China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Magic bridges East and West
Magicians’ special skills heighten understanding, appreciation across cultures, Oasis Hu reports in Los Angeles.
Standing center stage, Chinese magician Li Dongjin ingests a dozen sharp needles along with a lengthy thread, then swallows a playing card chosen at random by a volunteer from the audience.
After a moment of silent concentration, he pulls a thread from his mouth, on which all the needles are dangling, along with the selfsame playing card.
Shrieks of amazement accompany a standing ovation and cries of “Amazing!”
The needle-swallowing trick is a classical technique in Eastern acrobatics that has a long history. For two years, Li has updated this classic, combining it with a card trick from modern Western magic, showing the best of East-meetsWest to patrons of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California, the United States.
Located in the heart of the nation’s movie-making capital, the Magic Castle is one of the most prestigious magic venues in the world and to be invited to perform there is an honor comparable to a musician being invited to Carnegie Hall in New York.
From Jan 15 to 21, the Magic Castle hosted Asia Magic Week, bringing together 14 top magicians from China, Japan, and South Korea, to showcase the magic of the Orient to an international audience.
In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Dale Salwak, the producer of Magic Castle’s Asia Magic Week, said Asia harbors a wealth of untapped talent and is part of the castle’s mission to showcase those skills and gain global recognition.
Salwak said he invited each performer after considering their unique styles, ensuring the event embraced inclusivity and diversity.
The East-meets-West event aimed to bring together different cultures, creating an experience that transcends borders, Salwak said.
Spreading marvels
Hailing from a small town in Anhui, China, Li is the first in his family to pursue a career in the arts.
When he was 16 and still in high school, Li watched a video of the renowned Chinese magician Liu Qian (Lu Chen) in which he appeared to make a mobile phone pass through a sealed water bottle.
This act challenged Li’s perception of reality and he asked himself: could magic truly exist in this world?
Propelled by strong curiosity, Li devoted countless hours to uncovering the secrets behind Liu’s magic.
After six months of research, Li finally discovered the answers online. It was a pivotal moment for him as a magician.
“People experience a sense of awe when witnessing magic, but once they uncover its secret, the amazement turns into disappointment,” Li said. “However, those who are destined to be magicians are different, instead of being disappointed, they are inspired to share the feeling of wonder with more people.”
Since that moment, Li immersed himself in magic. He read magic books, searched online, and absorbed every bit of information he could find. He befriended magicians and sought guidance from them, and seized every opportunity to perform. He took part in magic competitions and started to win awards.
After graduating from university, he decided to perform magic fulltime. His friends and family questioned his choice, but he refused to be swayed.
In 2017, he got a job at the Blackstone Magic Bar in Shanghai, performing three shows a day. During a three-year period, he entertained thousands, not all of whom were cooperative. Some ill-intentioned spectators even tried to spoil his performances deliberately.
But Li remained undaunted. “They pushed me to refine my improvisational skills, and I learned to spin any unexpected scenario to my advantage,” Li said.
In 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 temporarily shuttered the bar and Li made a decision to study abroad, meet more magicians, and further hone his skills.
He was admitted to Goldsmiths, University of London, for a master’s degree in theater production. And he applied everything he learned about lighting, sound, and programming, to his magic, performed whenever he could, practiced his English, and learning to adapt to a Western audience.
For Li, the invitation from Magic Castle was the natural culmination of his 14-year struggle. Each show there brought rave reviews from diverse crowds, including magic legends, movie stars, and globetrotting patrons who hailed his feats as “beyond imagination” and “unparalleled”.
Still, Li’s drive was unrestrained, with him dreaming of becoming a regular performer at the castle and curating his customized show there one day.
“I will never forget my original intention to perform magic: sharing the feeling of wonder with more people,” Li said.
Li’s fellow Chinese magician, 23-year-old Shao Qianwei, was also on stage for magic week.
Shao’s fascination with magic was also sparked by Lu Chen.
Joining his high school magic club at 15, his skills grew quickly and at 17 he relocated to the US to further his studies.
Through the introduction of a fellow magic hobbyist, Shao visited the Magic Castle soon after.
“It was as if I had found my true home,” Shao said, noting he was able to connect with top magicians and learn from them and he signed up to be an official magician member of the castle, after passing a rigorous audition process.
In June 2022, he got his first invitation to perform at the Magic Castle. In the second half of the year, he was performing there three or four times a week on open mic nights. He saw each performance as an opportunity to fine-tune his act and study audience reactions.
Tricks that elicited positive responses were kept while less impactful elements were tweaked or discarded.
