Lang(Lang)guage

Lang(Lang)guage investigates the role of the modern piano in contemporary Chinese society by sampling clips of Lang Lang, the celebrated Chinese concert pianist who achieved fame through his mastery of European classical music. While the instrument represents the western past, its skyrocketing popularity in Mainland China has made the piano a symbol of the “eastern future”. Lang Lang’s extensive influence has inspired millions of children to take up the piano resulting in unprecedented numbers of child piano protégés. What are the musical and cultural consequences of Chinese piano ownership and worship on such a mass scale?

Created by Remy Siu with Paul Paroczai, Natalie Tin Yin Gan, and Milton Lim
Piano patch created by Paul Paroczai
Performance by Natalie Tin Yin Gan
Direction and concept dramaturgy by Milton Lim
Video documentation of performance by Sepehr Samimi

Running time: Lang(Lang)guage is an interactive multimedia installation with a scheduled 15 minute special recital.

Curated as part of Club PuSh for the 2015 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival [Vancouver]
Curated as part of FUSE at the Vancouver Art Gallery for the 2015 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival [Vancouver]
Commissioned as part of Cinevolution Media Arts' 2014 Your Kontinent Festival [Richmond]