Performances

BRAIN

• Photo: Hikaru Toda
• Visual image: Mitsuru Tokisato

• Photo: Mitsuru Tokisato

• Photo: Mitsuru Tokisato

Profile

• Formed 1983 in Osaka, Japan. Based in Osaka, Japan.

TAIHEN is a performance group founded by Kim Manri, in Osaka 1983. All of the members have physical disabilities. The group places value precisely on their bodies considered “deformed” and their crawling over the floor in a way deemed “ugly.” They have unswervingly continued to pursue the nature of bodies with disabilities. Their expression is an act of resistance to the outlook on beauty constructed by bodies that walk erect on two legs, and all the attendant social norms and biases. This has confronted audiences by making them question what “ugliness” and “beauty” are. Besides being staunchly supported by the late Ohno Kazuo, one of the legendary Butoh dancers, their incomparable physicality has had a significant influence on literature, philosophy, sociology, activism, and other aspects.
This new work by TAIHEN confronts the brain with the bodies of disabled people that do not follow its orders and are detached from its control. It is an attempt to depict the history of the twisted and tangled relationship between the body and the brain, in response to the present social situation, in which artificial intelligence is in the process of affecting every facet of our lives. BRAIN is a collaboration with Tokisato Mitsuru, who has a keen interest in bodies and creates installations and live performances applying AI technology. Through it, TAIHEN is taking up the challenge of a new work that looks at how our respect for our existence (life) can be preserved in contemporary society.

Selected Performances

2023

“We came from Africa,” ABC Hall (Osaka, Japan)

2022

“Song of White Petals,” AI HALL (Hyogo, Japan)

2021

“Wandering Love” (trilogy), Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting 2021 (Kanagawa, Japan)

2005

“The Legend of Maha-Laba Village,” Theater der Welt (Stuttgart, Germany)

1997

“DEPARTED SOUL,” 11. Berner Tanztage (Switzerland)

Staff

Staff

Kim Manri
Artistic Director, TAIHEN playwright, director and performer

Kim Manri was born as the youngest daughter of Hong Ju Kim, a Korean traditional performer who worked actively in Japan. Infected with polio at the age of three, she became severely handicapped with total paralysis. She founded the Performance Troupe TAIHEN in 1983 and has been its artistic director writing for, directing and performing in 83 works (as of December 2024) including her solo works. Since performing in Kenya in 1992, she has toured many times in Asia and Europe. She has also carried out physical expression workshop across Japan and internationally regardless of whether the participants are disabled or not.

• Photo: Yamada Tokuharu (500G)

TOKISATO Mitsuru

Born in Hyogo Prefecture 1990, Mitsuru Tokisato graduated from the International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences (IAMAS) in 2010 and Tama Art University in 2012. He does experiments and makes observations related to screens and cameras, and has produced and shown works dealing with digitality, i.e., cognition and weight reduction. He appears in live performances with the unit Shojiki with Muku Kobayashi and others. He has participated in many exhibitions, including Emergencies! 022 ‘Viewpoint Unit’ (ICC/2014), Counting Appearance Training (SOBO/2016), Counting Appearance Training #2 (gallery toplus/2017), Rabbit Reading (TABULAE/2018), and the 12th Yebisu International Festival for Art & Alternative Visions: 2020 (Tokyo Photographic Art Museum /2020).

Болот Байрышев

Born in Ust-Kan in 1962, Bolot Bairyshev is a singer representing the vocal traditions of the Altai Republic (Russian Federation). Accompanying himself with topchur (a two-stringed lute), komuz (a mouth harp), and shoor (vertical flute), Bairyshev performs Kai, a traditional Altai throat singing technique. His professional career began when he won the international music contest Voice of Asia in 1992. He went on to perform around the world, especially in Europe, and collaborated with artists such as Joe Zawinul of Weather Report. He has also starred in four films and received a special UNESCO award recognizing his cultural work.

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Underline describes himself as an art player and experimental artist. He began working as an experimental DJ in 2002, and in 2003 started noise-based performances incorporating industrial rubber. Since 2010, he has been creating temporary sculptural forms as bodily extensions using latex gloves, often described as a “second skin.” His work explores the inframince illusion of the self, shaped by the multiplicity of lived experience and its ties to existence.

Performer

Ijiri Kazumi, Ikeda Hayato, Koizumi Yusuke, Shimomura Masaya, Mukai Nozomi, Yamazaki Yuki, Watanabe Ayano

Ijiri Kazumi

• Photo: bozzo

Ikeda Hayato

• Photo: bozzo

Koizumi Yusuke

• Photo: bozzo

Shimomura Masaya

• Photo: bozzo

Mukai Nozomi

• Photo: bozzo

Yamazaki Yuki

• Photo: bozzo

Watanabe Ayano

• Photo: bozzo

Assistance for viewing

[Before you attend]

• This is a non-verbal work.
• Preschool-aged children are welcome to attend this performance. Children of preschool age may attend for free if they sit on an accompanying adult’s lap. A ticket is required for children who need a separate seat (U25 tickets are available).Childcare service is available for parents or guardians who wish to attend alone.
• Visitors using wheelchairs are asked to contact i-Ticket at 0570-00-5310.

[Childcare Services]

Childcare services are available. Advance reservation is required. For more details, please refer to the Childcare Service Guide.

[MEET THE ARTIST (9/26 (Fri))]

A talk with the cast and director(s) will follow the performance. Audience members are welcome to attend without a reservation.

• Live text support via UD Talk.

[Relaxed Performance (9/28 (Sun))]

These performances ease standard theater etiquette—small sounds and entering/exiting during the show are welcome. Families with children and people with disabilities can enjoy the performance in a more comfortable setting. A relaxed lobby space and stage-view monitors are available. For more details, please refer to　For visitors interested in Relaxed Performances.