Information

trust & confusion is about the conversation of certainty and chance; the transformative power of bodies, intangibles, and ephemeral encounters; music and magic; and the luck of being alive, with all the concerns that come with it, be they human or not. Evolving, accumulating, the exhibition unfolds over several episodes, on site and online, from now to the end of the year.

trust & confusion turns the white cube space into a fluctuating environment that hosts activities and sensations; it transforms this space in favour of movements, interactions, and deep listening for ears and bodies. A new relationship of you and I, along with new associations and experiences, shares this temporality. There are several visible performances taking place as you enter, and several invisible ones, mostly new commissions from an intergenerational, international, and cosmopolitan group of artists.

First sketching out the contours of the exhibition in 2019, we imagined creating a ground for our community—polarised and exhausted by the turmoil of that year—to come together and rest. A new communal intimacy was called for: quieter, more playful, body-centred, and tactile, safe from abuse and diminishment, a healing space. A constellation of live works of art exploring the individual and collective body through conversations, games, gatherings, and imagination was conceived.

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, the pandemic swept in and everything was re-adapted for a situation even more solitary and vulnerable. Next came the epiphany that what had ensued was not just a global crisis: life itself has changed, numbingly quickly—like watching time-acceleration videos depicting 6 billion years of evolution in 6 minutes. Life was made a subject of rules more numerous and ever-changing than most of us can remember, while our daily environment threw up new protocols through which most of us will keep navigating. Our adaptability has continued evolving since. Indeed, this project has entailed constant reactions, multiple modifications, untold scenarios—which a vast multitude of people have similarly faced in their own fields, who, like everyone, expect the advent of a transition, a rupture. We trust in a more embracing world to come, as we trust in that alignment of chance, intentions, and effort in the striving for the better.

However confused we may at times feel, we trust that we will arrive at a safer place. This feeling keeps us very much alive. No point in speaking of either certainty or absolute chance, as the surface that a dice falls onto is never perfectly smooth or straight, nor is the dice itself. In our case, “trust” and “confusion” have joined the journey as companions rather than as opposites: like sweet and sour in taste, like inhaling and exhaling, like dance movements, like fleeting, impermanent conditions. At this point of the journey we do not know if the last episode of the project will take place as conceived; much will depend on changing fortunes as well as the thrust of the present episode, as its feedback may manifest in future.

The transformative power of everyday practices remains at the centre of what we can do together at this stage, and for that matter at any moment of life: looking with the artists, collecting, repurposing, betting, recasting, playing, wondering, and realising. Our conversations with artists immersed in their studios in different corners of the world have generated tools for us to understand the surroundings, the non-binary realities, as the more pertinent truths lying in ambivalence and complexity.

The exhibition is an invitation to observe how things emerge in relation to each other— sounds, identities, gestures, smells— and to be a part of it, being surprised and giving attention to your inner landscape while a spectacle is taking place around you. An invitation to a most sentimental belief: to trust that the hands and arms you decide to fall into will hold and sustain you.

As you move along, there is a chance that you might be caught by the sounds of birds and humans conversing, two or three life retrospectives of previously unpublished photographic works, a short splash of dance, a posture reminiscent of a public sculpture in Hong Kong, melodies sung by a chorus of tone-deaf singers, a sound sculpture morphing into a theatre prop, a molecule striking a new olfactory possibility, an open rehearsal in public, foam mattresses transmitting the sound of one’s favourite radio, a tree so obsessively protected that it is nowhere to be seen, a visual letter speaking of virtual existence and climate change, among others.

There is a chance you will find a secret garden.

Observing nature's cycles and the importance of rituals, which anchor our beings and ancestries, the exhibition space is devised in the alignment of day and night, with a brief sunset room in between. Whereas artworks would grow and evolve in the day room, a solo or duo presentation would debut in the night room for each episode. Changes would take place after each full moon, when the tides are the deepest and the forest the nosiest. Some artists’ contributions will remain for months but in fresh configurations; others will appear in changing roles with the unfolding of time. As tribute to the bare human voice as a most vibrant and direct form of communication, a weekly release of voices by artists, writers, poets, and choreographers is made available on www.trusting.hk, where you also find the calendar of the moon to guide you through the coming episodes.

