Missing links

Open to possibilities

Music for 9 calls attention to the abrupt and disjointed nature of our experience of the present-day world. "We're living in an extremely fragmented time. As much of our time is spent scrolling digital media, we normally see only parts of a thing," explains the artist. However, his aim is to create something constructive and meaningful by "connecting these fragments".

He chose the number 9 as a symbol of incompleteness, being one short of the perfect 10. "At the same time, by being incomplete, it suggests an openness to possibilities. So, in a sense, the number 9 resonates with the general nature of human existence."

Six digital screens, separated from and standing perpendicular to their light source, are laid out on the floor of the main exhibition room. "We separated the screens from their light source to create a new dimension, offering the audience a new perspective," GayBird remarks. Each of these screens displays a hand or foot in motion, visually representing the movements of the 10-minute composition specially created for the exhibition.

"I think the most authentic instrument a human being can use is their body," says the artist, explaining why he chose to present an atonal rendition of his composition, with the musical movements represented through gestures by percussionist Emily Cheng Mei-kwan and him. Another split digital screen placed atop a cage shows the back of GayBird's head as he is conducting an orchestra. Though the images of hand and foot making music remain anonymous, the composer-conductor is easily identified by his signature mushroom-cut hairstyle.