A Reflection on Artists, Patriots, Martyrs and Gods: Qu Yuan
Qu Yuan (c.340 – 278 BC), the patriotic statesman-poet, steadfastly refused to engage in the treachery and deceit of his fellow officials, even in the midst of political turmoil. After speaking out through his art, he ultimately turned to suicide to express his allegiance to the king and protest against the corruption surrounding him. He is revered for his artistry and his unsurpassed loyalty, not only to his king, but to his ideals.
The tragic story of this man of letters, together with the deaths of thousands of other martyrs, artists and intellectuals under Chinese imperial rule, presents a truly cautionary tale as relevant today as ever.
The Legend and The Hero, an epic dance theatre production by CCDC Artistic Director Willy Tsao, brings together a creative team of highly acclaimed artists. Following in the vein of his productions The Conqueror, Warrior Lanling and Dao‧Extraordinaire, Tsao reincarnates Qu Yuan on stage as he reinterprets his story for the 21st Century. Drawing upon passages from Qu’s classic poems such as Li Sao (The Lament), Asking Heaven and Nine Songs, The Legend and The Hero is an elegy for intellectuals and artists who die bitter and misunderstood in corrupt times.
