International performers bring hotness to Bangkok next month

The perplexing movement of angst that is Japanese Butoh returns next week at the International Butoh Festival at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.

Inspired by Japanese saying, “If you sit on a rock long enough it will get hot,” the event will feature many international artists present their works here in Bangkok.

It’s year nine for the festival, and that number in Japanese sounds similar to the word “pain,” an exquisite coincidence for this 20th Century art form of distressed physicality.

A photo exhibition and installation will be on display all day for free Dec. 9 through 21. It features works by Boaz Zippor (Israel), Tawit Keitprapai (Thailand), Teerawat Mulvilai (Thailand) and Stephen Funke (Finland).

Four days of performance workshops start Dec. 4 with different Butoh gurus such as Takita Takayuki (Japan), Salome Nieto (Mexico/Canada), Paul Ibey (Canada), Valeria Geremia (Italy) and Valentin Tszin (Russia). Workshops cost THB1000.

The performances themselves are divided into four programs. More information on the workshops and program schedule is available online.

Tickets for most of the programs are THB600, or can be purchased together for THB1500. Student tickets are available for THB500 individually or THB1200 for all three. Reservations can be made at 085-160-1677 or bkkbutoh@yahoo.com.

FIND IT:

Butoh Fever: The 9th International Butoh Festival Thailand
Bangkok Art and Culture Centre
Fourth floor studio
Dec. 4-7 (workshops), Dec. 12-14 and 19-21 (performances)
Dec. 4-21 (photo exhibition)
BTS National Stadium