Hyakki Yakou, Image by Fiona Pienkowska
HYAKKI YAKOU – A Night Walk of A Hundred Demons
DEMONIC spirits, spine-chilling illusion and a fusion of light and sound will take place within the Indian folly at Hastings Museum & Art Gallery in a performance piece created by Japanese dance artist Yumino Seki, writes HOT’s Chris Cormack.
Ms Seki, whose work is inspired by the Butoh tradition of avant-garde dance, has choreographed Hyakki Yakou, which translates as A Night Walk of A Hundred Demons.
The site-specific performance was inspired by the dark atmosphere of The Durbar Hall at Hastings Museum and is based on the tale of terrifying yet comical demons who were believed to be the spirits of deserted objects in 16th century Japan.
Using specially commissioned light and sound effects, and costume, Ms Seki is working with two dancers Aisa Boaa & Mai Nguyen Tri to produce a dance installation within the folly which was built in 1886 and is the centrepiece of the museum.
The project, which runs for three nights during the Coastal Currents Visual Arts Festival, is also part of Japan400 which commemorates the 400th anniversary of Japanese-British relations.
Ms Seki, 52, who lives in St Leonards, said: “Hyakki Yakou forms a bridge between the cultures of Japan and the UK.
“My aim is to create a performance which incorporates the architecture of the space so that the audience experiences three-dimensional performance with dancers on both levels of the Durbar Hall”.
“The piece is experimental, expressive and evocative, a fusion of East and West art forms.”
Specially commissioned costumes have been designed by Anoushka Athique with sound works by HOT’s very own Nick Weekes and lights by Jim Roseveare.
Ms Seki, who has been practising Butoh since 1999, is a qualified Somatic Movement practitioner. Her website is www.yuminoseki.webs.com
Thursday & Saturday-Sunday 26-29 September, 7.30pm, The Durbar Hall, Hastings Museum & Art Gallery. Artist’s talk + short demonstration, September 24 at Hastings Museum, 3.30pm
Contact Yumino Seki on yumino@talk21.com
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