Jerome Bel – Pichet Klunchun and Myself

pica-blogger — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:30:32 +0000

Jerome Bel
Pichet Klunchun and Myself
Portland State University, Lincoln Hall
Sun. Sept. 07, 2008
Posted by: Camille Gerharter
Pichet Klunchun is Thai, and a master of Thai classical dance. Jerome Bel is French and a contemporary performance art choreographer, with 10 years experience as a professional dancer.
In “Pichet Klunchun and Myself,” Klunchun and Bel sit in chairs on stage and ask each other basic questions about themselves and their professions. They demonstrate dance movements and explain what the movements symbolize. Although culturally and stylistically dissimilar, their dances have the same message, which is to be aware of our body. The Thai idea of the body is energy, the French idea is flesh.
The contemporary audience is detached from their bodies, in a landscape of ideas, due to the dominant global culture: television.
The act of performance has time and presence where we can be made aware, through demonstration and conversation of our relationship to our bodies. Being in the body, in the ‘here and now,’ is to be connected with each other and ourselves, and to be alive.

In my experience viewing artists and musicians, and then walking away afterwards with whatever company I went to see the show with, some of the things that usually come up in the after-show conversation are “how old do you think he/she is?” “I wonder if they’re single?” “I wonder how they support themselves?” “I wonder why they chose to do this, what motivates them?” ” Does it have cultural significance, or ‘socially redeeming value’?” “Am I seeing the performance the way that the artist intended or am I just seeing it in whatever way pleases me?”
Well – finally, in the conversation between Jerome and Pichet, my questions were voiced and answered in a clear and honest way. And it was like “ooohhhhh.” Smile, nod “reallllyy?.” Smile, nod “ohhhh!”
“huh. Yep.”

Jerome Bel – PICA

Jerome Bel – Pichet Klunchun and Myself