Journeyman’s China

Far from his raunchy collections of Sydney’s gay past, William Yang’s latest show, China, takes audiences on a serene journey to the land of his ancestors.

Yang has combined monologue, digital slide projection and live music to showcase his four trips to China that began with a 1989 trip to the south in search of his family roots but led to further curiosity.

It’s a quirky story, Yang said. I saw all the big ones, the Imperial Palace, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, the Tomb of Warriors, but it isn’t really about those sorts of icons.

My best experiences were in remote areas like inner Mongolia. While the Temple of Heaven is important, my strength is that I got into people’s houses -“ a tourist in China wouldn’t have got that access.

Yang’s most recent trip in 2005 was to climb a sacred mountain, where cosmic energy is most confined in the traditional Chinese belief of feng shui.

It’s not like climbing a mountain in the west, where you conquer the mountain and reach the top, Yang said. It’s a ritual you perform, stop at the temples on the path, pray and light incense.

While Yang’s journey reached some of the most spectacular and remote corners of country, he also took time to appreciate where the average person lived.

You can go to the most ordinary town in China and there’ll be the most wonderful visual things there. It’s such a big country, a fascinating environment to be in.

China will run from 20 to 24 March at Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh. Bookings at moshtix.com.au or 9209 4614.