Xue Tan and Raimundas Malašauskas

Curators: Xue Tan, Raimundas Malašauskas
Associate Curator: Tom Engels
Assistant Curators: Louiza Ho, Erin Li

Head of Art: Tobias Berger

Graphic Design: Julie Peeters
Editor of voices: Tom Engels
Editor of views: Julie Peeters
Website Design and Development : Asger Behncke Jacobsen
Chinese Typesetting: Chiachi Chao
Custom Typeface: Bold Decisions

Booklet Text: Tom Engels
Editor: Daniel Szehin Ho
Copyediting: Yiu Sheungyee, David Chan
Translation: Yue-Jin Ho, Cheong Ming, A. Fung

Performers: Susan Andersson, Marah Arcilla, Eglė Agnė Benkunskytė, Amy Chan, Chan Shun Chun Natasha, Chan Wai Lok, Brian Cheng, Jacky It It Cheung, Rhyn Cheung, Sylvie Cox, Max Michael Dahlqvist Fuchs, Marie Gailey, Inti Guerrero, Mia Karlberg, Steve Katona, Tadas Kavaliauskas, Jarius King, Ivanhoe Lam, Ellie Law Ching Sum, Alysha Lee, Mickey Lee, Leung Hoi Nga Livy, Leung Tin-chak, Carman Li Ka Man, Sudhee Liao, Gunilla Linton, David Liu, Nancy Luk, Trista Ma Ka Yue, Eva Nordqvist, Ming Pak, Jethro Pioquinto, Jovilė Piragiūtė, Aadityakrishna Sathish, Rose-Marie Q Schönherr, So Yan Ting Esther, Tang Wai Ying Crystal, Alexandra Vusir, Rebecca Wong Pik Kei, Connie.Y, Yang Hao, Harriet Yeung, Gia Yu, Boing Yuen Hau Wing, Ida Griffiths Zee

A heartfelt thank you to the support of Stephen Cheng, Nicola Chu, Mimi and Chris Gradel, Alan Lau as well as an anonymous friend for making the Tino Sehgal projects possible.

Rehearsals of This Variation are graciously hosted by Mimi Brown.

Dancers for This Variation by Tino Sehgal: Marah Arcilla, Niko Cheung, Rhyn Cheung, Sammie Cheung, Kiu Chow, Sylvie Cox, Karina Curlewis, Descha Daemgen, Kenny Ho, Louise Hojer, Monsta Kei, Jarius King, Bobby Lam, Benjamin Law, Stephanie Lee, Kaya Lo, Luen Mo Strangers, Wei Ming Pak, Chris Scherer, Lokin Spark, Suen Nam, Jade Szeto, Kae Wong, Harriet Yeung, Sukirabbit Yip

