The Works：Brutalism & in the studio: Wuji Ensemble's "Boundless Groove: A Sonic Journey in Nature"

Sleek and glassy high-rises may dominate Hong Kong’s cityscape, particularly in the business districts, but the city does also have examples of other styles, including the school of architecture known as Brutalism. Brutalist architecture emphasises function over decoration. It does not hide the materials that it is made of. The term “Brutalism” itself was coined by architects Alison and Peter Smithson in 1953 to describe a house in England in which bare concrete, brick and wood were emphasised. It was publicised further by architectural historian Reyner Banham. A recent exhibition highlights some examples of Brutalist Architecture in Hong Kong.

The annual Jockey Club New Arts Power art festival is back. The five-month event includes six live in-venue performances and more than 100 community events. One of those live performances “Boundless Groove: A Sonic Journey in Nature” features the locally acclaimed Wuji Ensemble. Known for mixing Chinese and Western instruments to create innovative music since 2003, the ensemble ventured into jazz in 2019. Their upcoming concert will take the audience into nature with jazz and Chinese music. Earlier this week, they came to our studio to give us a preview.