Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) has long been dedicated
to pioneering inclusive arts development, in the hope of empowering people with disabilities to express themselves through artistic creation, unleash creative talent, and lead enriched lives. As one of the annual flagship initiatives by the ADAHK, ‘Cross All Borders’ proudly presents the multimedia music theatre production Sonic Topographies on 29 and 30 August 2026 at The Theatre, East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Swire Trust serves as the Association’s Principal Sponsor, with this music theatre production supported by Strategic Partner and Sponsor Lee Hysan Foundation and funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).
The multimedia music theatre production "Sonic Topographies," Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Led by Artistic Director Keith Lam, a renowned new media artist and recipient of the 2024 Artist of the Year Award from HKADC, the production brings together a dynamic troupe of local artists with disabilities, contemporary creators and dancers. Drawing inspiration from the lively atmosphere of a playground, the team incorporates whimsical play apparatus into the performance, seamlessly fusing music, dance, movements and new media art; transforming the stage into a massive, living musical instrument. Through the co-creation of flowing audiovisual and movement, the performers engage in a vibrant dialogue beyond languages, taking the audience on a multisensory immersive journey that transcends physical boundaries into a realm of artistic freedom.
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The multimedia music theatre production "Sonic Topographies," Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Artistic Director Keith Lam, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Music director and composer Chris Cheung, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
ADAHK Artist Yang Enhua, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Movement designer, contemporary dancer, and cross-media artist Kingsan Lo, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
ADAHK artist Olivia Chung, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Artistic Director Keith Lam, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Ms Grace Cheng, Vice Chairperson and Chairperson of the Programme Committee of ADAHK, said: ‘With our vision of “Arts are for Everyone,” ADAHK is committed to advocating arts development amongst people with disabilities, and has nurtured numerous outstanding artists over the years. We believe that everyone possesses limitless potential and talent for creativity. With Sonic Topographies, we hope to provide a platform where artists from diverse backgrounds and abilities can collaborate, grow their skills and excel together, fostering a truly inclusive society through the arts. In this landmark 40th anniversary year for ADAHK, this production marks a significant milestone in our mission of bringing inclusive art into the cultural mainstream. It also stands as a testament to years of nurturing creative talent, injecting fresh, diverse creative vitality into Hong Kong’s art scene, and building a precious, unique cultural asset.’
Cross–disciplinary artists collaborate to ignite new creative horizons through multimedia technology
By incorporating multimedia technologies into everyday play equipment such as slides and swings, Artistic Director Keith Lam and the creative team redefine the traditional limits of the stage. When performers engage with the installations through movement, the equipment functions as live musical instruments, transforming the stage set into a one-of-a-kind, ever–evolving soundscape in real time.
To further enrich the visual narratives, the team also drew inspiration from nine award-winning visual artworks from the previous editions of the ‘Cross All Borders: Hong Kong Competition of Showcasing New Visual Artists with Disabilities.’ They extracted unique visual elements and artistic motifs, weaving them into pulsating video projections. Spanning Chinese ink paintings of landscapes and animals, fanciful daily sketches, vibrant digital creations and intricate quilling art, these static artworks are brought to life through real-time computational manipulation by the visual artist onsite, gradually shifting, evolving, and taking on new forms across the stage, creating a fluid, vivid performance space.
Music director and composer Chris Cheung, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
In addition, Hong Kong composer and jazz pianist Chris Cheung takes the helm as Music Director, uniting a multigenre ensemble to craft a rich and multi-layered soundscape that blends Western and Chinese traditional music. Extending beyond the standard band setup of guitar, bass, drums, and piano, the production integrates electronic elements, highlighted by a live set from DJ Cyrus, the winner of the 2015 Hong Kong Pioneer DJ Quest and also a key member of artist Juno Mak’s band, adding an exploratory and playful atmosphere that echoes the core concept of the production. It also spotlights ADAHK artist Yang Enhua, an acclaimed huqin and ‘Dishui Nanyin’ performer. Demonstrating his erhu mastery through original compositions that combine folk music and traditional ‘Dishui Nanyin’ narratives, Yang navigates the intersection between acoustic instrumentation and electronic texture, uncovering new possibilities of cross-genre fusion for an uplifting music journey.
