9 June 2026
When the Earth speaks, how do we respond?
Chinese-Australian composer, multi-instrumentalist and AYO Youth Council co-chair QiQi Lu reflects on bringing the traditional guzheng into an immersive contemporary performance while inviting the audience to contemplate humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world.
by QiQi Lu
In May 2026, I had the privilege of sharing the first showing of Echoes of the Earth with Melbourne audiences through the Bowery Theatre Residency program — one of the most meaningful and ambitious creative experiences of my career.
At its heart, Echoes of the Earth was created in response to the growing sense of climate anxiety and uncertainty that so many people are carrying right now. Everywhere I looked, conversations about the future of our planet often felt heavy, overwhelming and isolating. Through this work, I wanted to create a shared experience of reflection, empowerment and collective hope.
Across the residency season, the theatre was transformed into a living environment of live music, projection, haze and shifting light. Audiences were surrounded from every direction by evolving visuals and sound, becoming part of the story itself rather than separate from it. One audience member described the work as “an incredibly immersive 4D experience for the senses”, while another simply wrote: “Must see to understand!”
Performed on guzheng, piano, double bass and percussion, Echoes of the Earth traces humanity’s evolving relationship with the natural world through immersive visuals, atmospheric staging and live music that shifts alongside the audience experience. Throughout the performance, audiences were invited to make collective choices at multiple moments, subtly altering the trajectory of the experience and influencing what was performed in real time.
Moving through moments of wonder, fragility, destruction and renewal, no two performances unfolded in exactly the same way, which made every night feel uniquely alive for both the audience and performers.
As a Chinese-Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist, much of my artistic practice centres around finding new ways for the guzheng — a traditional Chinese instrument with thousands of years of history — to exist within contemporary performance spaces. In Echoes of the Earth, I wanted to combine the instrument’s ancient history and contemporary voice, sitting alongside immersive projection, atmospheric staging and composition. Audience members reflected on the emotional depth of the music, with one describing the experience as “a visual and audio feast”.
What moved me most throughout the season was seeing how deeply audiences connected with the work and with one another. Many people remained long after the performances ended to speak with our team and reflect on the experience together. Audience members described the work as “an incredibly immersive 4D experience for the senses” and reflected on the feeling of being fully immersed inside the world of the performance—not simply observing it, but becoming part of it.
The residency itself pushed me creatively in ways I had never experienced before. Echoes of the Earth brought together musicians, lighting and vision designers, sound artists and creatives across multiple disciplines, and there were many moments where we were still experimenting and refining ideas right up until the final days. Watching the project gradually evolve from an idea into a fully realised immersive experience taught me an enormous amount about collaboration, trust and the possibilities of large-scale multidisciplinary performance.
I feel deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring the project to life — from the creative team and residency staff to every audience member who stepped into the space with us.
More than anything, Echoes of the Earth reminded me that shared artistic experiences still have the power to move people, connect communities and spark conversation long after the performance ends. This residency marked only the beginning of the project’s journey, and I look forward to continuing to share and evolve the work with new audiences and communities in the future.
Echoes of the Earth was performed at The Bowery Theatre, Melbourne on 21-23 May. For more details visit www.qiqimusic.com.au
Collaborating alongside QiQi were Vision & Lighting Designers Amy Todd and Maddie Garwood, Audio Engineer Steven Pass and Costume & Set Designer Madison Lu.