Where to put the mind?

Martial arts are inscribed on the body, in art, documents and objects. They become an archive of a practice characterized by rhythms, movement, breath and concentration.

In their research, composer Eugene Birman and librettist and stage director Katharina Schmitt focus on the origins and contemporary practice of kung fu and search for connections to song. In “ARCHE”, this knowledge is placed in a musically dramatic context and made freely accessible to the audience as an installation.

Composition: EUGENE BIRMAN
Libretto und stage direction: KATHARINA SCHMITT
Media dramaturgy: CHRISTOPH WIRTH
Coding: LEOSON CHEONG
Kungfu Performers: ALBERT LAW, KELVIN MAK, PAN LINGJUAN

Soundtrack Performance: ERATO SOLOISTS (ANNA PIROLI, GIULIA BEATINI, MASSIMO LOMBARDI)

Soundtrack Production and Design: ANANDI BHATTACHARYA
Creative advisor: JEFFREY SHAW

Lighting: VÁCLAV HRUŠKA

A Voice/Soprano: OLGA SIEMIENCZUK

Co-production by Münchener Biennale and Hong Kong Baptist University, with the support of Innovation and Technology Commission, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic China.
Production commissioned by the City of Munich for the Münchener Biennale.