Anne Imhof unveils 'House of Swans' at Tai Kwun Contemporary in Hong Kong on September 25. The exhibition, her first major solo in Asia, includes painting, installation, sculpture, video, and a ballet performance with Hong Kong Ballet. The collection explores the lore of the House of Swans, a fictional faction from her 2025 NYC performance 'DOOM.' Curated by Ying Kwok and Tiffany Leung, it features new works spanning oil paintings, bronze sculptures, sonic installations, and video.
The exhibition unfolds across three floors, focusing on 'charged encounters' that explore bodily presence, restriction, and authority. A ballet titled 'House of Swans' follows a heroine’s journey through a chaotic cityscape in an imagined future, featuring musicians and dancers from Hong Kong Ballet and American ballet dancer Devon Teuscher. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the ballet references classic ballets like Swan Lake and Giselle.
Imhof discusses her interest in ballet as a storytelling medium, critiquing its use by autocrats and reclaiming its narrative power. The exhibition runs from September 25, 2026, to January 3, 2027, with special performances on September 25 and 26, and additional performances scheduled throughout the show.