Contemporary Dance
‘Fruits borne out of rust’ to feature at Japan Society on March 6, March 7
Visual artist Tabaimo’s brainchild ‘Fruits borne out of rust’ crafted in collaboration with choreographer Maki Morishita arrives in NYC’s Japan Society this weekend.
‘Fruits borne out of rust’ explores what it means to ‘rust’ in our society in a multi-layered visual installation set to live music, contemporary dance, animation, and much more. The performance stars a single featured dancer, Chiharu Mamiya, on stage as visual artist Tabaimo’s animations are projected over the dancer and the set behind her. Two on-stage musicians, Yusuke Awazu & Keisuke Tanaka, perform an original score for the journey and thematic exploration happening on stage.
In a recent Japan Society interview, Tabaimo describes the word ‘rusting’ as having a “negative image” but at the same “a very active chemical reaction that takes place and is not settled.” Tabaimo, goes on to describe what ‘rusting’ meant to her when she and choreographer Maki Morishita revived the show (for the third time) at age 40/41 as compared to now.
“On the other hand, rust stabilizes matter so that it is still and unmoving. So at that age, it made me wonder what the body ‘rusting’ means to me and what it is like to rust.” – Tabaimo
‘Fruits borne out of rust’ will have two back-to-back shows at New York City’s Japan Society this weekend on Friday, March 6 (7:30 pm) and Saturday, March 7 (7:30 pm). A ‘MetLife Meet-the-Artists Reception’ will follow the performance on Friday and an ‘Artist Q & A’ will be held following Saturday’s show.
Award-winning choreographer Maki Morishita, who studied contemporary dance and butoh under the tutelage of Kim Itoh, described the production as “truly one of a kind.” The show recently featured on February 28 and 29 over at Wesleyan University’s CFA Theater.
Blending Art and Performance
In Japan Society’s February 28 interview, Tabaimo describes the process of blending art and stage performance as one.
“It’s difficult to make changes to moving images once they’ve been created. But, in performing arts pieces, you are required to make big changes depending on how things relate onstage. I have high hopes for all the possibilities available in performing art pieces that are not easily realized in visual arts.” – Tabaimo
‘Fruits borne out of rust’ dives into “unsettling themes” lurking beneath the surface of daily life. Visual artist Tabaimo is influenced by a combination of ‘anime, manga, and ukiyoe woodcuts as aesthetic inspiration’ for her animated video work according to Art21.org.
Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street – New York, NY 10017. Tickets to this weekend’s performances are available at this Japan Society link.
Fruits borne out of rust – Directed by Tabaimo, Choreographed by Maki Morishita featuring star dancer Chiharu Mamiya and on-stage musicians Yusuke Awazu & Keisuke Tanaka – Photo Credit: Tabaimo via Japan Society
Be sure to read The Natural Aristocrat’s impressions of ‘Tora-san’s Runaway‘ and ‘Tora-san Meets His Lordship’ 4K Film Restorations at Japan Society.