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Apr. 30, 2013 |
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 | Aichi Triennale 2013 program announced |
| | Launched in 2010, the Aichi triennale is an international arts festival held once every three years in Aichi Prefecture. The second holding of the festival with its 79-day schedule from August 10 to October 27, 2013, takes as its theme the question “Where Are We Standing? – Earth, Memory and Resurrection.” The program schedule involves 93 artists and groups from 31 countries, with the visual arts as a central pillar of the lineup, along with dance, opera and other performing arts. The artistic director is Taro Igarashi, a professor of urban studies and architecture in the Department of Architecture and Building Science at Tohoku University Graduate School of Engineering. The main venues are the Aichi Arts Center, the Nagoya City Art Museum and various sites around the city of Nagoya, and this year time there are also events planned to take place on the streets of Okazaki City.
On the contemporary art program there will be 75 artists/groups from Japan and abroad participating. On the theme of “resurrection,” Kenji Yanobe will set up a wedding hall in the art museum, Yoko Ono will send out messages from the TV broadcast tower and sites on the streets, British artist Richard Wilson will create an installation in a building used as a bowling center.
The performing arts program presents performances by 15 companies/groups from Japan and abroad. It opens with a new play by Aichi native Yukio Shiba’s company mamagoto. The program this time focuses on Samuel Beckett and attempts to create a bridge connecting to the visual arts. In related works, the Czech-born internationally renowned choreographer Jirí Kylián presents the world premiere of a work based on ideas from the philosophy of Beckett; German multimedia artist Peter Welz and choreographer William Forsythe collaborated to create a video installation whenever on on on nohow on | airdrawing (2004) based on ideas originating from Beckett’s prose piece Worstward Ho; Hiroaki Umeda presents his latest work 4. temoral pattern created with dancers from various parts of Asian; Takayuki Fujimoto and Tsuyoshi Shirai present their internationally toured multimedia work Node/The Old Man of the Desert and pianist Tomoko Mukaiyama and lighting designer Jean Kalman join together to present a performance and installation work.
In other program highlights, French choreographer Mathilde Monnier come to Japan for the first time to present the Japanese premiere of Pudique Acide/Eatasis (restaging), and Indonesian choreographer Jecko Siompo, known for his unique blend of Indonesian traditional dance with elements of hip-hop dance, makes his first appearance in Japan with the company work Room Exit (Terima Kost). Also, street performances are planned, including performances by Ho Ho-Do, Project FUKUSHIMA! directed by musician Yoshihide Otomo and more.
Opera productions are also on the program, including a production of Pucinni’s Madame Butterfly conducted by Carlo Montanaro and directed by Tetsu Taoshita.
Festival Outline
Aichi Triennale is an international arts festival launched in 2010, to be held once every three years in Aichi Prefecture. It is organized by the Aichi Triennale Organizing Committee. For the first Aichi Triennale 2010, the director of the National Museum of Art, Osaka, Akira Tatehata served as artistic director for the 72-day festival (Aug. 21 – Oct. 31) organized around the theme of “Arts and Cities.” Participating were 131 artists/groups from 24 countries. The programming is characterized by a central pillar visual arts combined with a wide variety of performing arts, opera and other genres, with works performed at symbolic urban sites in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City and exhibits and performances that harmonize with the cityscapes and regional sites, as well as events like the Kids Triennale and other educational/outreach programs. The first triennale attracted a total audience of approximately 570,000 people.
