Sonic Acts Biennial 2024: TRANCE

Somewhere between a rock concert, an underground rave, an immersive theatre production, and an otherworldly cinematic experiment, for TRANCE, visionary contemporary artist Tianzhuo Chen, the director of Asian Dope Boys, presents a synthesis of his work from the past decade. Taking place at the former church Paradiso, the 12-hour-long extravaganza includes a sprawling ensemble cast of international musicians and performers such as ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, Dis Fig, KIM KHAN, Ylva Falk, Kasimyn and Ican Harem (Gabber Modus Operandi).

Featuring Chen’s vibrant, spooky, tentacular, and lavish animations, the multidisciplinary performance incorporates live music, dance, installation, DJ sets, and audiovisual components, including an enormous sculpture of a micro-animal called a tardigrade suspended from the Paradiso ceiling. ​​​​Underneath the stained glass window, the floor will be covered in a layer of real grass, tropical plants, and water features, metaphorising the church into a living, breathing organism. Offering a remarkable return to the inner workings of the body, time and space, the stage becomes a symbiotic entity that allows an ecstatic assemblage to take place.

The full schedule of this 12-hour club spectacle will be released on 15 January on the Sonic Acts Biennial 2024 website.

Some warnings: nudity, strong language + filming and photography throughout the performance is expressly permitted.

The event is accessible for wheelchair users.

Photo: CG Watkins of ‘TRANCE’ by Tianzhuo Chen. Courtesy of Sonic Acts.