Hymn of Angelology
Muse Motion | Performer Studio (Hong Kong)

Hymn of Angelology

21 - 22 February 2012, 8pm
Esplanade Theatre Studio
$30 / $19

www.musemotion.org

In Hymn of Angelology, choreographers/performers Allen Lam and Tony Wong invite audiences to react from their own experiences, religious backgrounds and daily practices, and through that, explore how coincidence is an integral thread of life. The unique choreography integrates soft and explosive movement with martial arts as choreographic reference, text and visual imagery. Their encounter and their personal stories form a journey that further connects many people’s life stories of joy, laughter, conflict, loss and love.

The story of the Tower of Babel recorded in the Bible explains the origins of various languages. Traces of similar stories have also been found in different cultures including in Nepal and India. Verbal and body languages have evolved through the principles of resonance and dissonance, deference and difference. When artists play in duo or trio, when one encounters the other, they start to evolve. When Allen and Tony meet on stage, viewers will experience a magical art-making process.

(Performed in Cantonese with English surtitles.)

“…this is a funny and touching reflection on friendships and is skillfully performed. Lam has no problems handling dialogue and although Wong is not a dancer he is extremely fit and moves well.”
- Natasha Rogai, South China Morning Post

Relationship to Art & Faith

All art is faith.

Hymn of Angelology is a work to signify the faithful friendship between two performers who decided to attempt a duet after knowing each other for years. Two dancers perform ritualistic movements in contrast. Their bodies are thinking, their interactions reinforce each other’s faith in artistic pursuits.

Will the duet enrich their friendship after all? Or will it reduce them to merely partners on stage? It’s a matter of faith, a matter of art.

Art emerges through the practice of symbols and forms. And every moment of practice will alter the meaning of the symbols and forms a bit, until real changes arise in body and mind. Similarly, or in a heavier sense, daily religious practice changes one’s soul when the believer finds the symbols and forms are enlivened by them.

Dancers in primeval societies called upon the gods and sang and danced with masks and other magical props. It was the time when art resided in religion. As civilisation progressed, especially in our modern time, art became an independent discipline for practice. The relation between prophets and followers became that of artists and art consumers. A spiritual claim to the arts is increasingly difficult for us to make.

All publicity and production shots are by Jesse Clockwork