EXHIBITION FACTS AND DATES TITLE DANCED CREATION Asia`s

 EXHIBITION FACTS AND DATES
TITLE
DANCED CREATION
Asia’s Mythical Past and Living Present
EXHIBITION VENUE
Weltmuseum Wien, Neue Burg
DURATION
April 17, 2013 - October 5, 2014
PRESS CONFERENCE
April 17, 2013 at 9 am, Hall of Columns, WMW
OPENING
April 16, April 2013 at 7 pm, Hall of Columns, WMW
EXHIBITION SPACE
900 m²
NUMBER OF EXHIBITS
c. 500
LECTURES AND EVENTS
Guided tours, dance workshops, lectures, events
Performance-series in collaboration with ImPulsTanz Festival
www.weltmuseumwien.at
EXIBITION CATALOGUE
„Danced Creation. Asia’s Mythical Past and Living Present“
Christian Brandstätter Publishers, Vienna 2013,
224 pages, € 29,95, available in German and English
EDUCATION
Christine Kaufmann, Tel. +43 (0)664 605 14 – 5050
[email protected]
CURATORS
Curators in Vienna: Jani Kuhnt-Saptodewo and Bettina Zorn
Co-Curators: Bulan Trisna Djelantik (Bali),
Didik Nini Thowok (Java), Matsune Michikazu (Japan),
Hiah Park (Korea), Terence Lewis (India) and
Pichet Klunchun (Thailand)
DANCED CREATION
Asia’s Mythical Past and Living Present
Weltmuseum Wien
April 17, 2013 - October 5, 2014
The exhibition focuses on different aspects of Asian dance and presents the historical and contemporary
elements of various dance traditions in an interactive way. In addition to museum artifacts the exhibit
showcases six contemporary Asian artists. We also offer a comprehensive programme of guided tours,
workshops, lectures and events.
Dance forms a seminal part of Asians’ cultural, religious and social life. Many temples feature depictions of
dancing deities, and the significance of Shiva Nataraja, whose divine dance began the process of creation,
is well known. Legend has it that the first Indian treatise on the art of dancing was published around 200
BC. Called “Natya Shastra”, or “The Book of Dance”, it was written by the Brahmin (priest), Bharata muni,
who was following a divine inspiration. Among other things the treatise comprises the first general rules
on dancing, instructions on depicting the nine emotions (rasa) and rules on different hand positions
(mudra) used by the dancer to transmit particular messages. Indian and South-Asian dance remains deeply
influenced by this treatise.
In many regions dance serves as a means of communication between man and the gods. In some
traditions, for example, a new choreography is introduced by a sacrifice, or the dance itself is regarded as a
sacrifice.
But who can rival the ability of dancers and choreographers to personify a dance? This is why we have
devised this exhibition “with them” not “about them”, and we have invited six contemporary Asian artists
to act as co-curators: Bulan Trisna Djelantik (Bali), Didik Nini Thowok (Java), Matsune Michikazu (Japan),
Hiah Park (Korea), Terence Lewis (India) and Pichet Klunchun (Thailand). They represent six different
aspects of traditional Asian dance and are themselves living testaments to the virtuosity of Asian artists.
The exhibition will showcase both some of their personal objects, e.g. costumes and props, and museum
exhibits selected by them.
The exhibition comprises two sections best defined by the terms “past” and “present”; they are, however,
closely connected because even today creating a dance cannot be separated from traditional aspects such
as those derived from mythology.
Following a short interactive introduction, the first gallery presents exhibits from Burma, India and Bali to
showcase the fundamental importance of dance as a means of communication between man and the gods.
Here visitors are also introduced to the Balinese choreographer, Bulan Trisna Djekantik. The next two
galleries focus on the mythological aspects of dance. The first presents the Khmer people of Cambodia,
represented here by exceptional artifacts on loan from the Musée Guimet in Paris. Objects from Angkor
Thom and Bayon illustrate how all Southeast-Asian dances have evolved from Khmer dances. Shiva
Nataraja, whose divine dance started the process of creation, is the focal point of the third gallery.
Returning through the first two galleries, visitors enter a gallery dedicated to dance theatre. It features
Japanese Noh and objects from Java, China and Thailand. In the next gallery visitors encounter two
contemporary Asian choreographers, the Indonesian dancer, Didik Nini Thowok, and the Japanese
performance artist, Matsune Michikazu, and can catch a glimpse into a dancer’s dressing room. The next
gallery focuses on the work of the female shaman, Hiah Park, and the role of dance in Korean shamanism.
