“MIRROR” Action Ink Art × Improvised Music
Venue: BankART Station, Yokohama
Mirror’s funding from The Cultural Development Fund of Macao, invited to join the YPAM(Yokohama International Performinf Arts Meeting) which is a platform where performing arts professionals from various places of the world exchange through performance and meeting programs to gain information, inspiration and networks for the creation, dissemination and vitalization of the performing arts. www. ypam.jp.
Artist Cindy Ng has engaged in a profound exploration of ink art over the years, skillfully navigating different fields and media, providing unique interpretations and expressions of the essence of ink art. Mirror - 24 Relationships is another of her cross-media creations, originating from a commissioned work in 2014 aimed at softening the cold medical environment of a hospital, which opened her path towards artistic healing. This project is an artistic practice that involves interactive ink art imagery, integrating elements of performance art, literary installation, art therapy, and relational aesthetics. The Mirror at YPAM Fringe will be condensed into 8 relationships, presented in two live performances, each showcasing four relationship works. In the two weeks prior to the performance, Cindy will engage in one-on-one interactions with eight participants, creating eight unique relationships. The artist will document these precious moments through documentary installation based on the traces of their interactions, and on the day of the performance, she will improvise ink art in live. Two musicians, Yaya Lam and Bobo Loi, will also improvise in sync, blending their music with the ink image. This personalized interactive performance will offer the audience an immersive new art experience.
Phase 1: Establishing Relationships
For the performance to take shape, each of the 8 participants were required to complete one of the following relational connections with Cindy after registration before the show:
1. Do nothing. See you at the show.
2. Be friend on Facebook.
3. Say “good morning” to you 3 days in a row.
4. Say “good night” to you 3 days in a row.
5. Share some memories in recent years.
6. Share a place to daze.
7. Meet at Yokohama Station.
8. Enjoy noodle together.
9. Meet at a church.
10. Meet at Yokohama Art Museum.
11. Meet at a Hospital.
12. Accompany you to anywhere you want.
An Open Letter to all the Yokohama audience after the Phase 1 and before the show. (summary of the original letter)
To the 9th Audience:
I write these words from the Mirror– 8 Relationships art project in Yokohama, where the late autumn sun gilds ginkgo leaves into floating gold foil. In this light, I almost glimpse Sakai Hōitsu’s Folding Screen of Cherry and Maple unfurling across the twilight—such seasons always grant artists passage through time and space.
This iteration explores language’s fragile edges: we navigated imperfect dialogues through translation apps, only to discover that nods and smiles built a purer grammar of connection. Thank you for becoming the 9th witness to this experiment where ink art dance with music.
May we all find our coordinates in time amid Yokohama’s falling leaves.
Cindy Ng
December 2nd, 2024
The above is the painting of Sakai Hōitsu’s Folding Screen of Cherry and the below is the scenery of early December when I was working of the project.
"Establishing Relationships": Documentation of 2 cases belong 8 participates
The documentary installation of the dairy of Cindy and 8 stories notebook outside of the performance area.
