The Works：Theatre group “Rooftop Productions, Caleb Fung@Lumenvisum & in the studio: WIndpipe Chines

Rooftops, particularly those in old buildings or Tong Lau have long played an important role in Hong Kong’s culture. In the past they were used for schools, as sites of illicit residential huts, as well as venues to simply hang out, barbeque, or dry laundry. The ubiquity and versatility of Hong Kong’s low-rise rooftops provided the inspiration for two young theatre practitioners to name their own theatre group “Rooftop Productions”.

Some of Hong Kong’s banyan trees, at over a century old, are older than most of its buildings. Some, planted in masonry walls, have helped to strengthen structures and prevent landslides since the 19th century. Caleb Fung combines traditional and innovative techniques of photography to record some of these so-called stonewall trees, incorporating technology such as photogrammetry and augmented reality. You can see his work at Lumenvisum until the end of this month.

Founded in 2003, The Windpipe Chinese Music Ensemble focuses on musical genres and the repertoire of the Southern China Cantonese, Chaozhou and Hakka traditions.
The ensemble performs sizhu music, a term that literally means “silk and bamboo”, and that describes the materials use to make traditional Chinese string and wind instruments in the Jiangnan region. They are with me now to tell us more about an upcoming concert highlighting music from Guangxi and Guangdong through two legendary characters: martial arts master Wong Fei-hung and Guangxi folk singer, Liu Sanjie or “Third Sister Liu”.