Co-presented with Asia Society and China Shanghai International Arts Festival

China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) come together for a second year of collaboration through multidisciplinary, music- focused emerging Chinese artists Xi Ban and Pi Huang Club.

Wrapped in an absurd and hyperbolic narrative, this live-scored film, Sever, revisits the ancient Chinese folktale of Diao Chan with accompaniment by the modern Chinese band Xi Ban. Mixing classical instrumentation with westernized form, Xi Ban create an intriguing interplay between traditional Chinese idioms and American pop culture references.

Drawing parallel lines between Qi-style Peking Opera and southern blues, Pi Huang Club pairs this ancient Chinese form with similarities in a distinctly American musical style.

Co-curated with Rachel Cooper