In collaboration with the Bard College Conservatory of Music, New York, and M+, Hong Kong, this creative exchange project aims to explore the aesthetic commonality and discover the innovative potential of Ink Art and New Music. Through lectures, mentorships, commissions, and performances, this multi-phase series hopes to connect creative, knowledgeable, and curious minds and encourage meaningful conversations and new compositions.

Phase one of the project was commenced in September 2021 with four virtual lectures, conducted in a masterclass style, on composing for mixed ensembles inspired by ink art. Dr. Lesley Ma (M+, Hong Kong), Dr. Yeung-ping Chen (South China Normal University), Prof. Chan Hing-yan (HKU), and Dr. Yiwen Shen (The Tianjin Juilliard School) each delivered a lecture to their mentees, the four outstanding composition students selected from Bard and HKU.

Phase two was a two-day conference titled Ink and Sound: a Conference on Chinese Music and Visual Arts, held at the Bard Conservatory in the U.S. in April 2022. Inspired by the Ink Art Collection of M+ Museum, the new compositions by the selected students and their mentors were premiered by musicians of the Bard Conservatory during the conference.

In Phase three, these seven new works for mixed Chinese and Western instruments will receive their Asian Premiere in Hong Kong by the aspiring young talents of Ensemble Traversée. Images of the select artworks will be digitally projected to enhance the audience’s experience with ink and sound. We welcome you to join us for this project finale and open your mind to a novel, cross-genre, cross-cultural perspective!

全新系列《水墨藝術與新音樂》由美國巴德音樂學院、M+博物館、香港大學音樂系與繆思樂季共同籌劃，是一個跨領域及跨文化創意教育項目。匯聚作曲家、學者、藝術家、作曲系學生、及學生樂團，歡迎大家參與一系列講座、工作坊、學術會議、及首演音樂會，一起探索水墨藝術和現代音樂的美學異同，開拓欣賞中西藝術的視野。

首階段於2021年9月展開，四場網上講座請來M+水墨策展人馬唯中博士、華南師範大學陳仰平博士、香港大學音樂系陳慶恩教授，以及天津茱莉亞學院沈逸文博士主講，指導四位選自美國巴德音樂學院和香港大學音樂系的作曲學生，以水墨畫為靈感，為中西混合室內樂譜出新作。

第二階段的研討會於2022年4月在美國巴德音樂學院舉行，作曲學生及導師以水墨畫為靈感的多首新作由巴德音樂學院中西混合室內樂團進行首演。

第三階段於九月舉行﹐多首新作品將登陸香港大學作亞洲首演。 七首為中西混合室內樂而作的樂曲皆取材自香港M+博物館的水墨館藏﹐並由Ensemble Traversée 的一眾年輕亞洲樂手現場演出。屆時﹐各幅賦予作曲家靈感的水墨畫亦會於音樂會現場投影﹐讓觀眾同時欣賞新音樂和當代水墨藝術﹐開拓視聽新維度。誠邀你出席這次亞洲首演音樂會﹐見證這跨地域、跨媒介藝術交流的完滿成果。