BUTOH IS NOT FOR THE FRAIL. THE
AVANT-garde dance form that today is Japan’s most
startling cultural export does not aim to charm. In-
stead, it sets out to assault the senses. The hallmarks
of this theatre of protest...clawed hands, rolled-up
eyes and mouths opened in silent screams.” -
Margarette Loke, New York Times 1987
This visual arts-based project has been created in
collaboration with Butoh dancer Yumino Seki, I gave her the reference word ‘Moss’ and through her
dance, she wilted from form to form. Butoh is an
Avant Garde dance practice which is commonly
associated with themes of the grotesque. The practice was founded by Hijikata Tatsumi and Ohno
Khazuo during post-war Japan (the 1950s). The form
was to reject the western influence on Japan with
ballet and contemporary dance and instead to look
inwards. Amongst the first performances by Hijikata
was called “ankoku butō” ‘dance of darkness’. The
work created for the exhibition also draws upon the
idea of the dance of darkness. The intention was to
create a photographic visual style that was dark and
explored the notion of moments between time but
the dance subject itself drew a relationship with the
earth and the Japanese people.