New Thoughts: New Invitations

Things are looking pretty well for me at least in the next couple of months. I just got an invitation for a performance festival in Darwin, Australia in August for the 24hr Art, a contemporary art space in Darwin. The surprising one is from Bijana Ciric, an independent curator from Shanghai who has invited me for the collateral event for Venice Biennale in June.

An invitation to present a performance piece like a sideshow or sort, if all the funding and everything goes well. I will be in Venice in June. Let's pray.

Art is rock n roll. Rolling a Rock is Art.

From Itchy's Lens

Sharing thoughts during workshop with some Osaka performers, with Yuya in the middle translating. Photo by Ichiro.



The New Wave kids, funkying around the escalator at Namba City. Nakao and Jecko. Photo by Ichiro.


Jecko and The Frog Man, outside Oshin's house on our way to Namba. Photo by Ichiro.

Osaka: Closing the Chapter

The daily breakfast at Oshin's house.


Me and Ichiro, who came all the way from Tokyo to support.


Iku Otani, the executive director of Dancebox DB giving a final speech, he is a famous butoh choreographer in Osaka. In fact, most of the staff in DB are all dancers and choreographers.


Walking through Shin-Imamiya subway, stumbled upon the posters.

Osaka: The Aftermath

I always have this strange feeling when I come back home from a trip to somewhere. It is like as if the dream is about to end, and here am I again back to reality in Singapore. Here in reality land, you have to find your own per diem, adding to that, there is phone bill, rent, school, human relationship and strange rivalry.

Here I am a minority, there, I was an exotic creature. And of course the classic, some of them thought there are only Chinese in Singapore, yes of course, being a delegate from Singapore I had to be a responsible Malay Singaporean and explained to them about the ancestral roots and existence of a Malay like me in Singapore. But well, its all about cultural exchange and experience.

There was one night, I had dinner with friends from Indonesia, Korea and Japan. One continent, 4 countries and 4 different languages. Well basically, I can understand Bahasa Indonesia, while the Korean and the Japanese had a hard time communicating with each other. However this Japanese lady, speaks fluent Bahasa.

SO basically, in order for her to communicate to the Korean, she had to speak Bahasa to me so that I could translate to her in English. Mishaps and mishapes. To think of it, Korea and Japan are so close to each other but their language is so far apart.

The festival was interesting and exciting at the same time. Partly due to the different range of performers on the bill, Something that you would not have expected in a Contemporary Dance Festival.

On the last day of performance, we had audience filling up till the edge of the stage. It was fantastic, the energy was bursting all over the place. Sharing the dressing room with dancers from different nations, cracking jokes and spurring everyone to break a leg.

Walking around the streets in Sinsai Bashi, which really felt like a scene from Blade Runner as pointed by Yuya. Being taken care by Oshin in an Oshin’s house, got hold of an old school Vans, shopping at 100 Yen shop and had a varied taste of great Japanese cuisine, strange and the familiar.

Very Rock and Roll.

The Post Performance

Throughout the 3 nights, they played Tiramisu tracks in the cafe, and they had to put a label on the hi-fi set.


From Left A DB VOlunteer, Nakao-san (A friend and curator from Fukuoka Asian Art Museum) and Fumi (Festival Manager).


The Food Street behind Festival Gate, not far from the Osaka Tower. Fantastic Food!


Me and Yuya, the official DanceBox translator and Contact Gonzo inventor.

Opening Day of Festival

Just below the theatre, there's a wrestling club. They have shows every weekend, and I am trying to catch a sneak of the show. Booya!


Walking the shoes during the Full-Dress rehearsal and I trash my briefcase even before the show starts. (me and my brute strength.


Skype saves the day for lovers under the moonlight.


The legendary Jecko Siempo from Papua in action during full dress rehearsal.

Osaka Day 3

After 3 days, I decided to turn on the TV set. Late night Japanese variety programme can get really kinky.


Nice and cosy dining area at Hokousou or as mentioned by Jecko, Oshin's house.


We were given a rehearsal space in a huge sports centre, Jecko and Won in the background.

Osaka Day 3
Thursday, 15th February, 07:53 hrs.

After rehearsal, came back to the guest house to chill with Jeck and Kim Won another dancer from Korea. My laptop has turned out to be an email checking device for everyone. No doubt, it brings people together.

It was raining heavily, I decided to walk a bit, and could not resist the sinful doughnut shop around the corner called Mister Doughnut.

I can’t help but to play around with these Japanese words.

Wa Kari Masen in Malay it could be “Wak, Kari Masin.” Means in a conversational way, “ Uncle, this is a salty curry.”

