Omit the body and expand. People use technologies that allow them to move as little as possible. Mikuni Yanaihara has no quarrel with these technologies, which make life easier for all. But, when the body is omitted to this extent, it is a little unsettling.
She states: “Our imagination tries to bring occurrences of the distant past and visions of the future to the front of our minds, as if they were actually here in the present. Nevertheless, people cannot even imagine the tragedies of long ago, and cannot share the bodies which experienced them. We stand at places that are empty, spend time that is not real, listen to voices without speech, and encounter people without bodies. Death is right before us, unlimited, and decisive. Life is here and now, limited, and with an uncertain future.”
The work, performed by two experienced dancers who have worked for various choreographers in Japan, explores corporeality – a theme that can be felt by all who live in an age when the body is no longer needed.
Venue: Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
Tickets: www.sistic.com.sg/events/sifa2015ab
When: 25 Aug 2015, 8pm
By: Singapore International Festival of Arts