A composer, musician, and hardware engineer specializing in the manufacture of new musical instruments, Byungjun Kwon’s recent practice focuses on the production of what he calls “mechanical theater.” These choreographed performances encompass music, performance, and art, and are characterized by their innovative use of such stage devices as fog screens, facial projection mapping, finger lasers, synthesizers, hybrid pianos, and theatrical lighting.
This new work takes its title from the concept of self-discovery and enlightenment as described in the ancient Taoist text The Secret of the Golden Flower. At the core of the artist’s interpretation of the myth are thirteen shamans who mediate between heaven and earth, translating the words of the gods into messages that can be understood by humans, and vice versa. As the inventors of alphabets, their rituals release uncertainty, ambiguity, and supernatural belief into the world.
