ArtScience Museum is set to host a captivating retrospective, “Vividly Maggie,” dedicated to the quintessential Chinese screen icon Maggie Cheung from May 13th to June 25th. The curated lineup of seven films will be showcased at the Museum’s Level 4 in-house screening room, ArtScience Cinema, which celebrates its one-year anniversary this month.
Maggie Cheung is widely recognized as one of the greatest Asian actresses to have graced the silver screen. The retrospective showcases the luminescent performances that defined her journey to international stardom. Cheung’s performances are known to glide effortlessly between genres and languages, ranging from wuxia epics to experimental arthouse, and from Cantonese to English to French.
During the 80s Hong Kong film boom, Maggie Cheung transcended stereotypical female wallflower archetypes to become the fresh face of the New Wave movement. She forged a long and close association with renowned director Wong Kar Wai before breaking into the international scene and collaborating with acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas.
The retrospective, “Vividly Maggie,” revisits these turning points in her body of work that signposted her way to Cannes greatness. Cheung’s projects with some of the most sophisticated auteurs in world cinema are showcased in the retrospective. From her carefully attuned portrayal of the multi-layered immigrant experience in Ann Hui’s rarely shown Song of the Exile (1990), and her sultry, fish-out-of-water cheekiness in Irma Vep (1996), to her career-defining, reluctant radiance in Center Stage (1991), and her portrait of desire and restraint in cult classic In the Mood for Love (2000), this retrospective highlights Cheung’s unique and commanding screen presence.
Exuding classic beauty and elegance, Maggie Cheung presents a complex image of contemporary Chinese femininity, standing out against the western clichés of Asian women. She weaves layers of representation into her wide range of radiant and magnetic characters, that not only redefined Asian characterizations in Europe and the West but also eventually led to her milestone achievement as the first Asian woman to win the Cannes Best Actress Award for her performance in Assayas’ Clean (2004).
Audiences are invited to witness a mesmerizing, versatile, commanding and unique screen presence through a slate of seven films. Tickets for “Vividly Maggie” are available for purchase at all Marina Bay Sands box offices and online.
In conclusion, “Vividly Maggie” is an exciting opportunity to revisit the iconic performances of Maggie Cheung, one of the greatest actresses of her generation. The retrospective highlights her versatile range and captivating screen presence, inviting audiences to witness her journey to international stardom. It’s a must-see for film lovers and anyone interested in exploring the evolution of Asian representation in cinema.
Cover image credit: Marina Bay Sands
