Shanghai/New York: Future Histories 2

Performance Space 122, Asia Society, and the 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, the music film, Sever revisits the ancient Chinese folktale of Diao Chan with live accompaniment by the modern Chinese band Xi Ban. Mixing classical instrumentation with westernized form, Xi Ban create an intriguing interplay between traditional idioms and pop culture references.

Drawing parallel lines between Qi-style Peking Opera and southern blues, Pi Huang Club matches the two main tones of this ancient performance with similarities in this distinctly American form.