Performing Arts AIR Meeting@TPAM

Artist-in-Residence (AIR) programs have developed in the fields of fine art, literature, music, and recently performing arts. While the concepts of “global” and “local” are becoming less and less opposed, it is expected that artists build bases for long-term work beyond regional and national borders, and their will to create has actually been making them move. In addition, the development of diverse art forms require them to overcome pre-existing linguistic borders and to create new languages that are responsive to the contemporary society, which results in the need of time and space for ideas and creation. Does AIR respond to this need? What are the meanings and tasks that are specific to AIR of performing arts? Inviting Japanese and international organizations that have been working on AIR and artists that have experienced/are going to experience AIR, we hold an international meeting for multilateral discussions, studies and networking.

Period
Feb 13 (Mon)–16 (Thu) [Kyoto: Feb 21 (Tue)–22 (Wed)]
Venues
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC), BankART Studio NYK, KANAGAWA ARTS THEATRE, Kyoto Art Center and others
Admission (Yokohama)
￥500 for each session (at door)
AIR Night Lounge 1&2: ￥1,000 (with one drink)
Admission free for TPAM Pass holders (please buy a drink at AIR Night Lounge 1&2)
Programs in Kyoto
http://air-kyoto.com/ (Inquiry: TEL 075-752-4311)

[Session 1]
Feb 13 (Mon) 14:00–16:00
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

The Current Situation of Performing Arts AIR in Japan

Discussion on the tasks, prospects and results of AIR in Japan with speakers from Japanese organizations and facilities that have been working on AIR projects.

Speakers
Eisuke Sugisaki (Arts Commission Yokohama Chief Coordinator, Yokohama Arts Foundation)
Akiko Takeshita (Producer, Performing Arts Section, Yamagichi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM])
Teiko Hinuma (Associate Professor, Joshibi University of Art and Design)
Fumi Yokobori (Program Director, Dance Box)
Moderator: Atsuko Hisano (Program Director, The Saison Foundation)

[Session 2]
Feb 13 (Mon) 16:30–18:30
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

Hearing from Artists—Why Artist-in-Residence Now?

A session having Japanese artists who have worked on or are going to work on AIR speak of the reason why they want to change their geographical bases for creation and their motivations for AIR programs in from artistic points of view.

Speakers
Noriyuki Kiguchi (Director, Akumanoshirushi/Construction Worker)
Chiharu Shinoda (Director, faifai/Eventor/Global Freeloader)
Pijin Neji (Choreographer/Dancer)
Yuya Tsukahara (Dancer, contact Gonzo)
Moderator: Atsuko Hisano (Program Director, The Saison Foundation)

[Session 3]
Feb 14 (Tue) 10:00–12:00
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

AIR in Asia 1

Discussion on the context, tasks and prospects that are unique to performing arts AIR in Asia with Asian organizers and artists who manage AIR facilities and/or are working on AIR programs.

Speakers
Wen Hui (Living Dance Studio, Beijing, China)
Bilqis Hijjas (Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia)
Jayachandran Palazhy (Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, India)
Soung Hyo Ryu (Busan Independent Cultural Space AGIT, Korea)
Seok Kyu Choi (Asia Now production, Korea)
Pichet Klunchun (Choreographer/Dancer, Thailand)

[Session 4]
Feb 14 (Tue) 13:00–15:00
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

AIR in Asia 2: Round Table

A round-table discussion with the speakers of the session 3 and presenters of public halls and private facilities that have been engaging in AIR projects in Japan, for network building that is needed to improve sustainable environment.

Participants
Wen Hui (Living Dance Studio, Beijing, China)
Bilqis Hijjas (Rimbun Dahan, Malaysia)
Jayachandran Palazhy (Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, India)
Soung Hyo Ryu (Busan Independent Cultural Space AGIT, Korea)
Seok Kyu Choi (Asia Now production, Korea)
Pichet Klunchun (Choreographer/Dancer, Thailand)
Naoyoshi Fujita (The Museum of Art, Kochi)
Yasuyo Kondo (21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa)
Chizu Saito (Concarino)
Kei Saito (BIRD Theatre Company TOTTORI)
Akiko Takeshita (Yamagichi Center for Arts and Media [YCAM])
Mayumi Yamamoto (Kyoto Art Center)
and others

[Showing 1]
Feb 14 (Tue) 16:45–18:15
KANAGAWA ARTS THEATRE, Middle Studio

Toyota Choreography Award Showing

“Toyota Choreography Award” aims to discover and support choreographers to lead the next generation, which is presented by Toyota Motor Corporation in cooperation with Setagaya Public Theatre since 2001. We will present a showcase by the awardees of “Next Generation Choreographer Award.”

