From Greek Mythology to an Imaginary World: Contemporary Allegory
In his classic work “The Sun”, Japanese playwright Tomohiro Maekawa explores a scenario where the Sun, essential for human existence, ironically becomes a polarizing issue that divides humanity into opposing factions, prompting deep philosophical inquiries into survival and choice against a backdrop of political dysfunction. Japan’s Butoh troupe Dairakudakan Butoh Workshop, led by Akaji Maro, has collaborated with contemporary French choreographer François Chaignaud to present the dance piece “Gold Shower.” Inspired by Greek mythology and intertwining two mythologies and distinct dance styles, this transcultural dialogue will lead the audience into an exchange of bodies that transcends nationality, culture, and age. Subverting mainstream societal aesthetic experiences, the two dancers appear as embodiments of the Sun God and Love God, initiating various encounters, explorations, and interactions, performed with curiosity. Not merely a dance, it resembles an exploration of the sacred rituals of the human body, delving into the infinite possibilities of human nature, bodies, and disguise.