We asked Museum of Human Emotion’s choreographers to answer a few questions from a personal point of view.
Here are Chan Wai Lok’s answers.
. What is your favourite word in your mother tongue? Why? What does it mean?
靈 It can means soul and also efficacious. For Chinese characters, they are usually formulated by a group of words. For this word, the upper part is 雨 (it means rain), the middle part is 口口口 ( it means three mouths), and the bottom part is 巫 (it means wizard). Something funny popped up then: A wizard whispers and then rain comes.
. Is there a word in your mother tongue that is untranslatable in English to describe a particular emotion that you would like to share?
黯然. While I am not sure if there are any advanced English words to describe what it means, but these two Chinese characters represent a very mixed feeling and also body conditions. If it is translated to English, it may take some combination of words for delivering the exact meaning.
. Could you share a memory of a time where you were overwhelmed by a particular emotion while dancing or in front of a dance piece? What happened?
I once watched a drag show and I observed a lot of self-empowerment and self-identity work. I feel like so powerful and glad that they empower themselves as what they are and they are doing. The moments are overwhelming and blessed.. What puts you in motion these days?
. What puts you in motion these days?
No time to die.
. Can you describe your most memorable place and how you spend (or spent) your time in the place?
Memories shift along with time. In a particular time, at a particular place, I recollect some important memories, that may sometimes be forgotten, from what I am experiencing.
. How would you describe the dance of the city you live in?
It’s like Thursday. There is no Monday Blue, but looking forward to Friday Fiesta. But it’s still Thursday now (seems endlessly).
Best,
Wai Lok
Picture – The lonesome changing room, Installation by Chan Wai Lap
