The Hong Kong Arts Centre proudly presents DJ Spooky: Rebirth of a Nation this October at the Shouson Theatre. DJ Spooky, who plays multiple roles as “a globally renowned DJ/VJ, composer, multimedia artist, writer and digital culture scholar”, is coming to Hong Kong in October along with his world-class performance Rebirth of a Nation, which has made great waves at London’s Tate Modern and IMAX, New York’s MoMa, Athens’ Acropolis, and many other significant arts venues. The coming shows, along with a DJ workshop, seminar and masterclass, will be held in September and October at the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
Rebirth of a Nation stands at the frontline of cinematic trends and was first commissioned by the Lincoln Center Festival (New York City, USA). This trendsetting “DJ mix applied to cinema” and “three-screen and surround-sound live remix” of one of the most influential masterpieces in film history, The Birth of a Nation (D.W.Griffith, 1915), will bring your whole body into a vibrant multi-sensory experience. In previous shows, Rebirth of a Nation has attracted audiences of more than a hundred thousand.
Its mastermind and performer, DJ Spooky, is not only a brilliant artist of image and music who has worked alongside top-notch international personalities including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Yoko Ono, Kronos Quartet and Steve Reich, he is also an active lecturer who has given speeches on digital remix culture at the prestigious European Graduate School and Harvard University. He’s also a proliferate scholar who has edited Rhythm Science, Sound Unbound and penned Book of Ice as well.
What kind of magice will come out from all these mixed elements? “When DJ / VJ culture was still in its infant stages, DJ Spooky had already integrated techniques such as cut-up, mix tape and even collage into his works. Rescoring black-and-white classics is one of his recent pursuits,” said veteran DJ/critic Dr. Wong Chi-chung. Featured in this world-class showcase is The Birth of a Nation, the first Hollywood blockbuster.Over ninety years since its original release, this classic - which centred around race issues and the glorification of the Ku Klux Klan during the American Civil War - is still a controversial masterpiece. “This is a call for everyone to experience, interact and look behind what’s being shown,” Chi-chung commented. He regards the African American DJ as a trendsetter of mash-up culture.