Ari Gato in Malay it could be ALI GATO, which means Ali Bin Gato, or if you combine them it could be ALIGATO or Alligator in English.

Sayonara in Malay, it could be Sayur Nara, which means Nara’s Vegetable. Yes, it doesn’t make sense.

Butoh or Butoh dance, in Malay could be Kepala Butoh or dickhead. So basically Butoh dance could be Joget Kepala Tut, or Dickhead Dance.

Kabuki in Malay could be, Ke Bookie, which means someone needs to find a bookie to bet on something.

Kamikaze in Malay could be, Kami Kasih, which means literally We Love or We Care.

Karate in Malay could be, Kalah Teh, which means defeated by tea.

Bukkake in Malay could be, Buka k?, which means take it off ok.

Pachinko in Malay could be Pakcik Engkau, which means ‘Your Uncle’, if you say it fast, it will sound like Pachinko.

Sudoku in Malay could be Sodok Aku, which means Dig Me.

Well, aren’t we all related? Japanese and Javanese are long lost brothers in the past.

Ohio Go Zai Mas tek

Osaka Day 2
Wednesday, 14th February, 13:20 hrs.

I fell asleep pretty early last night, not sure why, the weather is making me pretty lazy. It is drizzling at this moment, pretty chilly, thought of checking out the area around the hotel. I saw more pachinko (Gambling place) than usual, and a lot of young kids hanging out.

I met Jecko Siompo from Indonesia, a 40 year old former Hip Hop/B-boy dancer who is now moving into doing contemporary dance. A mixed Papua and Java descent, who is quite a figure, hung out with him over tea. He is like a cross between James Brown, Rick James and Eddie Murphy, but a dancer. Interesting character nevertheless, he was one of the dancers who did King Lear with Ong Keng Sen in 1995.

The technical meeting was quite a breeze, the Australian group was having some technical problem, their props did not arrive on time. A little bit tough on their side, my meeting was pretty alright, I didn’t really have a proper lighting plan. Punk Rock Ethos in dance …

I would see it as a rather collaborative effort between myself with the lighting designer. 5 performances from 5 different countries within 2 and a half hours will be pretty crazy. I am not sure how the audience are going to digest all the performance.

Maria told me Dancebox is located in an unused mall, it’s a huge ass mall with a theme park smack in between. I asked him why, he told me no one is interested to come anymore, partly because there are just too many malls in Osaka.

Jet is performing tonight, and Deftones will be on this Friday. This wet weather is good for staying indoors and sip on green tea.

OSAKA Day 2

DanceBox is located in this giant Mall cum Theme Park called Festival Gate. You can see from the roller coaster track protruding out of the building.


Dancebox Cafe, with the Poster. A really nice small cosy space with a lot of activities happening every week.


Shin-Imamiya Station, waiting for the train back to Tennoji, a stop away from the theatre. Pre-peak hour situation.

Hello Osaka!

My ryokan, taken care by a hyper lady called Masako san. Had a fantastic Japanese breakfast, genuine and authentic.


The train ride that cost ¥10 700 from the airport to the city. That is about SGD 100 plus. Welcome to madness...


Kansai Airport at 5:30am, all quiet and hush hush...

I have arrived in Osaka, special thanks to Mr Snore, I had difficulties in sleeping in the plane, the food was good. Thai Airways always have good food, maybe because their in flight entertainment is crappy. I didn't realise that I had to transit in Bangkok for 3 hours.

Upon arrival, at Kansai, I had to go through this ritualistic quarantine situation, everyone had to step on this carpet that smell like disinfectant. This only apply for those who have travelled to South America, South East Asia or Africa. Why? Maybe because we have all kinds of disease.

I was stopped by the customs, they asked me for my reason in Osaka, so I showed them the documents, told them I was a performer. Then the officer showed me a file with photos of 1001 drugs in the world or such. He then proceeded and rummaged through my bag, and the best part was when he took out my briefcase of props that include my sequinned top and big wig. There you have it, they thought I was a clown in a circus. With everyone staring at me, and me I just smiled and let him re-packed big ass bag. Not all performers are junkies, they only eat a lot of junk. I should have placed a used lingerie in my luggage next time round.

Anyway, Fumi, the festival manager picked me up from the airport. It was a pretty long journey from the airport to the hotel, got to catch some sleep before technical meeting later. Domo arigato.

Drift Net Workshop

I have been in the incubator for the last couple of days. The honour workshopping with the legendary Dumb Type lighting designer Kinsei san and sound renegade Daito Manabe at 72-13. Excellent.

Hyperbolic Alpha Male: The Instructional Video v.1 (test drive)

Do not do this at home.

Hyperbolic Alpha Male

Some quasi installation I did for assesment, some random act of self-discovery.