It has been a year since this project between Japan and Britain has started. So far it has mostly been one-way journey by bringing Japanese artists to North-West England. Although the conversations and insights have deepened, there is still much to be done in order for this to be a more even gathering.
In this spin-off of previous exchanges we continue the same line of thought, but we start to think about how international exchanges can become more part of local environment and communities.
The theme of this gathering is Standing, Walking, Seeing. This time we consider the mundane, everyday activities of standing and walking as a performance. We ask what it means when a person stands in front of a person? When we walk, how do we perceive our surroundings?
On 13 November, we welcome Tokyo-based performance artist Takuya Takemoto with his latest performance See a Porous Stone. Born in the mountainous region of Gunma, Japan, Takemoto reconstructs the relationship between the body and the environment and transform the viewer's perception of space through extremely subtle movements. In the seemingly quiet performance space, he walks across the stage silently and (in)visibly. These kind of performances demand of us, the spectators to adjust our gaze. It might be difficult, but it comes with many rewards that can become permanently engrained in our minds. His work questions how can we embody silence in the hectic everyday life.
Takemoto’s performance will be followed by a roundtable ‘Walking, Standing, Seeing – perspectives on live art and contemporary dance from Britain and Japan’ together with Nigel Stewart (Senior Lecturer in Performance at Lancaster University), Yurika Kuremiya (independent curator, dramaturg and researcher). Takemoto will be also doing a workshop for those interested in his creative process.
The following day, on 14 November and weather permitting, we will be doing a two-hour silent walk in the Fairfield Nature Reserve. We will be walking as a group in silence, observing the scenery. No mobile phones, no screens, just silence, our bodies and the nature.
In the afternoon of the same day, Yurika Kuremiya, one of the leading Japanese dance and live art experts will be giving a talk Embodied Expression: A Journey Through Japanese Performance Practices. She will trace the evolution of Japan’s postwar performance scene, focusing on the body as a central element. We will explore the work of artists who pushed the boundaries of dance, theatre, and visual art, and who at times moved beyond traditional venues to experiment in the streets and public spaces. As has become customary, we are also doing similar events at the University of Salford.
Come and join us in this unique experiences with your whole body.
This project is organised through Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) Cultures Research Centre in partnership with School of Creative Arts, Technology and Media at University of Salford. It is organised by Beri Juraic, PhD Candidate in Theatre Studies (Lancaster University), Dr Karen Jürs-Munby, Senior Lecturer in Theatre (Lancaster University), Dr Richard Talbot, (Senior Lecturer in Performance (University of Salford). Additional support by Hiroko Oshima (PhD Student, Lancaster University). Takuya Takemoto’s and Yurika Kuremiya’s participation is generously supported by The Saison Foundation, Arts Council Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture) and The Japan Foundation. The overall project is funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council through North-West Doctoral Training Partnership.