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| New National Theatre, Tokyo announces 2013-2014 season line-up |
| | The New National Theatre, Tokyo has recently announced its schedule for the 2013-2014 season. Under artistic director Keiko Miyata, the theater department has scheduled a line-up of eight productions. In the series named “Try Angle – Three Directors’ Viewpoints,” three directors in their 30s present plays in translation, including OPUS (by Michael Hollinger) directed by Eriko Ogawa, Edward II (by Christopher Marlowe) directed by Shintaro Mori and Les Séquestrés d’Altona (written by Jean-Paul Sartre) directed by Satoshi Kamimura. Also, in the 8th production of the “JAPAN MEETS – Unraveling the Lineage of Contemporary Theater” series Miyata directs British playwright George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Other highlights include History of Mizuho in Manila written by Matsuyo Akimoto and directed by Tamiya Kuriyama; The Tempest directed by Akira Shirai; Nineteen-year-old Jacob, a stage adaptation of the novel by Kenji Nakagami with a script by Shu Matsui and directed by Yukichi Matsumoto. Ending the season will be the first performance in Japan of Donald Margulies’ Time Stands Still that premiered in New York in 2009. It will be directed by Miyata (Japanese title: Eien no Isshun (Moment of Eternity) (tentative)).
With David Bintley serving as artistic director, the dance department will be presenting six ballet productions and four of dance. The ballet program opens with a “Ballet Russes Stravinsky Evening” with performances of The Firebird, Apollo (new work) and Les Noces (new work). There will be a world premiere of new works by the acclaimed American choreographer Jessica Lang, and three works choreographed by David Bintley in Faster (Japan premiere), Carmina Burana and The Prince of the Pagota. The dance works include A Women’s House by Shuji Onodera’s Company Derashinera, works by Megumi Nakamura and Yasuyuki Shuto among others.
The opera program in the last season of the artistic directorship of Tadaaki Otaka will present ten productions. Opening the season will be Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto in a new production directed by Andreas Kriegenburg in the 200th anniversary of Verdi’s birth. Other new productions include Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Die tote Stadt directed by The Royal Opera House of Britain director Kasper Holten and two masterpieces of verismo opera, Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci directed by Gilbert Deflo. Also, the opera Wozzeck that won high acclaim with its premiere in 2009 will be mounted as a joint production with the Bavarian State Opera; and there will be a reappearance of Arabella, which opened the first season of the current director in 2010. The season will close with the Japanese opera Rokumeikan (based on literature of Yukio Mishima, music by Shinichiro Ikebe).
For details see the website below.
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| Yasumasa Morimura named Artistic director for Yokohama Triennale 2014 |
| | The fifth holding of the international contemporary art exhibition Yokohama Triennale 2014 will run for three months from August into November of 2014, this time under the artistic directorship of artists Yasumasa Morimura. The main venues will be the Yokohama Art Museum and the Shinko Pier Exhibition Hall.
Yasumasa Morimura was born in Osaka in 1951 where he continues to live and work. Completed undergraduate and graduate degrees at Kyoto City University of Arts. He made his debut in 1985 with self-portrait works based on his personal interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh. He has since produced a number of self-portraits in diligently staged photography and video works, identifying with art-historical images, famous film actresses, and iconic figures from the 20th century. In 1988, Morimura was invited to take part in the Aperto section of the 43rd Venice Biennale, and over the years, he has participated in countless important exhibitions in Japan and abroad.
This is the first time Morimura serves as artistic director for an international art exhibition. He writes that, “…with the outlook of an insecure novice trying to recapture the fading spirit of adventure, I am setting out on this voyage with a fresh preparedness as I head into the unknown of the art world. And this in itself is sure to lead to some worthwhile proposals.” For details about Yokohama Triennale 2014, refer to the website below.
| + | Outline
Dates: Early August to early November, 2014
Venues: Yokohama Art Museum and the Shinko Pier Exhibition Hall
Organizers: City of Yokohama, Yokohama Arts Foundation, Japan Broadcasting Corporation [NHK], The Asahi Shimbun and the Organizing Committee for Yokohama Triennale
Artistic director: Yasumasa Morimura |
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| English version of THEATER IN JAPAN: An Overview of Performing Arts and Artists published |
| | The Japan Foundation has recently published the English edition of its publication THEATER IN JAPAN: An Overview of Performing Arts and Artists.
