Mathias Woo's Theatrical Masterpiece: The Architecture of the City

Unveiling a Unique Blend of Architecture, Music, and Performance

Mathias Woo's "The Architecture of the City" is a theatre performance that draws its inspiration from Aldo Rossi's seminal work of the same name. Rossi's assertion that "the city is the locus of the collective memory" resonated with Woo, leading him to adopt bamboo scaffolding, a common architectural element in Hong Kong, as a key feature of his stage design. This multi-media architecture music performance transforms the collective memory of Hong Kong into a captivating audio-visual experience.

The performance stands out for its stark contrast between old and present-day Hong Kong. The interaction between the bamboo structure, images, music, stage, and lighting, coupled with the use of recycled materials in costume design, creates an alternative space that reflects on the city as a living organism in constant flux.

The stage design revolves around the bamboo scaffolding, a testament to the renowned Chinese architectural technique. Unlike modern architecture, which relies heavily on sketches and plans, bamboo scaffolders are professionally trained to build installations based solely on their size. The bamboo structure on stage interacts with LED lights and live audio-interactive digital images, resulting in an ever-changing scene for the audience.

The performance took place at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, a venue that can seat 1734 people. The stage featured a 5m x 5m x 5m bamboo structure built on a revolving wagon. Continuously changing photos, soundwaves, and quotes from Aldo Rossi were projected using a Christie®Boxer 2K30, a 30,000 lumen, 60Hz, 3DLP® projector.

Sound and music are key elements of the performance, interacting with and bringing out the essence of Hong Kong. The show's main melodies consist of unique sounds of Hong Kong, live music improvisation, and chanting by performers. The band focuses on depicting a city's noise with their music, interacting with text and city photos to produce a city soundscape unique to Hong Kong.

The Architecture of the City was first planned in early 2016 and debuted at the 5th Architecture is Art Festival in 2017. It had a rerun in 2018 and is set to make an appearance at Festival Hong Kong 2019 - A Cultural Extravaganza@Shanghai in Shanghai. The performance was awarded Silver in A' Performing Arts, Stage, Style and Scenery Design Award in 2019, a testament to its creativity and innovation.