FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Marriage of two souls

Marriage of two souls

The Korean-Thai production "Something Missing" wins two awards at the Bangkok Theatre Festival

THANKS TO THE support of Korean Cultural Centre and the Korea Arts Management Service’s Travelling Korean Arts programme, South Korean physical theatre company Theatre Mommgol was able to spend more than three weeks in Bangkok recently to collaborate with its Thai counterparts B-Floor on a new work.
 The result of that collaboration, “Something Missing”, was performed three times at Thong Lor Art Space, as part of the venue’s inaugural edition of Low Fat Art Fest as well as at the Bangkok Theatre Festival 2015.
From start to finish of this riveting 50-minute performance, the first floor space was designed and fully used in such a creative way that it looked like a new venue, a feat down to Korean director’s Jong Yeon Yoon talent for and experience in creating site-specific performances.
Performers Jeoung Eun Kim, Min Ki and Jee Hyun Nho blended with two Thai counterparts into one united ensemble, just as if they belonged to the same company. In addition, the fact that Jong and his Thai counterpart Teerawat Mulvilai have strong social and political awareness was evident in this work from two democratic countries with a recent history of dictatorship and political protests.
An audience member, who also watched Teerawat’s “Mano Land” last month, wondered if it were possible for Teerawat to create works that had nothing to do with politics.
My feeling is that in this kind of political situation, that is probably not an option.
Much credit is also due to independent producer Suna Choe, the matchmaker for this happy marriage. For Suna, who spent two years working for Korean Cultural Centre, this project will probably signal more Korean-Thai collaboration in the future.
Sound designer Kamonpat Pimsarn, recently acclaimed for his work in B-Floor’s “Mano Land”, continued to amaze with his skills and creativity. It’s astonishing how much he can do with his guitar, without ever upstaging the performers.
Deservingly, members of the Thailand centre of International Association of Theatre Critics gave two Bangkok Theatre Festival awards to “Something Missing” – best movement-based performance and best art direction. What’s still missing in this memorable work is the artistic presence of Teerawat, who had to miss the last phase of collaboration due to another overseas work and hence his particular style of physical movements was noticeably absent. However, after the Bangkok Theatre Festival, Teerawat joined the team in another phase of research and collaboration in Seoul last week, and presumably the collaboration is now in balance. That said, let’s hope that this project receives more support, especially from the Thai government, and continues.
 MORE LOW FAT
- Wrapping up the first Low Fat Art Fest, the Philippines’ Daloy Dance Company presents “Dysmorphilia” – its collaboration with Thai visual artist Chulayarnnon Siriphol – at Thong Lor Art Space from tomorrow to Sunday at 8pm. Tickets are Bt550 (Bt450 for students). Call (095) 924 4555 or (095_ 542 4555.
- The black-light photo exhibition “La vie en rose” is ongoing Thong Lor Art Space as part of the French Embassy’s Galleries Night Bangkok.
- For more details, check www.Facebook.com/Thonglorartspace.

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