This collection consists of two parts. The first presents commentary on the latest developments of the Japanese contemporary performing arts scene, while the second part focuses primarily on the representative small-theater drama of Japan’s contemporary theater scene, as well as introductions of companies in genre such as puppet theater and performance. Details are as follows.
Since 1989, the Japan Foundation has been publishing English-language handbooks and CD-ROMs introducing Japan’s performing arts to the foreign audience on an ongoing basis. The books published until now in this series include an introduction to theater and dance artists titled Theater Japan (1989, 1993), an overview of contemporary theater, contemporary dance, butoh, contemporary music and popular music titled Performing Arts Now in Japan (1995), an introduction to the latest trends in performing arts and the artists of the contemporary theater, contemporary dance and traditional Japanese music (Hogaku) titled Performing Arts in Japan 2003 (2003) and an introduction to the younger generation of Hogaku artists titled Performing Arts in Japan: Traditional Music Today (2005) among others. And, from 2004, Japan Foundation has been presenting information about the artists of Japan’s contemporary performing arts to a large international audience via this Performing Arts Network Japan website.
THEATER IN JAPAN: An Overview of Performing Arts and Artists and Performing Arts in Japan: Traditional Music Today will be available at arts markets both in Japan and abroad and plans call for their contents to be added to this website’s archive in the near future. If you wish to acquire these publications, please contact us at the address below.
*TO OUR READERS:
Errors have occurred regarding our recent publication THEATER IN JAPAN—An Overview of Performing Arts and Artists. We sincerely apologize for the following errors and any inconvenience this has caused our readers.
May 2008
The Japan Foundation
1.
Page 49: Tengai AMANO’s “Yaji Kita” Mayonaka no Yaji-san Kita-san
[Error] First staged by: Shonen Oja Kan
[Correct] First staged by: KUDAN Project
2.
Page 80: Stage Photo must be corrected on Akio MIYAZAWA’s “Entrance to New Town” Nyutaun iriguchi
[Correct]
Original title: Nyûtaun iriguchi
English title: Entrance to New Town
Photo: Ariga Ketsu
| + | THEATER IN JAPAN: An Overview of Performing Arts and Artists – Contents
Part I
Overview of Performing Arts in Japan/ Latest Trends in Each Genre
Overview of Performing Arts in Japan
_ Trends in Cultural Policies Concerning International Exchange in Performing Arts
_ Current Status and Trends in Private-Sector Support for the Arts and Culture
_ The Latest Trends in Public Theaters and Concert Halls
_ Trends in Performing Arts Presenters and Arts NPOs
_ Invigorating the Performing Arts Through Visiting Productions and Taking Japanese Productions Overseas
_ Arts Management Education in Universities
_ Performing Arts in Japan on the Internet
Latest Trends in Each Genre
_ Small Theater (Shogekijo) Movement: Background and Recent Trends
_ The Most Recent Trends in Contemporary Dance
_ The Latest Trend of Kabuki, No, and Bunraku, Japan’s Traditional Performing Arts
_ Contemporary Rendition of Traditional Styles of Japanese Music (Hogaku)
Part II
Artist/Company Profiles
_ Contemporary Theater
_ Puppet Theater
_ Performance Art |
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| Artist interview collection from this website, Energizing Japanese Culture: The Performing Arts in Japan, released! |
| | Since going online in December 2004, this website, Japan Foundation’s “Performing Arts Network Japan” has posted a new interview with a Japanese artist each month. Taking the 30th update of website this summer as an appropriate occasion a collection of the first 30 artist interviews has been compiled into a book that is being published on October 10 from the publisher Suiyosha Inc. The contents of the interviews have been edited to some degree and the result is a collection that we believe presents a vivid cross-section of the depth and vitality of Japan’s contemporary culture and the great diversity of expression it encompasses, while also offering a definitive overview of what is happening in today’s performing arts scene. This book will be sold in bookstores throughout Japan. For orders or inquiries about this book from overseas, contact the editorial department of Performing Arts Network Japan at: (performingarts[a]jpf.go.jp).
