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Hong Kong's performing arts groups and visual artists will join forces to stage the largest scale cultural programme organised outside of Hong Kong for Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo).
The artists will showcase their talent and creativity during the six-month Expo period in 26 programmes with over 70 performances, and four visual art exhibitions.
The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young, said the collaboration of Hong Kong performers and visual artists with cultural organisations, venues and museums in Shanghai also demonstrated the close co-operation between the two cities.
"It is indeed a rare opportunity that so many groups can join hands to participate in such a mega cultural exchange activity," said Mr Young today (April 8) at the press conference "Connect to Hong Kong - A Cultural Kaleidoscope for Expo 2010, Hong Kong's participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai".
The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung, said the cultural performances and the visual art exhibitions co-ordinated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) for the Shanghai Expo under the theme "Creativity¡EConnectivity¡EVibrance" reflected the diversity and creativity of Hong Kong artists.
"The variety of art forms from some of Hong Kong's most well-known and respected cultural talents, as well as the next generation of young and emerging stars, will highlight the uniqueness of Hong Kong's cultural scene and provide a cultural exchange platform for artists in Hong Kong and the Mainland and for the youth in the two places," Mrs Fung said.
Also present at the press conference were the Chairman of Hong Kong Arts Development Council, Mr Ma Fung-kwok, and the Chairman of LCSD's Programme and Development Committee and Art Form Panel on Festivals, Professor Lo King-man.
During Shanghai Expo, 24 arts groups of Hong Kong will showcase their talent in 26 programmes at not only the Shanghai Expo site but also prominent performing arts venues in Shanghai, including the Shanghai Grand Theatre, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Shanghai Theatre Academy and Shanghai Concert Hall.
Genres covered include Cantonese opera, Chinese and western music, dance, drama, opera, music theatre and multi-media performances.
The performing programmes are: "Rock Hard" by Yat Po Singers; "Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Concert"; "Summer Delights" by The Hong Kong Ballet; "Crossing Borders" and "Arts¡ETravel¡ETwo Cities" by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts School of Dance; "DELT - site-specific dance gala" and "Tales of Two Cities - Hong Kong¡EShanghai¡EEileen Chang" by City Contemporary Dance Company; "Qingming Riverside" by Hong Kong Dance Company; "Great Expectations" by Edward Lam Dance Theatre; "Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Treasures" by Hong Kong Arts Festival and the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong; "The Legend of Zhang Baozai" by Musica Viva and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Alumni Association; "The Liaisons" by Hong Kong Arts Festival and Fredric Mao Theatre Project; "Bank of Communications brings to you: Hong Kong Phil in Beethoven 9" by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra; "The Will to Build" (Revival Version) by Theatre du Pif; "Danny Yung Experimental Theatre: Flee by Night" by Zuni Icosahedron; "Swing for All" and "Contemporary Jazz featuring Ted Lo and Eugene Pao" by Hong Kong Fringe Club; "My China Heart" by Opera Hong Kong; "Generation Singer-Songwriters Concert" by Hong Kong Singer-Songwriters and "A Soldie's Story" by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.
In addition, cultural programmes involving young directors and youth artists also include "Beijing-Hongkong-Shanghai Young Directors' Showcase", and performances by the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Children and Juvenile Chinese Opera Troupe.
Two large-scale visual art exhibitions -"Legacy and Creations - Ink Art vs Ink Art" and "Legacy and Creations - Art vs Art" - are being jointly presented by Hong Kong Museum of Art and two leading museums in Shanghai.
The exhibitions will reflect the culture and lifestyle of Hong Kong people and complement the Expo theme of "Better City, Better Life".
"Legacy and Creations - Ink Art vs Ink Art" will run from July 16 to August 9 at the Shanghai Art Museum and charts the development of the new ink art movement and contemporary ink painting and calligraphy in Hong Kong.
It celebrates the re-vitalisation of the ink tradition and its evolution into a major force in global contemporary art through new techniques and approaches.
Featuring more than 40 works by Hong Kong artists, including Lui Shou-kwan, Wucius Wong, Leung Kui-ting, Liu Guo Song, Wilson Shieh, Ng Kwun-lun, Yip Man-yam, Ou Da-wei and Choi Kai-yan and others, the exhibition will depict the diversity of ink art by prominent masters as well as young talents.
Running from October 15 to November 12 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Shanghai, the "Legacy and Creations - Art vs Art" will feature about 20 works by Hong Kong artists including Lam Tung-pang, Chow Chun-fai, Hung Keung, Almond Chu, Stanley Wong and Pak Sheung-chuen.
Covering the works of multi-media, installation and painting, the exhibition showcases the value and identity of contemporary art in various media and reflects the special characteristics of Hong Kong, and looks into the city's future.
Information on the ticketing for performances and exhibitions will be available on Hong Kong's Shanghai Expo website at www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk .
Apart from the programmes co-ordinated by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Home Affairs Bureau are also organisers of cultural programmes during the Shanghai Expo period.
Shanghai Expo will be held from May 1 to October 31. More than 240 countries, cities and international organisations will participate in the event, which is expected to attract 70 million visitors from the Mainland and worldwide.
Ends/Thursday, April 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:09
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