DANCED CREATION Asia s Mythical Past and Living Present. DURATION April 17, October 5, April 17, 2013 at 9 am, Hall of Columns, WMW

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1 EXHIBITION FACTS AND DATES TITLE DANCED CREATION Asia s Mythical Past and Living Present EXHIBITION VENUE Weltmuseum Wien, Neue Burg DURATION April 17, October 5, 2014 PRESS CONFERENCE April 17, 2013 at 9 am, Hall of Columns, WMW OPENING April 16, April 2013 at 7 pm, Hall of Columns, WMW EXHIBITION SPACE 900 m² NUMBER OF EXHIBITS c. 500 LECTURES AND EVENTS Guided tours, dance workshops, lectures, events Performance-series in collaboration with ImPulsTanz Festival EXIBITION CATALOGUE Danced Creation. Asia s Mythical Past and Living Present Christian Brandstätter Publishers, Vienna 2013, 224 pages, 29,95, available in German and English EDUCATION Christine Kaufmann, Tel. +43 (0) christine.kaufmann@weltmuseumwien.at CURATORS Curators in Vienna: Jani Kuhnt-Saptodewo and Bettina Zorn Co-Curators: Bulan Trisna Djelantik (Bali), Didik Nini Thowok (Java), Matsune Michikazu (Japan), Hiah Park (Korea), Terence Lewis (India) and Pichet Klunchun (Thailand)

500 LECTURES AND EVENTS Guided tours, dance workshops, lectures, events Performance-series in collaboration with ImPulsTanz Festival www.weltmuseumwien.at EXIBITION CATALOGUE Danced Creation.

2 DANCED CREATION Asia s Mythical Past and Living Present Weltmuseum Wien April 17, October 5, 2014 The exhibition focuses on different aspects of Asian dance and presents the historical and contemporary elements of various dance traditions in an interactive way. In addition to museum artifacts the exhibit showcases six contemporary Asian artists. We also offer a comprehensive programme of guided tours, workshops, lectures and events. Dance forms a seminal part of Asians cultural, religious and social life. Many temples feature depictions of dancing deities, and the significance of Shiva Nataraja, whose divine dance began the process of creation, is well known. Legend has it that the first Indian treatise on the art of dancing was published around 200 BC. Called Natya Shastra, or The Book of Dance, it was written by the Brahmin (priest), Bharata muni, who was following a divine inspiration. Among other things the treatise comprises the first general rules on dancing, instructions on depicting the nine emotions (rasa) and rules on different hand positions (mudra) used by the dancer to transmit particular messages. Indian and South-Asian dance remains deeply influenced by this treatise. In many regions dance serves as a means of communication between man and the gods. In some traditions, for example, a new choreography is introduced by a sacrifice, or the dance itself is regarded as a sacrifice. But who can rival the ability of dancers and choreographers to personify a dance? This is why we have devised this exhibition with them not about them, and we have invited six contemporary Asian artists to act as co-curators: Bulan Trisna Djelantik (Bali), Didik Nini Thowok (Java), Matsune Michikazu (Japan), Hiah Park (Korea), Terence Lewis (India) and Pichet Klunchun (Thailand). They represent six different aspects of traditional Asian dance and are themselves living testaments to the virtuosity of Asian artists. The exhibition will showcase both some of their personal objects, e.g. costumes and props, and museum exhibits selected by them. The exhibition comprises two sections best defined by the terms past and present ; they are, however, closely connected because even today creating a dance cannot be separated from traditional aspects such as those derived from mythology. Following a short interactive introduction, the first gallery presents exhibits from Burma, India and Bali to showcase the fundamental importance of dance as a means of communication between man and the gods.

We also offer a comprehensive programme of guided tours, workshops, lectures and events. Dance forms a seminal part of Asians cultural, religious and social life.

