Overview
Audio-visual expert Wu Ziying has curated six beloved documentaries, inviting everyone to watch films and discuss art together over three consecutive Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
This series is dedicated to art-related documentaries, offering a unique opportunity to peek into artists' creative processes, inner emotions, and daily lives. Through their unique perspectives and practices, these films often open up different worldviews and foster meaningful dialogue with society. Selected from the library's collection, the documentaries feature a fascinating cast of characters: a street fashion photography veteran, a mysterious street artist, a female percussionist with severe hearing impairment, a rock-loving contemporary artist, an elderly couple of art collectors, and the 'First Lady of Modern Dance.' Through their compelling stories, we hope more people can experience how art enriches life, and discover that the library is a wonderful place to appreciate the wonders of art.
Event Details
- Date & Time: August 31–September 1, September 7–8, September 14–15, 2013 (Three consecutive weekends)
- Screenings daily from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
- Location: 3rd Floor Multi-function Hall, Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, No. 3 Largo de Santo Agostinho.
Screening Schedule & Film Details
August 31 (Saturday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Bill Cunningham New York
- Format: DVD
- Country: USA & France
- Duration: 84 minutes
- Year: 2010
- Language: English with Chinese subtitles
- Synopsis: Follow the life of Bill Cunningham, an 80-year-old veteran photographer for The New York Times, who has been obsessed with street photography since the 1960s. His keen lens captures the latest street fashion trends, earning him deep respect in the fashion world, including from icon Anna Wintour. Yet, this important figure lives a surprisingly modest life in a small studio, cycling around the city to take photos. For him, nothing matters but the freedom to capture what's fresh.
- Awards: Best Documentary at Sydney Film Festival, Nantucket Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
September 1 (Sunday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Exit Through the Gift Shop
- Format: DVD
- Country: USA & UK
- Duration: 87 minutes
- Year: 2010
- Language: English with Chinese subtitles
- Synopsis: Directed by the elusive British graffiti artist Banksy, this film documents French immigrant Thierry Guetta's transformation from an obsessive filmer of street artists into a rising graffiti star himself, even designing a cover for Madonna. While some question if it's an elaborate mockumentary, the film offers sharp commentary on the absurdities and speculation within the contemporary art market.
- Awards: Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary, nominated for Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
September 7 (Saturday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Touch the Sound: A Sound Journey with Evelyn Glennie
- Format: DVD
- Country: Germany & UK
- Duration: 99 minutes
- Year: 2004
- Language: English with Chinese subtitles
- Synopsis: Despite becoming profoundly deaf at age twelve, Scottish musician Evelyn Glennie did not give up her passion for music, instead forging a path as a percussionist and becoming an internationally renowned soloist. The film focuses less on her grand concert performances and more on her journey exploring sound with musicians from diverse backgrounds. The director's capture of everyday sounds makes 'sound' the true protagonist of this film.
- Awards: 2004 British BFATA Best Documentary, Golden Dove Award at Leipzig DOK Festival, Locarno Film Festival Critics' Week Award.
September 8 (Sunday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Traveling with Yoshitomo Nara
- Format: DVD
- Country: Japan
- Duration: 93 minutes
- Year: 2007
- Language: Japanese with Chinese subtitles
- Synopsis: This film unveils the world of famous contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara, known for his 'big-eyed girl' paintings. Through the lens of director Kōji Sakabe and narration by Aoi Miyazaki, viewers get an intimate look at Nara's private creative process, his world tour with design team graf, and the triumphant 2006 'A to Z' retrospective in his hometown, Aomori.
September 14 (Saturday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Herb & Dorothy
- Format: DVD
- Country: USA
- Duration: 87 minutes
- Year: 2008
- Language: English
- Synopsis: In the 1960s, postal clerk Herbert Vogel and librarian Dorothy Vogel began collecting contemporary art on a modest budget, using only Dorothy's salary to live and Herb's to buy art. Over thirty years, their tiny apartment amassed over 2,000 works, some now worth millions. In 1992, they donated their entire collection to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., so the public could share in their lifelong passion. This is a story of art and love.
- Awards: Best Documentary at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
September 15 (Sunday) 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Dancing Dreams – Teenagers Perform
- Format: DVD
- Country: Germany
- Duration: 93 minutes
- Year: 2010
- Language: German with Chinese subtitles
- Synopsis: A documentary about dance, youth, and transformation. It faithfully records dozens of teenagers with no prior dance experience finding confidence and physical resonance under the guidance of Pina Bausch, the 'First Lady of Modern Dance.' This film captures Bausch's final, brilliant masterclass before her passing in 2009.
Admission & Contact
- Admission: Free. Seats are limited.
- Enquiries & Reservations:
