The Kites of Tainjin

THE USEFULNESS OF ART – The Kites Of Tainjin
by Adam Simmons

fortyfive downstairs, Flinders Lane, Melbourne Australia
26-29 July 2018

Adam Simmons and the Creative Music Ensemble
Special Guest: Wang Zheng-Ting Sheng (Chinese mouth organ)
With Paul Simmons, Samuel James Boon, Howard Cairns, Cara Taber, Niko Schauble, Rachaeldaisy

Dramaturgy: Sally Blackwood
Set Design: Rachaeldaisy
Costume design: Christine Crawshaw

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Adam Simmons appears for the fifth season (over 2 years) of his exciting project The Usefulness of Art which has been a brilliant journey through contemporary composition, influenced by music around the world. A joyful, totally immersive experience by one of Australia’s most versatile multi instrumentalists.

The Kites of Tianjin is a 60min work by Adam Simmons, inspired by the Chinese city’s renowned “Wei Kites”, created by Wei Yuantai (1872-1961). It will be the fifth and final project as part of a two-year series of large ensemble works presented under the banner of “The Usefulness of Art” (TUoA)

The work features Wang Zheng-Ting on sheng (Chinese mouth organ) as featured soloist with the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble, and set design by award winning quilter, Rachaeldaisy. The work explores ideas of breath, flight, colour and movement.

This project is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program.