"In search of palm leaves” Part One: book sharing & live music performance ( Inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Fragrant Palm Leaves” )Hong Kong Arts Centre

The city is full of forgotten symbols and streets, secret corners and stories. Take a conscious walk with Scentory around Wanchai and immerse yourself in an urban dialogue that fuses the written word, music and theatre after dark. A programme created by Scentory, we are collaborating with multi-disciplinary artists to guide you through the city with naamyam (a local narrative singing tradition in Cantonese resembling classical poetry) and ambient music inspired by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Fragrant Palm Leaves”.

As the first event of the “In Search of Palm Leaves” trilogy, our book sharing and music performance investigate our relationship with the city and the roots of mindful living. In this session, urbanist Sampson Wong will share his personal view on urban living and mindfulness, tying it back to Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Fragrant Palm Leaves: Journals 1962-1966” and the concept behind the trilogy. Naamyam artist The Gong Strikes One will reinterpret the book in the style of voice and ballads along with contemporary musician Olivier Cong’s music.

“In Search of Palm Leaves” Part Two and Part Three will be presented next year and will take you onto the streets of Wanchai with serendipitous happenings. “In Search of Palm Leaves” is inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Fragrant Palm Leaves”, published by Parallax Press.