Project Details
Date: November 17, 2010
KANGEN -Reunited with Nature- features a collaborative live performance by a Japanese calligrapher Aoi Yamaguchi, contemporary dancer Mika Yanagihara, textile artist Hiroko Tsuchimoto, video artist Martin Söderblom, and music producer Zaion. Artists transcribe their visualization of reincarnation, "from rebirth to death," through physical movement of live calligraphy and contemporary dance performance. Through this project, with the theme of Kangen -Reunited with Nature-, the artist intends to remind audiences to stay in touch with nature, in celebration of the blessings from the earth that our lives consist of. Kan (return to) Gen (origin) means "returning to our life's origin," which is to be reunited with nature.
Using the tools that are made of natural minerals and materials, such as brushes that are made of bamboo and animal hair, hand-made paper made of wood pulp, and sumi-ink made of soot, animal glue and water, the artist wrote a poem titled KANGEN -Reunited with Nature- in black and white and in harmony with nature's essence. The dancer represents the spirit of humanity, which slowly dies, decomposes and is reunited with the earth - and later reborn to the world.
Japanese Calligraphy: Aoi Yamaguchi.
Textile Art: Hiroko Tsuchimoto.
Music: Zaion. Photo by Akko Terasawa. Video interview shot and edited by Waylan Choy. Special thanks to: Five Points Art House.