The final gallery deals with what may be called “cross culture”, and introduces two more Asian
choreographers, the Indian dancer, Terence Lewis, and the Thai dancer and choreographer, Pichet Kluchun.
We also look at the importance of music for dance, and invite visitors to join interactive “dancing lessons”.
At the end of the exhibition visitors can relax in our coffee-shop while watching films that focus on or take
a closer look at topics showcased in the exhibition. A wealth of historical and contemporary film
documents - some of them on loan from leading international film collections - offer further “moving”
insights into the many different forms of Asian dance.
Interactive communication and education plays a pivotal role in this exhibition concept, and also informs
our comprehensive programme of events. In conjunction with the show we offer weekly guided tours,
workshops, lectures and events, and a performance-series organized in collaboration with the ImPulsTanz
Festival and presented by Ong Kwng Sen, a choreographer from Singapore.
This exhibition is curated by Jani Kuhnt-Saptodewo, Bettina Zorn and the co-curators named above.
We would like to thank the following cooperation partners and sponsors for their support:
The Musée Guimet (Paris), ImPulsTanz Festival, the Museum der Kulturen Basel, La Cinémathèque de la
Danse (Paris), the Film Archiv Austria, Stadt Wien, ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation), the Embassy of the
Republic of Indonesia, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the
Embassy of the Republic of India, and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines.
PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS
Workshop held in the exhibition with Didik Nini Thowok,
the Indonesian comedy and cross-gender artist
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
View into an exhibition gallery
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
View into an exhibition gallery
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
View into an exhibition gallery
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Buydentity Unknown
Michikazu Matsune
2013
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Shiva Nataraja
India
Loan from Musée Guimet, not dated
© Musée Guimet
Dance Masks „Black and White“
Thailand
Loaned by Pichet Klunchun, 2011
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Buddhist Ceitya
Loan from Musée Guimet
© Thierry Ollivier
Bronze Figure
Nepal, Newar
Manak Collection
acquired in 1971
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Legong Dance Costume
Bali
Mylius Collection
acquired in 1962
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Krishna
India
Brenner Collection
acquired in 1961
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Puppets
Austria
Teschner Collection
acquired in 1949
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Marble Figure of Krishna
India
Drächsler Collection
acquired in 1939
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Krishna on Katiga
Jaipur, India
Este Collection
acquired in 1893
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Wooden Figures
Burma
Este Collection
acquired in 1893
©KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Tsam Dance Figure
Mongolia
Leder Collection
acquired in 1906
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Mask
Java
Collection assembled by the Austro-Hungarian Trade
Expedition
acquired in 1906
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Mask
Siam/ Thailand
Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin
acquired in 1893
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Fan
Korea
Haas Collection
gift 1890
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Kagura Masks
Japan
Siebold Collection, gift 1889
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Tagore String Instrument
India
Tagore Collection, gift 1880
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Nō Musical Instruments
Richard von Wartinberg Collection and Este Collection,
gifts 1877 and not dated
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Barong Dance with Rangda Mask
Bali
Collection of Phorographs,
not dated
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Beskalan Dance Costume
Java
Loan from Didik Nini Thowok, not dated
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
Dance Costume
Burma
Loan from John Marshall, before 1970
© KHM mit MVK und ÖTM
OPENING HOURS
Weltmuseum Wien
1010 Wien, Heldenplatz
Daily except Tuesdays
10 am – 6 pm
Wednesdays 10 am – 9 pm (until June 30, 2013)
Library
Mondays and Tuesdays 10 am -4 pm
Wednesdays 10 am – 6 pm
Thursdays 10 am – 4 pm
closed on Fridays
ENTRANCE FEES
tickets
concessions
Vienna card
Groups of 20 or over, p.p.
Guided tour, p.p.
Audio Guide (German English)
Children under 19
Annual Ticket
Guided Tours
Guided tours for private groups and school groups
in German, English and sign language
Christine Kaufmann
Tel. +43 (0)664 605 14 – 5050
PRESS INFORMATION
Nina Auinger-Sutterlüty, MAS
Head of Communication & Public Relations
Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien mit MVK und ÖTM
1010 Wien, Burgring 5
Tel.: + 43 1 525 24 – 4021
Fax: + 43 1 525 24 – 4098
e-mail: [email protected]
www.weltmuseumwien.at
www.khm.at
€ 8,–
€ 6,–
€ 7,–
€ 6,–
€ 2,–
€ 2,–
frei
€ 34,–