The Great Wave of Kanawaga, Hokusai, contemporary dance

03.11.2023

Sub-Series

5 Pictures

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

Date: 4 – 5 March 2022
Location: Studio on 4th floor

On one side and the other, two bodies sail in silence for a fragile dance that is wave and tide of
encounters and disagreements. Near and far, the two divers discover themselves in an invisible
dialogue of memories and stories that invade our imaginary. A paper choreography drawn from
an open dance of senses and dives in other readings – far and near, closer than far, east and
west, on either side of the ocean, they bring to the surface a sea of illusions. And in the range of
a wave they give place to the encounter (of another wave).

An initial image motivates the creation of this contemporary dance piece, remaining invisible but
present – “The Great Wave of Kanawaga”, iconic work of the Japanese painter Hokusai, created in
1830 and reproduced from the mid-1870s through a series of lithographs using the traditional
Japanese print technique known as ukiyo (literally, “floating world”).

In this floating world nothing is too small or insignificant to hold our attention. This
monochromatic performance of shadows, evocations and masks whose Hokusai wave allows to
embody is a double invitation to travel and stillness. In the dark and in the l ight, only two
elements – body and paper reveal in their plasticity and in their fragility and impermanence, a
symbolic, abstract and imagery ritual immersed to East and West in a coexistence of readings
and meanings, where less is more.

On stage, an origami wave – a scenographic installation made of paper, Rafael Alvarez
(Portuguese choreographer and dancer) is accompanied by Noeli Kikuchi (Japanese-Portuguese
dancer) presenting for the first time in Thailand this show premiered in 2017 in Tokyo, Yokohama
and Lisbon and which has since been presented in Portugal, Japan, Egypt and Cape Verde.
Over the last 23 years Rafael Alvarez’s choreographic work reveals a strong visual dimension,
standing out for the enigmatic, symbolic, poetic and minimalist use of the body, dance and
space. His dance pieces has been presented since 1997 in Europe, South America and North
America, Middle East, Asia and Africa produced by his dance production company –
BODYBUILDERS, based in Lisbon – Portugal.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre

Principal Supporter: Thai Beverage Public Company Limited

ISAD (G)