Piano Magic

Song-Ming Ang’s Piano Magic (b. 1980, Singapore) shows the simple but magical ways that music activates social and material worlds. In his work, Ang captures music in the widest sense of the term by looking at its history and practices around the world. Ang is particularly inspired by experimental music from the 20^th century that value improvisation, audience collaboration, and playing the whole instrument, not just how it’s traditionally played.

For Backwards Bach (2014), Ang taught himself to play the harpsichord and memorized Johann Sebastian Bach’s C Major Prelude from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier.  For the film, the artist plays the piece in one take, and then plays it backwards in the second; the two takes are interwoven in the final work. Parts and Labour (2011) documents the artist’s four months spent in a piano workshop learning to repair a disused piano. After retying strings, checking keys, and mending various mechanical parts, Ang returns the piano to good working order.

Organized by Melanie Kress, High Line Art Associate Curator.

On April 6, we hosted an Artist talk with Song-Ming Ang and High Line Art Associate Curator Melanie Kress.