ur phantom eyes, our crystallized pains
Osamu Shikichi
Japanese presenters might have struggled to articulate what Osamu Shikichi has been doing—not only because they moved to Brussels during the pandemic, but also because their notion of “work” does not neatly align with traditional conceptions. ur phantom eyes, our crystallized pains, launched during their studies at P.A.R.T.S., has functioned both as a performance and as a platform for ideas they have long explored, including skepticism about ownership of one's own body, the violence of the gaze, and phantom pain. Their approach to these ideas does not take the form of a critique of alienation in hyper-consumerist society, but is indistinguishable from their pursuit of liberation within the regime. We expect this session to be an opportunity to have them unpack and share what they have accumulated and to reflect on contemporary performing arts' capacity to serve as a vessel for such explorations.
Supporter: Stefa Govaart
Venue
- Steep Slope Studio
- 26-1 Oimatsu-cho, Nishi-ku, Yokohama 220-0032
Date and Time
12.12 Fri 15:00
Running Time
150 minutes (presentation + discussion)
Language
English
Translation/Subtitles
No interpretation
Tickets
Open to YPAM registrants only
Free (reservation required with limited capacity)
Available at the YPAM Ticketing site
*This program is not a full performance but consists of an informal presentation and discussion.
*The presentation and discussion will be conducted in English without interpretation.
*Recording planned to be available on Swapcard 3 days after the presentation until December 31.
Artist Information
- Osamu Shikichi
Osamu Shikichi makes dance and performative installations that explore physical identity and notions of self-possession. Often referencing WET (Weird Erotic Tensions) movements, such as ASMR visualisations, their work examines how the assumptions we hold about our bodies are coded by spectatorship, and the politics and violence of the gaze. Shikichi is born in Japan and studied sculpture before transitioning to performance. Recent works include happy ice cream, YDC2020; blooming dots, TPAM Fringe 2021; and hyper ambient club, ROHM Theatre Kyoto (2022) and Creative Centre Osaka (2023). Shikichi received the Pola Art Foundation Fellowship in 2023 and also was selected for Under 30 Forbes Japan 2023 and ACY artist fellow 2024.
- Stefa Govaart
Stefa Govaart's works across the performing arts, critical theory and poetry. They regularly collaborate with artists including Bryana Fritz, Lydia McGlinchey, Marko Gutić Mižimakov, and Osamu Shikichi. With Marija Cetinić, Persis Bekkering and Tessel Veneboer, they initiated the Sex Negativity Research Group at Amsterdam School of Cultural Analysis. Govaart performed in works by Oscar Murillo, Eszter Salamon, Claudia Pagès Rabal, among others. Recent text publications engage with the work of artists Simon Asencio, PRICE, and Tobias Koch. Govaart holds MA degrees in Cultural Analysis (University of Amsterdam) and Performance Studies (New York University), having previously studied dance at P.A.R.T.S. (Brussels), where they currently teach Writing and Performance Theory.
Staff, Cast and Credits
Organized by the Japan Foundation and Yokohama International Performing Arts Meeting Executive Committee
