Being an “outsider” usually bears associations of being excluded, of not belonging, and of not feeling very good about it. But the experience of being an outsider can also be incredibly meaningful, humbling, and even exhilarating, as I discovered through attending Gapu Ŋupan at the Asia TOPA festival 2025. A weaving together of Yolŋu songlinesContinue reading “Gapu Ŋupan”
Tag Archives: Asia TOPA
Kagami
To capture the essence of an artist’s humanity and creative work, to preserve a form of it, and to present it to audiences as an experience of the artist himself, live in concert, years after the artist’s passing, is a mixed reality miracle that would have been unfathomable even a single generation ago. Kagami, aContinue reading “Kagami”
SAIGON
“This is how we tell stories in Vietnam – with lots of tears.” Paris, 1996. The play opens in a Vietnamese restaurant run by Marie Antoinette and her niece Lam. The restaurant has a warm, homely vibe, and is clearly loved by the regular clientele who frequent the spot for the interactions with each otherContinue reading “SAIGON”
Samsara
A dancer (Hu Shenyuan) takes centre stage, his lithe body guided by an atmospheric soundscape into movements of breathtaking fluidity. His limbs and torso are delicately lit, allowing our eyes to soak in the full impact of his movements, isolating different parts of his body from one moment to the next. At the end ofContinue reading “Samsara”
The Winter’s Tale
Hong Kong leader Leontes has a falling out with his old friend, the Australian politician Polixenes, over suspicions of his involvement with Leontes’ wife, Hermione. Jealous and unrestrained, Leontes goes on a bridge-burning frenzy – alienating friends, deserting his newborn, and even causing the death of his innocent wife. He ends up falling into aContinue reading “The Winter’s Tale”
Abida Parveen
Four musicians sit cross-legged on the floor of the stage for the entirety of the concert. The lead performer, a singer in her 60s, sings songs of love, wisdom, and experience. Her lyrics are inspired by the poetry of old Sufi saints, her music and her thoughts are all addressed to Allah, the divine. ThereContinue reading “Abida Parveen”
Hades Fading (Hades Memudar)
The world as we know it has ended, the human race is extinct. Devastation has extended beyond this world into the next: Hades, the home of the dead, is fading, along with all its residents. After all, how can stories survive without human minds for them to live in? Hades Fading is a bilingual productionContinue reading “Hades Fading (Hades Memudar)”
Meeting Point Series: Hand to Earth
Meeting Point Series: Hand to Earth was a musical collaboration between Sunny Kim, Daniel Wilfred and Peter Knight presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Australian Art Ochestra as part of Asia TOPA 2020. The show brought together a unique selection of multicultural talent, musical styles and traditions to create an entrancing sound. Korean jazz vocalistContinue reading “Meeting Point Series: Hand to Earth”
Jaya Berged 