“The scariest thing is when the audience doesn’t react at all.” Shao said, “But you have to carry on.”
After countless performances, Shao identified ways to maximize audience reaction and discovered his unique style.
Embracing his true self, he crafted a distinct persona, that of an innocent, shy geek without romantic experience who has an unrequited longing for Taylor Swift. Based on this quirky image, he meticulously scripted and refined his act, weaving a comedic touch into his performances.
Shao’s Magic Castle full stage debut in 2023 won him praise from audiences and magicians alike and his strong personal style led to another invitation from the castle for Asia Magic Week. Once again, his charisma earned rave reviews.
Sleight of hand
Asia Magic Week also marked the Magic Castle debut of I Ryun, a 35-year-old magician from South Korea.
First enthralled by magic in 2008, I Ryun cultivated his craft for about 18 years and garnered 31 awards including a world championship.
I Ryun performed what is known as prestidigitation, or sleight of hand routine. The style revolves around hand manipulation in which the magician transforms objects solely through the nimbleness of hand and fingers, with props that include coins, cards, and ropes.
South Korea excels in the field and has developed some signature finesse and a distinctive flair.
A virtuoso in prestidigitation, I Ryun’s manipulation act featured high energy K-pop music during which he produced a plethora of colored CDs. In the Palace Theatre, the Magic Castle’s biggest and most prestigious stage, dozens of discs seemed to materialize from nowhere via I Ryun’s hands, shifting size smoothly from large to small, and back, without a pause.
I Ryun said he believes anyone who witnesses his magic would sense the unique cultural characteristics of Korea.
Kenji Minemura, a master magician from Japan who has been invited to the castle many times before remained eager to share his art during Asia Magic Week.
His magical journey began at 10 when he found upon a children’s magic book in his brother’s room.
After showing his newfound skills to his classmates, the shy young Kenji discovered a connection with people he had never experienced. Since then, magic has become his preferred medium of expression.
Growing up in the countryside with limited access to resources and no magicians around, Kenji searched the nearest town, only to find one toy shop with a single shelf dedicated to magic-related products.
After that, Kenji saved his money to buy magic books and tricks and his second-floor bedroom became his sanctuary where he could fully immerse himself in the world of mysteries. A few small balls and thimbles served as his props. While practicing his routines, he would occasionally drop a ball, which would strike the floor with a distinct sound. That sound became his constant companion throughout his youth.
Modest in nature, Kenji said he is “not an ambitious person”, yet, his exceptional skills have attracted numerous opportunities and he has competed at the International Federation of Magic Societies, the Olympics of magic, where he became world champion in 2000.
Transcending boundaries
When questioned about the differences in performing for Western and Eastern audiences, Kenji said there are not many, because emotion conveyed through magic can transcend the boundaries of nationality.
During Asia Magic Week, Kenji showcased his signature trick, in which he puts two small balls together and they suddenly become a puppet, which he has named Little Kenji.
The puppet then appears to come to life and walk on Kenji’s tie before walking into a small box, its home.
Kenji said that the inspiration for the trick originated from the profound emotions he experienced when he became a parent. The birth of his child evoked a deep sense of warmth whenever he thought about home.
So, he infused the sentiment into his magic. And he believes the desire for a home, a place of protection and belonging, transcends cultural boundaries and resonates deeply with people all over the world.
“It even extends beyond human beings and encompasses all living creatures. We can see that animals have homes too,” Kenji said.
Beneath the surface-level differences, people have shared emotions, experiences, and desires, that can unite all human beings, Kenji said.
Acclaimed US illusionist Franz Harary, who is known for his work on Michael Jackson’s live concerts and for making a NASA space shuttle appear to vanish, was in the audience during Asia Magic Week.
Harary, a member of the Magic Castle for more than 40 years, said it was the first themed week he had attended, and that he was happy to see the castle showcase magic from Asia that often goes unrecognized in the West.
“Asian magic is evolving and growing faster than at any other time in history. Today, Asian magicians are among the best in the world, certainly among the most talented and driven,” Harary said. “I believe we will see even stronger and more unique magic coming from the region than ever before.”
Salwak said Asia Magic Week at the Magic Castle enjoyed a sold-out week, with reservations and walk-in attendees surpassing 4,000.
In addition to the week’s commercial success, Salwak was even more pleased to see the cultural bridges being built because of the event.
Thanks to the applause of the spectators, he said he could sense a heightened understanding and appreciation across cultures and among people.
Asian magic is evolving and growing faster than at any other time in history. Today, Asian magicians are among the best in the world.” Franz Harary, acclaimed US illusionist