Set within a vibrant blend of music, dance, movement art and fluid audiovisuals, the performance invites the audience to awaken their senses together with the performers onstage, follow the rhythm while witnessing the artworks unfold as living entities, and fully immerse themselves in the world of inclusive art.
Keith Lam, Artistic Director of Sonic Topographies, said: ‘In daily life, playground structures may be static, yet they always evoke a sense of boundless vitality and imagination, which is the spirit I hope to bring into the performance. Within Sonic Topographies, there are no rigid standards of scale or distance. We seek to dissolve the boundaries between inclusive and contemporary art by expanding the visual imagination of past award winners beyond the canvas, transforming static imagery into a dynamic visual language through multimedia technology. This enables performers of diverse talents to interact on stage through their unique artistic perspectives. Movement, visuals, and sound are no longer separate elements; instead, they interact and co-create in real time, continuously responding to the live rhythm and energy of the space, where sound becomes visible, and the body becomes an instrument.’
ADAHK Artist Yang Enhua, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Yang Enhua, ADAHK artist and featured Huqin and ‘Dishui Nanyin’ performer in Sonic Topographies, added: ‘My background has been deeply rooted in traditional Chinese music. This production offers a fresh and inspiring opportunity to collaborate with artists across various genres and electronic styles. It has been a truly invigorating experience for me.’
Where motion meets imagination — breaking boundaries within art
Building on its visual and musical dimensions, Sonic Topographies weaves in physical theatre through the movement design and performance of professional contemporary dancer and cross-media artist Kingsan Lo. Lo takes the stage alongside ADAHK artist Olivia Chung, an accomplished wheelchair dancer who has represented Hong Kong in international competitions in Russia, Japan, South Korea, and France. Together, they transcend spoken language and physical boundaries, interacting in real time with light, sound, and space to deliver a fresh, multifaceted sensory experience.
Movement designer, contemporary dancer, and cross-media artist Kingsan Lo, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
ADAHK artist Olivia Chung, Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
Olivia Chung, ADAHK artist, dancer and movement actor, shared: ‘In Sonic Topographies, the wheelchair is no longer a limitation, but an integral part of how my body connects with the stage. Wheelchair dance typically demands strict routines and steps, but this movement-based approach has given me much greater freedom to dance in my most natural physical state alongside other performers. Without needing words, we converse through movement, truly embodying the spirit of breaking boundaries and creating freely through the arts.’
Photo source: Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong
About ‘Cross All Borders’
‘Cross All Borders’ is one of the ongoing, committed projects of Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong. This thematic arts festival is held every year alternating between performing arts and visual arts. It aims to uncover the great talents of budding artists with disabilities and encourage the pursuit of meaningful life through arts activities.
Attracting a total of over 10,000 artists and participants, ‘Cross All Borders’ has won an overwhelming response from budding artists with disabilities, as well as wide acclaim from the general public. With the support of other foundations and organisations, artists with disabilities who were discovered through Cross All Borders have achieved substantial accomplishments in their art field. Besides collaborating with local professionals, they also had opportunities to participate in overseas events and competitions, gaining experience to support their professional development.
About Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK)
Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong (ADAHK) has been established as a non-profit and charitable organisation since 1986. The Association is a member of the Access/VSA International Network 2026 and The Hong Kong Council of Social Service. With the vision of ‘Arts are for Everyone,’ ADAHK believes that everyone has the potential and talent for creativity and the right to enjoy the beauty and vitality of the arts. We are dedicated to providing holistic services to support the arts development amongst people with disabilities. We promote equal
opportunities for people with disabilities to access and excel in the arts, and advocate for an inclusive society through the arts.
