SIFA 2026 :: 'Planet [wanderer]'

I was so pleased to be able to make it to Damien Jalet and Kohei Nawa's 'Planet [wanderer]'. I watched their first collaboration 'VESSEL' when it premiered in Kyoto in 2016 at the redeveloped-new ROHM Theatre (Kyoto Kaikan). I was absolutely blown away. It remained one of the most memorable contemporary dances I have watched. 

'Planet [wanderer]' is a stunningly gorgeous show. Surreal, fragile, overwhelming and yet strong. I don't even know how the choregraphy was imagined and brought to life. French-Belgian choreographer and dancer Damien Jalet is known for his strong visions for modern dances and bold presentations. The dancers were magnificent. Talented and precise, I almost forgot that they are humans. They were like... humanoids, or new human bodies inhabiting a new-old world. 

This dance is both a performance choreography and a visual art in a perfect partnership. It was such a glorious hour. I can't compare 'VESSEL' and 'Planet [wanderer]'. They're not exactly separate, yet they are distinct. This show felt like a continuation of how we explore this cosmic tension of creation myths versus the harsh realities of the human world. 

The first collaboration between Kohei Nawa and Damien Jalet was Vessel, which premiered in 2016 at ROHM Theatre Kyoto, creating a portrait of two worlds from the Kojiki, the oldest Japanese book: Yomi (the underworld of the dead) and Takamagahara (the Plain of High Heavens where the gods dwell). 

Planet[wanderer] takes place in the world in between those two: Ashihara no Nakatsukuni, the Central Land of the Reeds—the world we inhabit. The human being is but a reed, the feeblest one in nature and the performance captures that oscillation in a fragile balance between power and vulnerability, harmony and survival, evolution and destruction. The subtitle gestures toward the Greek etymological root of “planet” as meaning a wanderer. Planet[wanderer] conjures up a unique world onstage as imagined by a Japanese sculptor and European choreographer: a liminal place between the living and the dead, showcasing the constituent elements of the human body and the cosmos as well as their inseparable relationship with gravity. 

The music too. I wished it could have been louder. That would have really completed the show. Canadian composer Tim Hecker's synths were amazing. The performance blends Tim Hecker's signature heavy electronic drones, reverb, and noise with the traditional tones of Japanese gagaku instruments. His music placed the dancers and even the audience smack into this creation myth in the 'Kojiki' (古事記). 

The set design is amazing. The logistics were impressive. We were totally transported into a surreal and planetary landscape right from the start. Polyurethane foam, starch and mineral powder, silicone oil and viscous gel are all scenographer and sculptor Kohei Nawa's signature use of modern, earth-like, and semi-liquid mediums. They represent shifting cosmic textures, meteor dust, and primordial fluids to explore humanity's fragile relationship with the planet. The dancers interact with the landscape as it physically changed and modified as the piece progressed.

'VESSEL' (2016) introduced us to The Realm which represents the first two levels of the creation of the world — Yomi (the Underworld) and Takamagahara (the heavens where the gods dwell). The set design utilized sculptural forms, isolating lighting to give the illusion of floating, fragmented bodies coming out of an abyss. Stark and otherworldly. 

We were taken to the third and final level of The Realm in 'Planet [wanderer]' — Ashihara-no-Nakatsukuni (the middle land of reed plains), which refers to the earthly human world. Then there's The Body. We explore how The Body holds human vulnerability, as though we are reeds, and each generation dancing between survival, evolution, and destruction on this planet.

Curtain call with Damien Jalet.

Walking Two Dogs

I'm thick in the middle of back-to-back conferences. This would be a heavy and taxing weekend. But it's all work, I'll deal. I don't mind having Ryo over during this period. At this point, he's like my second dog. He's been raised and trained in home etiquette that I approve of. He toilets outdoors and holds his bladder fine (yes we still pee them 4x a day). He doesn't bite cables or stuff or rip my things. He doesn't seem to have separation anxiety or be affected by thunderstorms. 

Managing his fears of the outdoors and such, especially interactions with other dogs aren't the concerns now. I know how to manage him, and he has been doing good. As long as he is fine with Choya at home, and follows her lead, I welcome him. Ryo's pawrents are awesome people — kind and considerate. I never minded having Ryo over for a longer period. He can always go home to his nanny, but he likes company too. 

The husband is on dog duty this weekend mainly because I'm flooded at work. But I can still easily walk them and such. Having a dog is honestly a two-person job. What more two dogs. 

I'll still walk Ryo and Choya together. Although during bedtime pees, they're split because Ryo pees so much faster than Choya. He just wants to pee and go home — 10 seconds, we be done. Choya knows it's the bedtime pee, and still she likes to meander. Zzzzz

Walking 17.5kg Ryo and 7.5kg Choya is quite adorbs. It's a bit of leash technique too. Every owner will eventually figure out how to sort that out with their dogs. They often want to go in different directions. Choya is a terrible walker. It's much easier to pull and coax Ryo to follow her.

This is why I need to work out. I must be able to walk the dogs without being pulled off of my feet, or having my wrist and fingers jerked into a strain or a sprain. Each time, these floofs will remind me that I do need to maintain a level of fitness to keep them clean, happy and exercised. 

At the gym, I always work in sled push and pulls of minimally 80kg. That is a very manageable weight for me. I can do 120kg, but I slack off often and don't overload. I just need to remember how pulling and pushing ~90kg feels like. 100kg is comfortable. 

Walking the two of them that morning was eye-rolling. Morning walks are dicey. Sometimes, they would both poop. Sometimes not. Often, one would poop and the other one wouldn't. Imagine the juggling I have to do to hold on to their leashes, get out poop bags, wipe their butts, and pick their poop without forgetting where they left the turd piles. And maybe watching out for passing floofs because Ryo is NOT friendly.

Ryo would often bolt if he hears strange noises or something scares him. I can't drop his leash. And I need to keep a constant hold on his leash instead of being shocked into dropping it or unable to hang out if he lunges and I'm not ready. It's not just arm strength. It requires almost all my core strength to hold the leashes in order not to move Choya's while she's pooping, and the 17.5-kg clown tugs at his.

Choya getting a poop in. 

Grilled Eggplants & Brussels Sprouts

Happiness is managing to find a night to catch up with the friends before they flew out for their usual mid-year thing. For the comfort of the floofs, everyone's sanity and in case of mad rains, we decided to gather at home. They generously didn't mind cooking at all. 

There was good conversation to be had. Lots of hilarious things that went on. And an early birthday celebration for B. May this trip for them be all smooth without crazy flight delays. When you're doing these many flights across three time zones, it's exhausting!

There was so much food. We wanted to clear the fridge for them before they took a flight out two days later. Hehehe. That was the whole point. But they also added on a ton of ingredients for dinner tonight. Awwww. We felt the love.

There were starters of crab blinis and a lovely gazpacho that was perfect for this humidity. Then we had the main of a ribeye steak with grilled eggplants with spring onions and peppers, and beautifully charred brussels sprouts. Loved all the vegetables. Then a cheesecake and fruits for dessert. We were absolutely stuffed.

It was also Ryo's dinner-time. He was hungry. This Choya insisted on having a bit of whatever Ryo had for dinner. She was sooo greedy that it was mildly embarrassing. But she would still need her supper and bedtime pee. So we don't usually stay out past 11pm. Plus our dear friends need to clean up and rest too. Of course we didn't stay beyond 10.30pm tonight. We never do. We are sleepy by then too. Heh.