One Day, Maybe
| Created by | Dreamthinkspeak | |
| Produced by | Institute of Asian Cultural Development AsiaNow The Museum of Art, Kochi 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa Dreamthinkspeak |
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| Commissioned by | Asian Culture Complex The Museum of Art, Kochi 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa |
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| Sponsored by |
British Council |
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| Contact us | 02-765-6582 / www.onedaymaybe.com |
- Date and venue
| Korea | 2013.9.3-15 | Gwangju Girl’s High School |
| Japan |
2013.11.2-9 2013.11.28-12.8 |
The Museum of Art, Kochi 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa |
After being inspired by the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement, Tristan Sharps, artistic director of theatre company dreamthinkspeak from the UK, directed a site-responsive performance titled <One Day, Maybe>.
Its first performance will take place in Gwangju Girls’ High School from 3 -15 September.
The birthplace of Korean democracy
Gwangju is regarded as the birthplace of Korean democracy; the result of the democratic uprising that occurred in 1980. Against a military government which had originally appeared on the scene through a coup, the people of Gwangju had begun gathering in force to protest against martial law and demand freedom for the press. They dedicated lives to democracy.
While the Gwangju Democratic Uprising didn't directly bring democracy to South Korea, it fuelled further movements that eventually led to our modern-day democratic country. In 1993, President Kim Young-Sam made his position clear in a speech: The bloodshed of Gwangju in 1980 is the cornerstone of this Country's democracy.
May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement and Arab Spring
When Tristan Sharps visited Gwangju two years ago, the Arab Spring flashed into his mind. In his opinion, democratic movement in Gwangju can be linked to the current one happening in the Arab world. Moreover, he questioned that “How would the victims of the May 18 democratic movement evaluate our current democratic status? Was democracy spread or is it no better than it was before?” Based on his thoughts to those questions, he began conceiving the performance.
<One Day, Maybe> is inspired by the Gwangju Democratic Uprising, but it does not explain it much. It attempts to make the event more relevant to the themes of freedom and liberation.
Richly visual, site-responsive promenade production, One Day, Maybe
A site-responsive performance is any type of production that is performed at a site built without any aim of serving theatrical purposes such as a hotel, shopping mall, or forest. Compared to the production taken place in a standard theatre, the staging area is much flexible. Additionally, there is no distinction between the area the audience sit or stand and the space for action. The performers take advantage of these by acting walking around the site. In the case of the audience, they are expected to follow the cast to watch and mingle with the action.
<One Day, Maybe> will be performed in Gwangju Girl’s High School, slipping seamlessly between product design, architectural landscapes, and live performance. The production will exploit the entire space of the site.
Korea-UK- Japan co-production
This project started as a part of Project Development Institute hosted by the Asian Arts Theater of the Asian Culture Complex in Korea. Under the mission of developing Asian Arts, <One Day, Maybe> is produced by a group of international artists and experts from the Asian Culture Complex in Korea, the Art museum, Kochi, and the 21st century museum of contemporary art, in Kanazawa in Japan. Tristan Sharps from dreamthinkspeak, a British company recognized as a key producer of a site-responsive company, directed the performance.
Why don’t you enjoy this meaningful production in Gwangju this autumn?
The Hub City of Asian Culture Project, administered by the national government of Korea, aims to forge cultural ties and establish a forum of exchange with various Asian countries. Its larger vision is to contribute to enhancing the overall quality of life of Asians. The Asian Arts theatre is one of the Asian Culture Complex facilities. It would be the nurturing ground and a hub of performing arts where Asian artists can be free to create and stage their performances. The project is expected to be completed by 2014.
AsiaNow is a producing company founded in 2005 to develop, produce, and present innovative Korean and international contemporary physical theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary arts. It is strongly involved in creative development, international co-production, and performing arts management.
Created in 1999 by artistic director Tristan Sharps, dreamthinkspeak have been quietly reinventing site-specific theatre for some years now, creating walk-through shows all over the world, from a Moscow paper factory to a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The Museum of Art, Kochi was established in Kochi City in 1993. It holds excellent works of art by both domestic and foreign artists; Marc Chagall, expressionists, and other celebrated artists with connections to Kochi Prefecture. The Museum Hall, with a seating capacity of 399, holds approximately 15 shows a year, with genres ranging from dance, theatre, and concert.
The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa has been established with the mission of generating new culture and revitalizing its community. The museum seeks to awaken Kanazawa’s creative energy and become a compelling regional cultural attraction. Its missions are as follows: to be a museum that moves in step with contemporary society; to create a participation-oriented museum along with citizens and revitalize the community; to grow in spirit along with children; to be an art museum open to the world.