Participating choreographers
Ikuyo Kuroda (2003 awardee)
Yoko Higashino (2004)
Maho Sumiji (2005)
Tsuyoshi Shirai (2006)
Yukio Suzuki (2008)
*order of appearance undecided

Organized by: Executive Committee of the Toyota Choreography Award; Toyota Motor Corporation; Japan Center, Pacific Basin Arts Communication
Co-organized by: Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama 2012 Executive Committee
In partnership with: Setagaya Arts Foundation, Setagaya Public Theatre
Produced by: Toyota Choreography Award Secretariat

[Session 5]
Feb 15 (Wed) 10:00–12:00
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

AIR—New Forms of Sharing

Kyohei Sakaguchi moved from Tokyo to Kumamoto right after the nuclear plant accident and established “Zero Center” and “New Government” to accept refugees from the areas stricken by the earthquake and to thoroughly reconsider the notion of “living” (he exhibits his “mobile house” at this TPAM). In this session, we have him and Todd Lester, the founder of “freeDimensional” that supports artists and cultural workers under severe pressures using AIR schemes, introduce their activities and discuss the possibility of the basics or AIR, that is to say, “to move to another place and stay in the new environment for a certain period."

Speakers
Todd Lester (Executive Director, Global Arts Corps)
Kyohei Sakaguchi (Architect/Writer/Painter/Prime Minister, New Government)

[Session 6]
Feb 15 (Wed) 13:00–15:00
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

AIR—New Forms of Sharing: Round Table

A round table discussion in continuation of the session 5.

Participants
Todd Lester (Executive Director, Global Arts Corps, USA)
Kyohei Sakaguchi (Architect/Writer/Painter/Prime Minister, New Government)
and others

[Showing 2]
Feb 15 (Wed) 17:30–19:00
BankART Studio NYK, NYK Hall

A Japan–Finland Contemporary Dance Residence Exchange Co-production Program: Kite by Ervi Sirén

In this project, dance creation and performance tours will be actualized in Japan and Finland to supplement and broaden both countries’ dance communities on an international scale. The Finnish artist Ervi Sirén resides in Japan, where she creates a dance performance Kite with Japanese artists.

Choreographer: Ervi Sirén
Sound Designer: Aake Otsala
Lighting Designer: Takayuki Fujimoto
Performers: Masaru Kakio, Takao Kawaguchi, Koji Tamamura, Takiko Iwabuchi, Yumi Tateishi

Organized by: NPO Japan Contemporary Dance Network, ZODIAK
Co-organized by: Performing Arts Meeting in Yokohama 2012 Executive Committee

[Session 7]
Feb 15 (Wed) 19:30–21:30
Yokohama Creativecity Center (YCC) 3F

Keynote Address: Creative Expression, Social Justice and AIR

Transcription (PDF 311KB)

It is not unusual in the world that artists’ expression and voices are suppressed by political, social, economical or military forces in their places. They can even be in a situation where their lives are at stake. Todd Lester has been defining the role of AIR in a broad perspective, supporting artists and cultural workers in these situations in cooperation with AIR facilities and organizations in a number of countries. He has become the executive director of Global Arts Corps where he works on projects that involve theatre practitioners from the both sides of opposed groups in residency, creation and touring to contribute to reconciliation in conflict zones in the world. In this keynote address, these activities are introduced and the extensive possibility of AIR is indicated from the point of view of creative expression and social justice.

Speaker
Todd Lester (Executive Director, Global Arts Corps)

[Latest AIR Practice 1: ST Spot]
Feb 15 (Wed) 22:00–23:00
Shichoshitsu2

AIR Night Lounge 1: Talk Session—Cirsumstance

Circumstance, based in the UK, is an artists’ group that works on various projects using the accidental in public space and technologies to actualize the poesy hidden in daily life in the real space. They are now staying in Yokohama to create a new piece. We have them talk about the ongoing project reflecting on their past pieces.

Speakers
Duncan Speakman, Sarah Anderson (Circumstance)
Moderator: Katsuhiro Ohira (Director, ST Spot)

[Tour!]
Feb 16 (Thu) 10:30–12:30

Yokohama AIR Facility Tour! (reservation needed, availability limited)

[Latest AIR Practice 2: The Museum of Art, Kochi × Japan Center, Pacific Basin Arts Communication]
Feb 16 (Thu) 22:00–23:00
Shichoshitsu2

AIR Night Lounge 2: Performance♪—Jacob Wren × Tori Kudo

The Montreal-based group PME is known for their acute and nonconformist theatre works including Unrehearsed Beauty/Le Génie des autres and Families Are Formed Through Copulation. The co-artistic director of the group, Jacob Wren, has long respected the musical genious Tori Kudo. They have finally met and have been working on an AIR project in Matsuyama, where Kudo is based. The process of the project is reported in the form of live performance.

Performers
Jacob Wren (PME-ART)
Tori Kudo (Maher Shalal Hash Baz)