Festival Director’s 2020 Message

Photo by Joie Koo

CONTACT 2020’s Message from Festival Director, Kuik Swee Boon

(translated from original Chinese text below)

No one could have anticipated the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19 this year. Just like global warming, environmental pollution and other global social and political crises, the viral epidemic is yet another predicament and calamity in human history where we directly experience the fragility of life. It further compels us to reflect on cultural hegemony that governs the relationship between humans and nature, human to human or even amongst organisations and countries, and yet it also reminds us that the clock is ticking.

Because we live in such an interconnected and borderless world, my perspective is that this is a problem for all of mankind to solve together. It makes more sense to worry and experience fear, anxiety and anger together, rather than regard it as the responsibility of an individual, organisation, governing body or country. After all, the situation has only proven that national borders and human boundaries are expendable against this ‘terrorist’ virus, as it will probably be with other man-made or natural forces, whether tangible or intangible.

Is it then attainable for us to enliven, democratise and open up possibilities of cross-border international cooperation within the next decade?

The recent happenings have ignited my artistic impulse and I am more eager and hopeful than ever that the arts can play a role in influencing and pushing the boundaries of the status quo.

Photo by Shaun Ho

åƒ?是去年的地ç?ƒå?‡æ¸©ï¼ŒçŽ¯å¢ƒæ±¡æŸ“以å?Šä¼—多的环ç?ƒç¤¾ä¼šæ”¿æ²»å?±æœºä¸€æ ·ï¼ŒCOVID-19 似乎让我们对人类的困境与生命的脆弱性å?ˆæœ‰äº†ä¸€ç§?更直接的体验。当它让我们å??æ€?自然与人类，人类与人类之间的强势霸æ?ƒç›¸å¤„æ–¹å¼?时，似乎也æ??醒ç?€æˆ‘们时间ä¸?多了。

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跨国界å?ˆä½œï¼Œæœ‰æ²¡æœ‰å?¯èƒ½åœ¨ä¸‹ä¸€ä¸ªå??年具有更积æž?开放的定义？

因为这些事，我也比以往任何时候更渴望得到广泛的艺术影�力，有��冲动想�去改�一些现狀。

Kuik Swee Boon
Festival Director