Many people have heard of the “Tao Te Ching,” but how many have actually read this classic full of Taoist philosophical thoughts? This kind of ancient text often intimidates many people due to its complex language. However, recently, Hu Enwei, the artistic director of the InN Theatre, took inspiration from the “Tao Te Ching” to create a set of Art Tech theater “The Way of Fashion,” which combines music, calligraphy, motion capture technology, and digital puppets, presenting a novel and unconventional interpretation of the possibilities of technology, trends, and ancient texts on stage!
“The Way of Fashion,” inspired by the first chapter of the “Tao Te Ching” which states “The Way that is speakable is not the constant Way,” uses the character “Tao” to present an electronic fashion show. This performance utilizes motion capture technology and digital puppets to transform actors into projected dolls, allowing for endless costume changes, blending reality and virtuality, creating interaction between humans and technology. With the addition of projection technology and immersive sound, calligraphy elements are incorporated into the projection, bringing the “Tao Te Ching” to life.
To interpret this fashion show, Hong Kong fashion designer Lu Sheng created 9 tops and 9 bottoms in black, white, and gray tones, blending his understanding of the “Tao Te Ching” with meticulous tailoring, especially paired with projection fabrics to complement the clothing with light and shadow.
This immersive theater performance provides the audience with a pleasant auditory experience. Music director Yu Yiyao and Chen Haofeng collected 81 different sounds of water, blending them into the music of the performance to evoke the multiple sensory responses to the “water” elements found throughout the “Tao Te Ching.”
This performance combines the essence of fashion and “Dao” with ever-changing developments, showcasing the interaction between humans and technology, it is definitely a completely new theatrical way! Director Hu shares, “Art is something you have to see to understand. Audiences may receive a rich experiential feeling, or be shocked by fashion concepts, or reflect on what our relationship with fashion is.”
The theater will be screening at the Hong Kong Cultural Center from November 25 to 27, and tickets are now on sale. If you want to know what possibilities can emerge between technology, fashion, ancient books, and performing arts, you may consider buying tickets to see it in person!
Learn more: The Tao of Fashion
