An ‘OFF’ contemporary performing arts festival in the margin of HKPAX, uniting the local scene and featuring exciting emerging artists from the greater Bay Area and a selection of artists from Brussels/Belgium in a vibrant dialogue platform.

(general website: www.clapclaplab.com )

Introduction, mission and activities

ClapClapLab is a relatively new transient and nomadic non-profit organisation in Hong Kong and Brussels (Belgium) initiating, supporting and promoting projects and artists that are re-searching and reshaping the idea of performance and how through performance they can create a constant dialogue with our changing society and culture at large.

The artists we work with come from diverse backgrounds both geographically and artistically but share a non-conformist, non-compromising and no-nonsense approach to making contemporary performing arts.  Yet, more often than not, their work also breaks out of the box of what we call performance, with links to both other art forms and various paradigms in society.

As producers we like to work with both emerging and more established artists.  Every collaboration with an artist is different and tailor made to his/her needs and wishes at this time in their career.

As a nomadic organisation based in two cities on two continents, international exchange is at the base of its mission.  We believe intercultural dialogue and exchange is at the core of artistic advancement and our core strength is also our ability to weave partnerships and connections throughout the international contemporary arts community.

Aside from artists support we also initiate our own projects (usually involving the artists we work with and in partnership with various peer organisations), ranging from residency projects, artist exchanges, presentation platforms, curated events, talks,… Our 

Most recently, between 2021-2023, we organised annual collaborative artist retreats in Bruges (Belgium) in the margin of Reiefestival, Decemberdance festival and Knooppuntenfestival. In 2021 we also assisted in the remote international programme of danceless complex of Unlock Dancing Plaza (HK). In 2020 ClapClapLab organised ‘clapclapap’, a programme with some of the artists we represent during APAP in New York. 

Artists currently represented/supported by ClapClapLab:  

Hong Kong/China: KT Yau Ka Hei, Wai Lok Chan, Er Gao, Guo Rui/Wu Hui, Amy Chan

International: Mette Ingvartsen (SWE), Annie Dorsen (USA), Benjamin Khan (FR), Frank & Robbert (BE), Christian Bakalov (BUL), Jeremy Wade (DE). 

Structure and organisation

ClapClapLab is incorporated both in Brussels (since 2018) and in Hong Kong (since 2022).  In Hong Kong it has been embedded as a non-profit operation inside the structure of PluginAsia Limited, a company limited by shares with as goal the initiation of co-operation projects between Asia and the west since October 2022.  ClapClapLab operates within this structure, but with a fully separate mission, operation and accounting.  The operation of ClapClapLab and as such also “PLAY OFF” is fully not for profit.  In Brussels ClapClapLab is incorporated as “You’re Up! vzw”, a not-for-profit company under Belgian law.  Structurally, ClapClapClap in Brussels and Hong Kong are working independently, with split projects and budgets.  The “PLAY OFF” platform will be embedded and operated from our Hong Kong structure. ClapClapLab/PluginAsia Limited has not yet received any funding by HKADC.

Board of directors and organisation members

PluginAsia Limited has two directors:

Wouter Myriam D. BOUCHEZ & Chen CHENG

And as additional normal members Cathy CHU and Yan Kit WONG.

Curator/Project initiator bio

ClapClapLab is the initiative of Wouter Bouchez, a creative consultant and producer/curator in the contemporary performing arts.  Over the past 20 years he has a.o. been agent/tour/production manager for artists such as Trajal Harrell, Miguel Gutierrez, Ann Liv Young, Jeremy Wade, Emio Greco/PC in various positions, has initiated/produced/curated numerous interdisciplinary performing arts platforms in Belgium, the Netherlands and the USA.  Between 2016 and 2019 he e.g. curated and produced “Through Art We Care”, a 3-year interdisciplinary residency programme on arts and care, culminating in a city-wide festival, exhibition and conference in Brussels.  Earlier between 2008 and 2011, he also organised the OFF festival “The Young Ones” during APAP in New York showcasing emerging local and international work in partnership with various local presenting partners.  Wouter has also been artistic director of a number of arts organisations such as “Performing Arts International” (2005-2009), “Bruxelles Nous Appartient (BNA-BBOT) (2009-2011) and “Matchbox vzw” (2016-2019). In 2018 he founded ClapClapLab, first only operating from Belgium, but since 2018 Wouter has also been spending significant time in Asia (China and Hong Kong) working on consultancy and research projects, through which he got involved in the local contemporary performing arts scene and support of local artists (a.o. with Unlock Dancing Plaza), leading to the opening of a second ‘home’ for ClapClapLab in Hong Kong in 2022 after relaxation of pandemic measures allowed for international mobility in the arts again. Wouter Bouchez holds a Master’s degree in Performance, theater and media studies from Ghent University and is author of the book “Through Art We Care”.