| + | Energizing Japanese Culture: The Performing Arts in Japan
(Performing Arts ni miru – Nihonjin no Bunkaryoku)
Messages for the world from 30 leading artists in field ranging from the traditional Japanese arts to contemporary dance
Editorial Review: From the World Heritage traditional arts of Noh and Kabuki theater to Japanese traditional music, theater and contemporary dance, the performing arts of Japan today are world renowned for their diversity and depth of expression and living proof of the cultural dynamism of the Japanese. Here are in-depth interviews with 30 artists who speak to the world.
The artists (In order of appearance in the book)
Mansai Nomura/ Kazuyoshi Kushida/ Kojun Arai/ Oriza Hirata/ Hironori Naito/ Go Aoki/ Harue Yamagata/ Kazuki Nakashima/ Kim Ito/ Sakiko Oshima/ Toshie Tanaka/ Michiyo Yagi/ Norihiko Tsukuda/ Daisuke Miura/ Kanjuro Fujima/ Shigehiro Ide/ Ai Nagai/ Yukihiro Isso/ Yukichi Matsumoto/ Toshiki Okada/ Ikuyo Kuroda/ Yukio Ninagawa/ Shuichi Hidano/ Akaji Maro/ Ryohei Kondo/ Keishi Nagatsuka/ Yoshihiro Kurita/ Yoji Sakate/ Hiromitsu Agatsuma/ Jo Kanamori
Publisher: Suiyosha Inc.
Supervision: Japan Foundation
Editing: Institute for the Arts
Size: A5 size, 336 pages
Price: 2800 yen plus tax |
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 | Watermill Center now accepting applications for 2014 Residency program (Deadline June 12, 2013) |
| | The Watermill Center is an interdisciplinary laboratory for performance founded in Long Island New York in 2006 by American contemporary theater master Robert Wilson to encourage new interdisciplinary approaches in the arts by young and emerging artists. The Center has now opened application reception for its 2014 artist residency program.
The Watermill Center residency program was launched in 2006. Each year approximately 20 groups or individuals are chosen from among the applicants to take part in the program. Until now, the selected participants have come not only from around the United states but also from Europe, Oceania and Africa and have included artists working in stage performance, film, visual arts, architecture, music, literature and academic research.
The program supports projects and collaboration by young artists that integrate genres and art forms from diverse viewpoints, and selected artists are given residencies of up to six weeks in either the spring (Jan. to June) or autumn (Sept. to Dec.) terms. The Center provides residence expenses, travel expenses in the local area, and creative working spaces. For details see the Center’s website.
[Application outline]
Residency periods in 2014: Jan. to June, Sept. to Dec.; residency lengths 2 to 6 weeks.
How to apply: See website for application procedures
Eligibility: Individuals and groups engaging in interdisciplinary projects and seeking to extend existing norms of creative practices
Requirements: Participants are to present at least one performance or event during the residency period
Application deadline: 17:00 (U.S. Eastern Standard Time) on June 12, 2013
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| Kunstenfestivaldesarts 2013 Opens (May 3 – 25, 2013) |
| | Held each May in the Belgian capital of Brussels, the Kunsten Festival des Arts (Kunstenfestivaldesarts) is known for consistently presenting one of the Europe’s leading programs of progressive and experimental works. The 2013 program again features a large number of works one a broad range of subjects, from politics and history to the vital social issues in Europe today.
Seventeen of the 32 works on the program are new works produced by the festival or as collaborative productions. Works by Belgian artists include Sarah Vanhee’s Lecture for Every One, in which the artist enters community gatherings unannounced with her lecture about discourse in a fragmented society; Kris Verdonck’s company A Two Dogs Company presenting a music theater production of H, an incident with performance and installation; and Claude Schmitz’s Melanie Daniels, a satire questioning artistic creation in crisis taking Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds as a point of departure. Among the world premieres are Suite N°1, a 15-language performance by the French artist collective L’Encyclopédie de la Parole exploring the expressive power of words; and SPEAK! by Serbian artist Sanja Mitrović that questions our acceptance of political speeches that change society.
