The Arts Center at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) will present the Middle East premiere of Ink, a captivating interdisciplinary performance by Huang Yi Studio +, on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30pm in The Red Theater. Supported by Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, Ink is a visually and emotionally powerful work that brings together contemporary dance, traditional calligraphy, and cutting-edge audiovisual design to create a singular, immersive stage experience.
Conceived and choreographed by renowned Taiwanese artist Huang Yi, Ink is inspired by the celebrated Silent Music calligraphy series by master calligrapher Tong Yang-Tze, with immersive audiovisual design by Japanese artist Ryoichi Kurokawa, recently named as the winner of the prestigious Richard Mille Art Prize. The performance transforms the philosophical and physical gestures of ink painting into a living movement, inviting audiences to experience the poetic relationship between body, breath, and mark-making.
Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi, said: “Huang Yi’s duet with the industrial robot KUKA dazzled audiences in our inaugural season a decade ago, so it feels especially meaningful to welcome him back as we enter our second decade. Ink shows how his work has continued to grow, using technology in striking and unexpected ways, while still feeling lyrical and deeply human. We are delighted to welcome him back to Abu Dhabi and to share this extraordinary Middle East premiere of a performance mixing with the ancient art of calligraphy, and contemporary multimedia art and robotics.”
On stage, dancers trace ephemeral gestures that echo the movement of a calligrapher’s brush, while Kurokawa’s responsive sound and visual environment amplifies each motion, dissolving the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds. The result is a hypnotic performance that unfolds like a living painting, at once precise, fluid, and emotionally charged.
Following its acclaimed premiere at the National Taichung Theater and the National Theater and Concert Hall in Taipei in 2023, Ink has drawn international attention for its innovative synthesis of disciplines. Its presentation at NYUAD continues The Arts Center’s commitment to showcasing pioneering global artists and works that challenge conventional forms of performance, extending its collaboration with Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels.
As part of Huang Yi Studio +’s visit to Abu Dhabi, The Arts Center will also present a series of public engagement programs offering deeper insight into the artist’s practice. On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, Huang Yi will lead Whispers of the Body, a contemporary dance workshop that invites participants to explore movement as a form of inner listening, drawing on somatic awareness, breath, and gesture. The following day, Wednesday, February 4, 2026, audiences are invited to attend Art, Movement, and Gratitude, an artist talk in which Huang Yi reflects on his creative philosophy, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the role of gratitude and mindfulness in artistic practice. Both programs offer rare opportunities for dancers, media artists, students, and the wider community to engage directly with one of today’s most innovative choreographic voices.
Listings information
Event: Ink – Huang Yi Studio +
Date: Thursday, February 5 at 7:30 pm
Venue: The Red Theater at The NYUAD Arts Center
Visit here for details and tickets
Event: Dance Workshop by Huang Yi from Ink – Whispers of the Body: A Workshop on Awareness and Movement Dialogue
Date: Monday, February 2 at 6:30pm
Venue: The NYUAD Arts Center
Visit here for details and tickets
Event: Artist Talk – Art, Movement, and Gratitude with Huang Yi
Date: Tuesday, February 3 at 6:30pm
Venue: The Art Gallery Reading Room
Visit here for details and tickets
