The Festival month is here and we’re gearing up to deliver a host of fantastic events starting on 15 February and running until 30 April. This is the first reveal of our 2021 logo designed by the super talented Emilie Chen. Look out for it online and on social media!
But how do you present an arts festival when you can’t do live performances?
This question has been preoccupying us all for the last year. Here at CAN we are pioneering the use of digital technology to create art that’s original and relevant.
An-Ting Chang, director of Chinese Arts Now and the CAN Festival says: “People have suggested that I cancel this year’s CAN Festival but for me it is more important than ever to keep the Festival running. It is essential that we remember why we are here, that we carry on making art, and stay connected with the public and our community of artists.”
The full programme will be announced on the opening day but there are some events we can give you a sneak preview of now….
CHANG AND ENG AND ME (AND ME)
Throughout 2020 CAN curated a series of Digital Commissions and the final work, No.6 is Tobi-Poster Su’s film Chang and Eng and Me (and me) is a co-commission with New Earth Theatre. Using movement, puppetry and theatre, with sound by Nicola Chang, Tobi begins with the extraordinary story of the entwined lives of Chang and Eng Bunker, the original ‘Siamese twins’ to explore ideas of identity, privilege and siblinghood.
Born in Thailand of Chinese heritage, the twins made it big in the West in freakshows and exhibitions. Society’s lurid fascination with the strange and ‘other’ made them both a great living and severely limited their identities. Read more about their amazing life story here, the film is available to view from 17 February.
SNEAK PREVIEW: Tobi is running a special evening with a screening plus panel discussion and Q&A on 16 February at 7pm. It’s FREE but with limited capacity, so please book your place asap.
CAN x TWO TEMPLE PLACE
Gaming technology meets the arts as CAN creates an innovative 3D world to present an extraordinary exhibition and performances at Two Temple Place. Explore this digital site-specific exhibition to discover mesmerising works by artists Chloe Wing, Donald Shek, Jack Tan and Jasmin Kent-Rodgman, incorporating new music and spoken text.
Originally conceived as a live exhibition in this amazing Victorian mansion built by the Astor family, CAN x TWO TEMPLE PLACE has evolved into an exciting arts encounter, experienced in an original digital space. Created by Christine 挺欢 Urquhart, the exhibition uses the easy navigation of gaming with the content of an arts exhibition. Opens 19 February, more information coming soon.
We hope you’ll join us for the festival this year, celebrating the talent and ingenuity of the more than 60 BESEA artists.
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