Other highlights include the 49-hour video installation Magic Bullet by Swedish visual artist Markus Ohrn, who is also known for his stage performances and art; and Portuguese director Tiago Rodrigues’ Três dedos abaixo do joelho a stage work that poses questions about freedom of speech and censorship. Also, Schubladen by German female group She She Pop and Sarah Vanagt’s film Élevage de poussière /Dust Breeding are two works question the existence of individual thought in a society dominated by words and censorship, taking as subject matter the division of Germany and the breakup of Yugoslavia respectively.
The program also features numerous works by renowned artists such as the German master of music theatre, Heiner Goebbels’ When the mountain changed its clothing and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Boris Charmatz presenting Partita 2. From Japan, Toshiki Okada and his chelfitsch company bring a performance of their new work Ground and Floor to the program.
Festival Outline
Kunstenfestivaldesarts is a contemporary arts festival launched in 1994. In contrast to Francc’s Avignon Festival with its orientation toward mainstream European theater, Kunstenfestivaldesarts aims to present unique programming oriented more toward experimental work and global diversity. In addition to featuring artists from Belgium and across Europe, the festival reaches out to find young artists from emerging nations with less developed support networks and produce many works. The festival also takes a long-term perspective in the task of nurturing young artists that included multiple year joint production projects and supporting the production of new works by accomplished artists based in Belgium and other parts of Europe for world premieres. The festival also serves in the role of project leader for the NXSTP festival network consisting of members such as Lisbon’s Alcantara Festival and the autumn Steiermark Festival of Graz among others. The artistic director from the festival’s founding until 2006 was Frie Leysen, when the post was handed over to her former right hand and programming director Christophe Slagmuylder.
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| Slovenia’s Exodus Festival programs Asian dance feature (April 14 – 25, 2013) |
| | The Exodus Festival is held in the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana. The 18th holding of the festival in 2013 came under the artistic directorship of Forced Entertainment’s Tim Etchells and presented a program of 22 works of theater and dance.
The main program included The Quiet Volume, a collaboration of Tim Etchells and British choreographer Ant Hampton; Forced Entertainment’s Tomorrow’s Parties; choreographer duo Sofia Dias and Vítor Roriz’s A Gesture that is Nothing but a Threat; Matthieu Tercieux’s interactive installation Vous êtes ici... et ailleurs and numerous other works of note in Europe today.
This time, the feature of the Dance Platform of regional dance programs was Asia. Standing out on this program were works by women artists dealing with the subjects of their gender and identity, including Manila- and Brussels-based Philippine artist Eisa Jocson’s pieces Death of a Pole Dancer and Macho Dancer, Indian choreographer Sujata Goel’s Dancing girl, and South Korean dawon (multimedia) artist Jeong Geumhyung’s Oil Pressure Vibrator.
Other featured works were Hands around in Yangon and F ‘n’ F (Face and Fingers) by Moe Satt, who is also the founder of Yangon’s Beyond Pressure festival; solid.states by Arco Renz, who continues to works with Asian dancers; Singapore choreographer Daniel Kok’s Gay Romeo and Choy Ka Fai’s Notion: Dance Fiction. From Japan, Zan Yamashita presents his piece It’s just me coughing.
Festival Outline
The Exodus Festival is a performing arts festival held in the spring in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia in Central Europe. The festival was held annually from 1995 and in 2011 it was changed to a biennial schedule. Among the past artistic directors have been Jan Fabre and Dave St-Pierre, and for the 2013 holding the artistic director was Forced Entertainment’s Tim Etchells. The festival is organized by the Exodus Institute. The main venues are one of Slovenia’s largest arts facilities, Cankarjev dom and others.
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