For the third year running, Pacific Place is hosting Art Basel Hong Kong’s sole offsite project for its Encounters series. This year, Park Court is home to Switzerland-based artist Monster Chetwynd’s delightful Lanternfly Ballet, which combines performance with a dynamic sculpture inspired by Hong Kong’s lantern-flies and woodlands.
The Style Sheet spoke to Monster, who lived on Lamma Island as a child, to learn more about her background and the multilayered work. The artist describes her process as choosing different mediums and materials that best communicate the idea for each work. These can include sculpture, installation and video, backed by research into the theme.
This shows in Lanternfly Ballet, which deftly combines installation and performance to communicate its theme. ‘I find it exciting to have an extra element,’ says Monster. ‘The dance is very important because the dancers and performers sort of transform into the lantern-flies — the way the body is controlled to imitate beating wings is very exciting to watch, and it brings the sculptures to life with an added layer.’
The work communicates on multiple levels, with the fantastical elements complemented by Monster’s research into the titular creatures. She hopes visitors are surprised and delighted by the work, and that they may recognise the creatures and feel better by absorbing the lantern-flies’ colour and energy. On a different level, she notes, some may want to learn more about the creatures and feel more connected to the local environment too.
But more than anything, the artist hopes that Lanternfly Ballet lifts the spirits of all who visit. ‘It’s meant to make a kind of fantastical, escapist atmosphere where you can lose yourself and forget about the mundane.’
Watch the video to hear about how Monster's early life in Hong Kong inspired the installation, how she conceived the Lanternfly Ballet to work with the space, and more.
Lanternfly Ballet is on display in Park Court, Level L1, Pacific Place, until 6 April. For information about our Arts Month happenings, see here.