FROM HONG KONG WITH LOVE
An ode to exchange and cross cultural beauty
In this chapter, you’ll need to trust your instinct and wander in a place full of grace :
An East meets West jewel where elegant tigers flirted with beauties in lace.
As the haze fills the room, the gongs will sound and Jia Fung will reveal,
Uncovering her eccentric world that sits between classic and thrill.
The host has spoken and masked you will need to be. Some cheeky feng shui ?
Who knows… No rules apply when you dance between whispers and calligraphy.
Please join this night of glory and together write History.
About
Infos
Surprise Surprise | Haw Par Mansion, Tai Hang, Hong Kong | 2022
Role
IP Creation | Concept Creation | Creative Direction | Talent Sourcing & Management | Experience Production
Services
Creative Direction | Concept Development | Content integration | Music Curation | Entertainment Curation | Immersive Theatric Development | Production
Collaborators
Eunice Tse | Vox Vanguard | Matthew Tosca | Yuen Ho Sum | Arthur Bray | Dj rork | Rie Kiriiaka | Ivan Sit | Andrew Bull | Dj Kulu
Partners: Moët & Chandon Hennessy | Codigo | Haw Par Mansion
The Objective
In a moment when Hong Kong was under the asphyxia of the Covid restriction, it became natural for Surprise Surprise to produce a unique experiences that would bring back light on Hong Kong’s Heart : it’s history & energy.
The stunning Haw Par Mansion was also given back to the Hong Kong government, and this special Surprise Surprise was produced as the unofficial closing party of a heritage site.
CANTONESE
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HISTORICAL
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CHEEKY
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GLAMOROUS
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ECLECTIC
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CANTONESE • HISTORICAL • CHEEKY • GLAMOROUS • ECLECTIC •
The Inspiration
Saturday, 12th November 2022: It was a night that saw Hong Kong’s spirit transform into an explosive expression of music, arts, performance, and dance. The pulse and myths of the underworld behind Haw Par Mansion came alive the moment a mysterious figure dressed in contemporary yet edgy qipao took centrestage under the chandelier with No hay Problema – Pink Martini in the background. The main performance blended multiple facets from the Hong Kong culture blended in one show. Sensuality met exoticism, tradition encountered madness. Among the crowd flushed in red mood light, there were sights of Chinese opera headdresses, mahjong prints, King-of-Kowloon-inspired calligraphy brushed on faces, form fitting cheongsams with floral accents, and a flowing cape emblazoned with “With Love”.
The Creation
Guests were in awe and wonder as surprises lined the corridors. After receiving laisees with instructions to spend it at a IYKYK (if-you-know-you-know) accessories station, visitors were greeted by servers with beverages served in melamine rinsing cups. Hong Kong’s most influential and innovative DJ Rork roused the crowds with his signature mashup of funk, disco, jazz and deephouse. Passing through walls lined with paper umbrellas, a sequined dragon-head sculpture and secret rooms veiled by glittering curtains, the audience in fancy-dress gradually morphed into main actors of an alternate reality, jumping between the past and present of the beautiful chaos that is Hong Kong.
The time and space warp of From Hong Kong with Love is dreamt up by Hugo Belloy, the brainchild behind Surprise Surprise, alongside Chief of Operations Alexis Offe. After decades of creating the city’s most unforgettable experiential projects such as LACMA events at Art Basel and theatrical parties at Dragon-I, Belloy co-founded Surprise Surprise with a singular vision to create experiential art that transforms people into joint contributors of a beautiful piece of history made at a special time and place.
Currently at its fifth chapter in Hong Kong, Surprise Surprise sets a theme realized by a collaboration of multidisciplinary artists. The current chapter pays homage to the city after mass departures following years of political and economic tumult. “We need the world to see Hong Kong is still the epicentre of creativity in Asia,” said Belloy, and local artists enthusiastically jumped on board. Music acts were performed by the city’s leading names including Ivan Sit, Andrew Bull (DJ El Toro), and DJ Kulu. Rising music influencers Arthur Bray and Rie Kiriiaka were invited to showcase current talents that continue to move the culture needle in Hong Kong. Performance acts were created by Belloy himself in partnership with London-based conductor and director Matthew Tosca of Vox Vanguard.
