TY  - VIDEO
AU  - James Shea
AU  - Arda Collins
AU  - Dorothy Tse
TI  - Prairie Lights Reading
JO  - Academy of Language and Culture (LAC)
Y1  - 2022
DA  - 2022/06/24
PB  - Cassyni
UR  - https://cassyni.com/events/6Vic1qxWX7vK1arvNeRCk5
Y2  - 2026/04/19
AB  - This abstract summarizes a seminar featuring poetry readings by Arda Collins from her collection *Star Lake*, and by James Shea and Dorothy Tse presenting their co-translation, *Moving a Stone, Selected Poems of Yam Gong*. The seminar primarily focused on the distinctive poetry of Yam Gong, a self-taught Hong Kong poet (b. 1949), whose selected works span over four decades. His unique poetic approach incorporates Cantonese, including local slang, and integrates diverse linguistic influences such as biblical texts, classical Chinese, and English song lyrics.The selection of Yam Gong's poems explored a spectrum of human experience. "Daily Life" delves into childhood illness and the Cantonese folk ritual *hamgang* for soul retrieval. "And so you look at festival lights along the street" examines urban alienation, transient joy, and societal perceptions of happiness, contrasting public festivity with personal introspection. Philosophical inquiries into existence, separation, and the interplay of the finite and infinite appear in "Impromptu." "Salt of the Salterfish Shell" offers a poignant portrayal of Hong Kong's working-class life, highlighting dashed hopes and the struggle for recognition. Further explorations in "Deep river" address themes of life, death, silence, and the human voice, while "Meditation" draws on a French opera to discuss love, peace, and the search for meaning. The reading concluded with "Performance art for May," which considers artistic transformation, the enduring nature of art, and the complexities of understanding and forgetfulness. Yam Gong's poetry thus offers a rich commentary on Hong Kong culture, personal introspection, and universal human conditions through its unique linguistic and thematic tapestry.
ER  -