3 Here visitors are also introduced to the Balinese choreographer, Bulan Trisna Djekantik. The next two galleries focus on the mythological aspects of dance. The first presents the Khmer people of Cambodia, represented here by exceptional artifacts on loan from the Musée Guimet in Paris. Objects from Angkor Thom and Bayon illustrate how all Southeast-Asian dances have evolved from Khmer dances. Shiva Nataraja, whose divine dance started the process of creation, is the focal point of the third gallery. Returning through the first two galleries, visitors enter a gallery dedicated to dance theatre. It features Japanese Noh and objects from Java, China and Thailand. In the next gallery visitors encounter two contemporary Asian choreographers, the Indonesian dancer, Didik Nini Thowok, and the Japanese performance artist, Matsune Michikazu, and can catch a glimpse into a dancer s dressing room. The next gallery focuses on the work of the female shaman, Hiah Park, and the role of dance in Korean shamanism. The final gallery deals with what may be called cross culture, and introduces two more Asian choreographers, the Indian dancer, Terence Lewis, and the Thai dancer and choreographer, Pichet Kluchun. We also look at the importance of music for dance, and invite visitors to join interactive dancing lessons. At the end of the exhibition visitors can relax in our coffee-shop while watching films that focus on or take a closer look at topics showcased in the exhibition. A wealth of historical and contemporary film documents - some of them on loan from leading international film collections - offer further moving insights into the many different forms of Asian dance. Interactive communication and education plays a pivotal role in this exhibition concept, and also informs our comprehensive programme of events. In conjunction with the show we offer weekly guided tours, workshops, lectures and events, and a performance-series organized in collaboration with the ImPulsTanz Festival and presented by Ong Kwng Sen, a choreographer from Singapore. This exhibition is curated by Jani Kuhnt-Saptodewo, Bettina Zorn and the co-curators named above. We would like to thank the following cooperation partners and sponsors for their support: The Musée Guimet (Paris), ImPulsTanz Festival, the Museum der Kulturen Basel, La Cinémathèque de la Danse (Paris), the Film Archiv Austria, Stadt Wien, ASEF (Asia-Europe Foundation), the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Thailand, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Embassy of the Republic of India, and the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines.

Objects from Angkor Thom and Bayon illustrate how all Southeast-Asian dances have evolved from Khmer dances.

4 PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS Workshop held in the exhibition with Didik Nini Thowok, the Indonesian comedy and cross-gender artist View into an exhibition gallery View into an exhibition gallery View into an exhibition gallery Buydentity Unknown Michikazu Matsune 2013

into an exhibition gallery View into an exhibition gallery View

5 Shiva Nataraja India Loan from Musée Guimet, not dated Musée Guimet Dance Masks Black and White Thailand Loaned by Pichet Klunchun, 2011 Buddhist Ceitya Loan from Musée Guimet Thierry Ollivier Bronze Figure Nepal, Newar Manak Collection acquired in 1971

Klunchun, 2011 Buddhist Ceitya Loan from Musée Guimet Thierry

6 Legong Dance Costume Bali Mylius Collection acquired in 1962 Krishna India Brenner Collection acquired in 1961 Puppets Austria Teschner Collection acquired in 1949 Marble Figure of Krishna India Drächsler Collection acquired in 1939

Puppets Austria Teschner Collection acquired in 1949

7 Krishna on Katiga Jaipur, India Este Collection acquired in 1893 Wooden Figures Burma Este Collection acquired in 1893 Tsam Dance Figure Mongolia Leder Collection acquired in 1906 Mask Java Collection assembled by the Austro-Hungarian Trade Expedition acquired in 1906

Figure Mongolia Leder Collection acquired in 1906 Mask Java

8 Mask Siam/ Thailand Museum für Völkerkunde Berlin acquired in 1893 Fan Korea Haas Collection gift 1890 Kagura Masks Japan Siebold Collection, gift 1889 Tagore String Instrument India Tagore Collection, gift 1880 Nō Musical Instruments Richard von Wartinberg Collection and Este Collection, gifts 1877 and not dated

Tagore String Instrument India Tagore Collection, gift 1880 Nō Musical

9 Barong Dance with Rangda Mask Bali Collection of Phorographs, not dated Beskalan Dance Costume Java Loan from Didik Nini Thowok, not dated Dance Costume Burma Loan from John Marshall, before 1970

10 OPENING HOURS Weltmuseum Wien 1010 Wien, Heldenplatz Daily except Tuesdays 10 am 6 pm Wednesdays 10 am 9 pm (until June 30, 2013) Library Mondays and Tuesdays 10 am -4 pm Wednesdays 10 am 6 pm Thursdays 10 am 4 pm closed on Fridays ENTRANCE FEES tickets concessions Vienna card Groups of 20 or over, p.p. Guided tour, p.p. Audio Guide (German English) Children under 19 Annual Ticket 8, 6, 7, 6, 2, 2, frei 34, Guided Tours Guided tours for private groups and school groups in German, English and sign language Christine Kaufmann Tel. +43 (0) PRESS INFORMATION Nina Auinger-Sutterlüty, MAS Head of Communication & Public Relations Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien mit MVK und ÖTM 1010 Wien, Burgring 5 Tel.: Fax: nina.auinger@khm.at

closed on Fridays ENTRANCE FEES tickets concessions Vienna card Groups

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