performance which I will try to get over from Victoria to see. The Roundhouse consistently stages some of the best cultural programming in Vancouver.
Now, as someone who writes about contemporary artists in and from many parts of the world, and who - like you - is committed to putting Asian culture, also contemporary, on the map, one thing is missing in this article. With all the artists involved, from several Asian backgrounds, working in many artistic media, how come the only artists you name here, are the non-Asians? I.e. the white guys (one guy, one gal)? I know this is not intentional, but in effect, it renders all the Taiwanese, Indonesian and other artists nameless and faceless, "anonymous", which is what so much art writing has done for centuries. That's a form of colonialism.

Because I know you do not intend this, I point it out, in the spirit of knowing how long it takes to change cultural practice. But we can do it, with wide-awake consciousness. So - either no artists are named -- or they all are. Shi bu shi? Ya, tidak?

Again, thanks for a great PR piece,
Astri Wright

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