About 'My heart is a spoon"
The young #1 has so much energy she doesn't know what to
do with it and Manga is the explosive world that can contain her. The older #2
experienced rage in his life, but at a time when sublimation and positive
construction were the only allowed outlets for the pent-up feelings. Each is a
mirror of the other and just as rage must find its release, so #1 discovers the
world is made of beautiful halftones and layers and #2 finds his long-awaited
release.
My Heart is a spoon explores how a girl and a
man find outlets to express their deep energies: in anger or humour, destructively,
constructively, or passively. It is inspired by the bold aesthetic and energy
of the black and white world of Manga cartooning and by Manga’s direct
historical development and connection to traditional printmaking.
(Originally Japanese, Manga is modern storytelling based in traditional legends
and mythologies. It is now ubiquitous and popular with millions
internationally.)
This project stems from 2 sources. First is my
fascination and delight in the pure energy contained in Manga art and that this
form of cartooning has existing since the 1600's to 2012! The range and
freedom of expression is unbelievable and it's no surprise that Manga comics,
and their outgrowth in Anime (animated manga) is hugely popular worldwide.
Manga stories are of mythological proportions: bigger than big, smaller that
small, a chapter full of action in square blocks, then just one person on a
white page. Then a black diagonal slash through the person and the story is now
told in spirals. This freedom of expression and yet such control led me to
the second source for the development of My heart is a spoon: an enquiry
into the different ways that societies and people manage extreme and
cataclysmic feelings. At one end of the spectrum are societies bursting with
emotional expression at every moment, at the other end, those that demand
sublimation of emotional energy to channel it through group expression and/or
productive actions (industrial, artistic, sportive, etc.). Individuals within a
society develop personal survival methods, these methods can be put off-balance
in situations of extreme pressure (family, personal, political). Pent-up energy
creates a pressure-cooker effect that demands a release of some kind.
The stage world includes live dance performance, and
virtual media and light. We are aiming to bridge our digital fantasy
world with the actual world of physical performance. And just as these digital
worlds are dreamed up by live people, so the piece begins with #1 engulfed by
media and resolves with the live performance being the primary source of
inter-human interaction.
This is the First Incarnation of “My heart is a spoon”. Your
essential participation as audience will help determine the shape and details
of its next life.
WANT TO KNOW MORE..... leading up to the show
January 7 Language of Dance and the Creative Act
discussion in Psychoanalysis and Art with
Maxine Heppner and Dr. Mavis Himes
including dance with Takako Segawa and En Lai Mah
at Womens Art Association Sat 9:30-12:30
more info here
January 16 Manga from Edo to Now
discovering the wonderful world of manga art from the 1600's to now
with Carol Dorman at the Japan Foundation
including dance with Maxine Heppner and Takako Segawa
ON Radio Jan 7 CIUT at 2pm
Jan 13 Classical 96 9:30am
ON TV Jan 16 Rogers am and pm
LIGHTING for these TIMES
2 workshops by FUJIMOTO TAKAYUKI
Toronto - Jan 17, 24 UC Drama UofT
St. Catherines Jan 27, 28 Brock University