The Hearth: An Artist and An Acrobat

General

In this summer, The Hearth celebrates the beauty of ceramic arts and contemporary circus by the artists Sam Matthewman and Emily Loe, all the way from Australia, a thought-provoking experience that challenges traditional hierarchies between art form.

You will also be able to participate in the world of circus by joining the family juggling workshop.

"Artist / Acrobat" is a multidisciplinary art performance piece that challenges traditional distinctions between circus performance and sculptural installation art. Featuring ceramic sculptures by Sam Matthewman and the juggling and circus performance of Emily Loe, this show explores the historic connection between circus arts and ceramics and is a thought-provoking experience that will leave you entertained and inspired.

The Hearth: An Artist and An Acrobat Performance

The Hearth: An Artist and An Acrobat
Family Juggling Workshop

29.07.2023 (Sat) 3pm & 5pm

30.07.2023 (Sun) 3pm

Performer：Sam Matthewman, Emily Loe

Venue：F Hall Studio & Prison Yard

Remark: Part of the performance will be in English.

30.07.2023 (Sun) 11am - 12pm

Instructor: Sam Matthewman, Emily Loe, Jason Lee

Venue: F Hall Studio

Workshop rundown:

DIY juggling ball making workshop
Juggling games and practice

Price: $100 (including one session of workshop for one adult and one child aged 6 or above with juggling ball material)

Welcome pairs of a child and a parent to participate.

Language: English & Cantonese

Remark: Welcome pairs of a child and a parent to participate.

Biography

Sam Matthewman

Emily Loe

Jason Lee

Sam Matthewman is a queer visual artist, performer and producer based on Kaurna Land in South Australia. Their creative career was ignited within contemporary circus company Veritcal Insanity Circus and circus continues to be a significant aspect of their life and career. Through the use of sculptural and installation art they work predominantly with ceramic and textile materials, known for incorporating cast elbows of fellow acrobats.

Sam graduated in 2021 from the University of South Australia’s Bachelor of Contemporary Art. Since then, they have been bestowed multiple awards within two exhibitions in 2022, and will be returning from an academic residency at the prestigious British School at Rome for this performance. An Artist & An Acrobat is built upon their four years of Academic research into both Circus and Ceramics.

Em is an emerging circus artist specialising in bounce juggling and duo acrobatics, having just graduated in 2021 from the National Institute of Circus Arts. Before migrating to Melbourne to pursue acrobatics, Em boasted a committed and competitive gymnastics career from age seven back at home in NSW. She then represented Australia at the Mia International World Cup in Portugal. Girl knows how to move.

Her passion for movement and performance has grounded her artistic practice in circus arts, and recently performed with Sam Matthewman in their duo show, An Artist & An Acrobat and Na Djinang Circus' On The Land Of Which We Meet and Party Pooper with Wildhouse Circus.

Em is also a co-founder of the disability led company Get Well Circus. She is passionate about learning about accessibility in arts and developing her own practice, often making new digital, visual and auditory projects.

Jason Lee is the founder of More Than Juggle and is committed to promoting and experimentation in juggling performances. He innovates to thrill his audience, stimulating interest in juggling in surprising ways. Lee was a participant in the Tai Kwun Circus Plays 2022 Ting-koo-ki Mad Skills Battle.

Participate in arts delivery 2.0

Most recently, he curated “The Circus Gashapon Machine “ for the Tai Kwun Stepping Up.

About “The Hearth”

We believe everything in life can be an inspiration of arts, and everyone can unlock their artistic potential through participation and appreciation. By bringing people together to share a time and a space, performing arts can create bonding and memories that are unique and relevant to those on and off the stage.

“The Hearth” is a regular thematic programme to explore how performing arts can connect people from different communities and create synergy. By integrating music, dance, theatre, films, literature and more, each monthly programme is designed to look into how performing arts can nurture creativity, establish identity and care for wellbeing. These programmes are curated and led by creative and academic professionals across various sectors, presented in a range of performances, workshops, screenings, games, talks and more to encourage participation, evoke thinking and stimulate discussion around topics that concern us.

The Hearth: An Artist and An Acrobat

The Hearth: “the making of ME”