Participants for These Associations by Tino Sehgal: Shane Aspegren, Zari Aspegren, Chan Hiu Ying Janet, Chan Ho Yin Helen, Maria Chan, Chan Mei Kuen Rita, Sharine Chan, Sharon Chan, Susanna Chan, Chan Wan Chee Michelle, Wendy Chan, Chan Xiyong Andrew, Char Hoi Yan Chacha, Dickens Cheng, Joanne Cheuk, Angel Cheung, Cheung Chi Ho, Cheung Chi Ling Dephanie, Cheung Chun Man, Cheung Ka Wai Cindy, Terry Chiu, Andrew Chong, Windsor Chow, Andrea Chu, Chu Lok Yan Chris, Chu Man Nga Mia, Chuk Yin Man Edwin, Jill Angel Chun, Chung Sin Yu Fish, Orly Elias Herman Ferraz, Lulubean Fong, Jenny Fung, Joanna Fung, Fung Put Samuel, Gao Hongjie, Nicolas Gellon, Roxane Gil, Zoe Gutierrez, Caroline Ha Thuc, Ho Chi Wing, Louiza Ho, Ho Tsz Long Lucy, Ho Yim Yan Yannes, Edie Hu, Lorraine Hui, Venus S M Hui, Ami Hwong, Iaci Lomonaco, Dennis Jason Vidar Isip, King So Chun Kimmy, Annie Kong, Elsa Kong, Lisa Kong, Mandy Kong, Kwok Hoi Ying Jessie, Pamela Kwok, Kwong Sug Ying Suie, Lai Ching Lam Eunice, Jasper Lai, Daiyuk Lam Judy, HoHo Lam, Jaffa Lam, Lam Ka Ting, Lam Kar Yee Joey, Lam Kin Shun, Lam Yiu Hung Eric, Dickson Lau, Jennifer Blossom Lau, Joey Lau, Law Chi Yan Daniel, Ellie Law, Lee Chun Hin Ryan, Lee Ho Wai Benny, Joy Lee, Komatsu Lee On Sang Ami, Amy Leung, Leung Kam Hang, Ray Leung, Leung Suet Yin Jamie, Leung Yee Sin Artemis, Yanyee Lim, Susan Limbu, Liu Ka Hei Alvina, Lo Chi Hoi Lettie, Lo Wing Ki, Dannio Lui, Jade Lui, ManIp, Mok Loy Yuen, Astrid Mong, Chiharu Mukudai, Joseph Mulligan, Ng Cheuk Kei, Jeff Ng, Sybil Ng, Ng Wing Sun Vincent, Or Wai Nam Jophy, Bram Overbeeke, Pierre Palluet, Pang Man, Pang Sze Yin Mida, Polly Pi Ni, Raimondo Romani, Emi Saito, Shan Hao Xian Harry, Thomas Shek, Siu Ji Chin Jovita, Zoe Siu, Alex So, Logan Justin So, So Yuk Cheung, Vincent Suen, Eva Sze, Catherine Tai, Xue Tan, Tang Tsz Fung Charlie, Tang Wai Ying Crystal, Puiyi Tang, Elieen Tsang, Flora Tsang, Isabelle Tsang, Lilian Tsang, Milo Tse, Vicky Tse, Tse Wai Sze, Alberto Gerosa Volontè, Wan Lan, Wan Yiu Ping, Wei Ka Ting Klementine, Angelina Wong, Arthur Wong, Cam Wong, Fan Wong, Wong Kai Wing Chris, Louise Wong, Wong Man Ching Sky, Raymond Wong, Sean Wong, William Wong, Wong Yeun Yu Becky, Wu Chi Fu Sanecca, Human Wu, Wu Shu Wing Arnold, Kyle Yau, One-K Yau, Yeung Lai Ping Apple, Wing Kin Yeung Ricky, Flora Yiu, Yiu Yuen Ping Vesa, Vicky Yu, Yuen An Tung Ariel, Yuen Hau Wing Boing, Ida Griffiths Zee

The exhibition would not be possible without all artists, as well as Marcia Acita, Lauren Cornell, Descha Daemgen, Tom Eccles, Louise Hojer, Amanda Lo, Iaci Lomonaco, Elena Narbutaite, Mark Pearson, Alice Rensy, Chris Scherer, Chrisann Verges

Special thanks to: Association Le Kwatt, Au Ho Yin, Nick Bastis, BEAU Architects, Diana Campbell Betancourt, Angela Brophy, Vincent Cavaroc, Theodora Chan, Gintaras Didžiapetris, Direction Régionale des Affaires Culturelles d’Ile-de-France, Christopher D'Amelio, Empty Gallery, Alix Eynaudi, The Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation, Michelle Fung Shuk Ha, James Ginzburg, Fanny Herserant, Nayo Higashide, Hugo Jeuffrault, Kwan Sheung Chi, Van Kwok, Alexander Lau, Lau Sze Ting, Pierre Leguillon, Monique Leong, Li Qi, Brittany Margaritis, Maggy Pang, Daniela Perez, Carlota Pérez-Jofre, Polly Ni Pi, Igor Porte, Renny Pritikin, Wren Roland-Dodge, Viktorija Rybakova, Belle Santos, Studio Pan Daijing, Studio Tarek Atoui, Studio Yuko Mohri, Things That Move Ltd., Valerio Tricoli, Watt Studio, Hanns Lennart Wiesner, Samantha Wolf, Leo Xu

The exhibition and its contents do not reflect the views or opinions of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust or Tai Kwun.