Samson Young wins inaugural BMW Art Journey Prize
Samson Young, a Hong Kong-based composer and artist, has won the inaugural BMW Art Journey Prize, awarded in partnership with Art Basel. His project explores the relationship between bells and warfare, prompting him to travel to various countries, including Myanmar, Kenya, and the UK. Young aims to create an extensive archive of bell sounds, referred to as 'bell sound sketches,' alongside crafting new bronze bells and composing a special piece for bell-ringers and an orchestra. His inspiration stems from the historical repurposing of bells into cannons during conflicts and their return to peaceful instruments thereafter.
Key facts
- Samson Young is a Hong Kong-based composer and artist.
- He won the inaugural BMW Art Journey Prize.
- The prize is a collaboration with Art Basel.
- His project explores the relationship between bells and conflict.
- He will travel to Myanmar, Kenya, Austria, Cologne, Morocco, Sicily, South Korea, Australia, the UK, and the US.
- He will notate and record sounds of historically resonant bells.
- The project will produce an archive of bell recordings, bell sound sketches, new bronze bells, and a musical composition.
- Young notes that cannons and bells are made of the same materials, with bells being melted for war and recast from weapons in peace.
Entities
Artists
- Samson Young
Institutions
- BMW
- Art Basel
Locations
- Hong Kong
- Myanmar
- Kenya
- Austria
- Cologne
- Morocco
- Sicily
- South Korea
- Australia
- UK
- US