Scholarly discussion of the music of John Cage.

[Andrew Culver <>]

Happy New Ears All

Last month a new museum in Hong Kong (M+) ran a rare installation of John’s sound installation Writings Through the Essay: In the Duty of Civil Disobedience. I designed the exhibition and composed lighting (36 loudspeakers, 24 lights). The audio tracks never coincided the same way twice. There were new light cues generated every day, nice and slow.

The results were beautiful, people liked, so much so that the museum acquisition committee voted to buy the work as one of only four permissible owners worldwide. Bremen bought the European version in the late 90’s — the other versions are still looking for a permanent home — someone in the Americas needs to step up. 

The democracy context in Hong Kong was potent. The space was an former cattle depot, complete with rings and troughs, suggesting the poor at work. This turned out to be a more theatrical rendition than the others I was involved in. Less modernism, more humanity. I think it’s the times.

Info here: http://www.westkowloon.hk/en/johncageessay

Andrew Culver