Samson Young: Orchestrations

Para Site presents, Orchestrations – a solo exhibition by Samson Young that looks at the modalities of “orchestra-making” in various communities of Hong Kong. The exhibition consists of a selection of existing works and new commissions. It is the culmination of a year-long musicological research on the history of orchestras by Young in conversation with curator Qinyi Lim of Para Site and musicologist Giorgio Biancorosso.

The exhibition draws from Young’s training as a composer, his understanding of the politics behind the Western musical notation system, and his view of orchestras as formed collectives. Through music making, orchestras are invested in both the formal act of performing music and the informal act of creating harmony. Interested in the slippages that can occur in the use of “orchestra” as a word, Young’s presentation questions the structures that govern the way we experience music and the audiences it constructs. In addition, the accompanying publication elaborates on the possible methodologies that can be used to build these temporary communities.