London’s Southbank Centre has announced a new cultural festival series, ESEA Encounters, dedicated to showcasing contemporary art and culture from East and Southeast Asia, as well as the diaspora.
It will run from 17-20 July, featuring a special headline concert from Japanese music legend and Yellow Magic Orchestra founder Haruomi Hosono, as well as a modern-day reinterpretation of Chinese folk story Ye Xian.
Elsewhere, Chinese artist Tianzhuo Chen will present his 12-hour long TRANCE production alongside his Asian Dope Boys collective, which blends immersive theatre and rave music.
The series will also feature a day of literary celebrations curated by ESEA Lit Fest, which will include a conversation between writer Elaine Castillo and video game producer John Lau about love and romance in a time of digital technology, while novelist Tash Aw will discuss masculinity and family with poet Will Harris.
Across the weekend (19-20 July), there will be a pop-up Yokimono Japanese summer market in the Southbank Centre’s foyers, which will sell ceramics, vintage kimonos, food, books and more.
Mark Ball, Artistic Director at the Southbank Centre said: “This is an insight into the work of artists from East and Southeast Asia, and illuminates the preoccupations and ideas that are driving new artistic forms through a plethora of events. This is an open programme welcoming anyone of any age and background to be inspired by the span of creativity in this major cultural hub of the world.”
For more information and tickets for ESEA Encounters, visit the Southbank Centre’s website.
Zahra Onsori is a freelance journalist. Follow her on Instagram.
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