I've long been a fan of Kyoto-based multimedia theatre company Dumb Type. Of course I'm familiar with the name of co-founder and artistic director Shiro Takatani (高谷史郎), and his more recent solo works.
In 2015, Shiro Takatani created dance-theatre performance piece 'ST/LL'. It is performed to the music of Shiro Takatani's long-time collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本龍一), and fellow composers Marihiko Hara and Takuya Minami. When the friends raved about his show in Taipei in 2017, I noted it down. This was the one show I marked out to watch at SIFA 2019.
Before the performance, the man glanced at the mixing board and casually remarked, “That’s Ryuichi Sakamoto.” I raised an eyebrow, you know who he is? The man was all like, “Yeah, who doesn’t know Ryuichi Sakamoto!” Okaaaay. At least he justified his time and attendance (and me paying for his ticket).
The 75-minute performance was expectedly cryptic and obscure. It's frustratingly enigmatic. It’s about illusions, humans and time suspended in gravity. The performers moved in and across a shallow pool water on stage. It begins with a perfectly normal long table set for dinner with a vertical projection screen as a backdrop. A suspended camera tracks the happenings on stage, and it was also part of the drama. Interpret it however you want. Cause and effect. Light and shadows. Stillness and movement. It’s a prism. It’s brilliant. Perceive what you will.
In 2015, Shiro Takatani created dance-theatre performance piece 'ST/LL'. It is performed to the music of Shiro Takatani's long-time collaborator Ryuichi Sakamoto (坂本龍一), and fellow composers Marihiko Hara and Takuya Minami. When the friends raved about his show in Taipei in 2017, I noted it down. This was the one show I marked out to watch at SIFA 2019.
Before the performance, the man glanced at the mixing board and casually remarked, “That’s Ryuichi Sakamoto.” I raised an eyebrow, you know who he is? The man was all like, “Yeah, who doesn’t know Ryuichi Sakamoto!” Okaaaay. At least he justified his time and attendance (and me paying for his ticket).
The 75-minute performance was expectedly cryptic and obscure. It's frustratingly enigmatic. It’s about illusions, humans and time suspended in gravity. The performers moved in and across a shallow pool water on stage. It begins with a perfectly normal long table set for dinner with a vertical projection screen as a backdrop. A suspended camera tracks the happenings on stage, and it was also part of the drama. Interpret it however you want. Cause and effect. Light and shadows. Stillness and movement. It’s a prism. It’s brilliant. Perceive what you will.
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