K11 Art Foundation and Palais de Tokyo successfully presented their inaugural co-produced exhibition in Paris, Inside China, on October 19th ahead of FIAC.
Film director Agnès Vardain front of赵要 Zhao Yao's artwork
For the whole week, our Shanghai artist Cheng Ran 程然 had huge video projections on the façade of the Palais de Tokyo, and inside the Orbe New York space.
Live improvisation by 李剑鸿 Li Jianhong (founder of 2pi Records) on guitar, 王子衡 Wang Ziheng on sax, 李青 Li Qing (ex Carsickcar) on percussions, and 韦玮 Wei Wei a.k.a. VAVABOND on laptop.
"Beating blindly about", as my grandfather says. Here's a rojak mess of things that got stuck under my soles on my last Asia tour:
Singapura, doorstep to Cathay, Malaya and the isles of Sunda, pinched sphincter of the Pacific and Indian oceans, air-conned launderette of sovereign wealths, trendy buffet of listed commodities. It was host to the APEC 2009 summit, where they donned local garb designed by Wykidd Song.
Former Japanese Prime Minister 小泉 純一郎 Junichiro Koizumi is set to provide the voice for Ultraman King in the film "大怪獣バトル ウルトラ銀河伝説" ("Mega Monster Battle: Ultra Galaxy Legend"), the latest installment of the Ultramanseries. "We considered many people who might be able to play this crucial role," said a producer at Tsuburaya Productions. "But we though that the only person who could really have the presence of Ultraman King, who brings the clan together, would be Mr Koizumi, who once led the country."
Was blown away by the fight scenes in "殺破狼" ("S.P.L."), starring 任达华 Simon Yam doing the usual Yam this time with impending brain tumour, a magnificently scary 洪金宝Sammo Hung, master 甄子丹 Donnie Yen as a spiffy gay icon, and an amazing 吴京 Wu Jing. An unbearably stupid subplot involving Father's Day, but jaw-dropping gong fu, and top cinematography by Lam "Runaway Pistol" Yah Chuen. See Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen's final fight here, going through the span of gong fu techniques, kicks, punches, close, flying kicks, projections, floor etc.
The Asian rock I hear beats out any of the little current Western rock I hear, which mostly sounds to me like homages and reedits of legends past. However I don't care for Asian rock that copycats Western rock, which cancels out most of MTV Asia and Channel V. There's so much good stuff out there, many of them doing well with constant touring and live shows, where audiences go mad.
From Taiwan I recently discovered 董事長 合唱團 The Chairman, in the delightful Fokkien rock tradition, 四分衛Backquarter, and young Vera Queen. Unfortunately since right about Luan Tan's space rock disbanded at the turn of the century, legendary Taiwan rock has mostly sold out.
In Singapore there's Francis Frightful's infamous O.P., so named because the garment didn't allow them to be called Opposition Party. And ex Padres lead singer Joe Ng's new band Local Bar Kid, covering old local tunes. Melvyn and Little from fFurious introduced me to the rocking sounds of Force Vomit. They came around to judge the Lomo Wonderland exhibition at the Esplanade, and chose the winners by pointing a finger at random on a board with their eyes closed. Now that's class. There is also Muon (hey Ginette!), Objection Overule, Typewriter (hey Chang Kang!), and The Boredphucks (now reincarnated as The Suns):
Thailand has a garth of amazing rock. Futon's Thai songs are infectious and brilliant. Their cover of "I wanna be your dog" is drop dead. Redtwenty is a young band whose sound is unique and hauting. The amazing Apartmentkhunpa has their own world too, acid funk rock on ether. There's of course the incredible Rik Vachirapirum
Bading Ang Dating (Lauryn Hill's "Doo wop - That thing") - Francis Magalona (R.I.P.) (Francis Magalona Kiko - piling awit ni Francis M), The Philippines
Mustafa, Mustafa - A.R. Rahman (Kadhal Desam OST, 1996), India
Padam...padam... - コシミハル Miharu Koshi (Chanson Solaire, 1995), Japan 卡門 (Carmen, "La Habanera") - 葛蘭 Ge Lan (Grace Chang) (from the amazing film 野玫瑰之恋 The Wild, Wild Rose), China
海、セックスそして太陽 Sea, sex and sun - 夏木マリ Natsuki Mari (13 Chansons, 1998), Japan
Live improvisation by 李剑鸿 Li Jianhong (founder of 2pi Records) on guitar, 王子衡 Wang Ziheng on sax, 李青 Li Qing (ex Carsickcar) on percussions, and 韦玮 Wei Wei a.k.a. VAVABOND on laptop. 
