Yang Fudong: Sparrow on the Sea

Co-commissioned by M+ and Art Basel, and presented by UBS, Yang Fudong’s new work Sparrow on the Sea is described by the artist as a site-specific ‘architectural film’. Shot in Hong Kong, the black-and-white film weaves together scenes from seaside villages and nocturnal city streets. By referencing visual motifs and textures from classic Hong Kong cinema of the 1970s to the 1990s, Yang aims to evoke a sense of nostalgic familiarity. He invites the audience to fully immerse themselves in the ambient soundscapes of the city, which serve as a soundtrack to his moving images. The work is also intended to function as a short poem, blending moments from Hong Kong’s past and present to offer a glimpse into an unpredictable future.