Kaiwei's album turns one of the deadliest man-made disasters in Chinese history, the 1626 Tianqi Explosion, into a hybrid DJ and live set built from found sounds, text-to-speech and Y2K-era sonic cues. Mandarin narration by Fang Tseng, live visuals by Sam Hikari and hand-drawn animation by Nancy Hsiaowen Hu make it closer to a multimedia performance than a gig. If you like experimental electronic music with a story, this is a one-night-only find.
What to expect
MOCA's building on Centre Street, with doors an hour before the set and Trip Lonely opening. Kaiwei performs the album as a continuous audiovisual piece, running about 90 minutes in total.
Good to know
- MOCA is at 215 Centre Street, near the Canal St 6, J/Z, N/Q/R/W stops.
- Tickets are sold through Universe, with lower prices for seniors, students and members.
- The narration is in Mandarin, and the piece is built around sound and visuals.
- Doors open an hour before the performance.
- Arrive early to see the museum's lobby exhibits.
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Common questions
What is Wonggongchang Mega Explosive?
Kaiwei's second album, a ten-track song cycle about the 1626 Tianqi Explosion.
Who opens the show?
Trip Lonely, a Brooklyn-based Taiwanese fusion band.
