星星 (Sing Sing)

星星 (Sing Sing) is an interactive experience where visual and sonic elements 'intersect' in creative, ephemeral arrangements determined collectively by the audience. Each star contains a short, looping musical phrase that can be activated by any audience member (via personal device), and we are encouraged to listen and create constellations of these phrases together. Each star continues to sound until someone deactivates it, and so the piece continually changes, morphs, and ‘sings’ forever. The visual aesthetic is that of an animated scrapbook made of colourful child-like handmade paintings. The soundscape echoes natural principles of rhythm and tempo based on breath cycles, walking paces, vocal calls of longing, twinkling chimes, resonating piano harmonies, and percussive found objects. The act of collective orchestration over time allows us to reflect on the small currents that individual actions imprint on the broader, evolving social tapestry.

About the Artist:

Germaine Liu (Hong Kong born, Cantonese-Chinese-Canadian) works and plays in multi-modalities. As a sound artist, percussionist, improvisor, and explorer of found objects, her work indulges in the permeability between touch / movement / sound, and their relationship to topography and circumstance.

As a composer, her interest is dedicated to creating scenarios for meaningful gatherings that investigate the dimensions of generosity within the scope of inclusivity, exclusivity and belonging. With desires to create collaborative joyful spaces, Germaine aims to celebrate interdependent collectivism in her work. Her latest curiosities in the embodiment of nuance, is urgently felt as a necessary approach to softly meet with fixity and categorization. Germaine’s latest work Suite May Sixteen for Imaginary Percussion Ensemble (with Joe Sorbara and Mark Zurawinski) feature a collection of idiophonic percussion pieces with visual/sonic images of objects coming to life.

As an installation artist, Germaine with her long-time partner/collaborator Mark Zurawinski, have premiered 3 multi-media and multi-sensorial interactive exhibits in autumn 2024: We Made This (With Love) at the Guelph Jazz Festival, 星星 (Sing Sing) Starfield at Nuit Blanche, and Hear Here, Bean Beings at Quiet Parade commissioned by the Blackwood Gallery. Germaine and Mark are honoured to share 星星 (Sing Sing) at Lumen Festival in Waterloo this September 2025.

Collaborator Acknowledgements:

- Germaine Liu - Artistic Direction, Composition, Paintings, Artwork, Installation

- Mark Zurawinski - Recording and Audio Production, Installation

- junctQín keyboard collective - Performance

- Christopher Willes - Artistic Consultation

- Jordan Wan - UX Designer

- Kirby Szeto - UI Developer

- ED Video – Projection Equipment Support

星星 (Sing Sing) was first presented at Nuit Blanche 2024 – Bridging Distance. The piece was originally commissioned by the junctQín keyboard collective, with support from the Canada Council for the Arts.