"Pichet Klunchun and Myself"/ Last ever performance!
Created in 2004 at the Bangkok Fringe Festival by the Singapore artist Tang Fu Kuen, "Pichet Klunchun and Myself" was presented again at La Fête 2006. This was an unprecedented success and contributed widely to Thai artist Pichet’s international recognition. Since its creation, it has been shown in nearly 100 cities around the world, such as Paris, Berlin, Taipei, Lisbon, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vienna, Rome, Warsaw, New York, London, Madrid, Djakarta, Yokohama, Mexico, etc. A refined and humorous dialogue, it is a 'best-seller' of Franco-Thai cooperation. After a 7-year tour, both artists have decided to put an end to "Pichet Klunchun and Myself" where it all started… Do not miss the last ever show of an historic performance!
"When we met, we had no idea what would result from our meeting. I had only a few questions I wished to ask this dancer. The way we met determined the very nature and form of our cooperation. Jet-lag, the fascination of arriving in a city such as Bangkok, and monster traffic-jams prevented us from rehearsing. The context of the Festival made us decide to present a sort of dramatized review of our experiences. And thus, the ballet shows 2 artists who are completely unacquainted and have very different artistic backgrounds, trying to learn more of each other and of their work, in spite of the cultural abyss that separates them." Jérôme Bel, Seoul, June 1, 2005.
Jérôme Bel is a cult figure of French contemporary dance, well known for his humour and free spirited approach to his art. He was trained at Centre National de la Danse Contemporaine d’Angers, danced for several French and Italian choreographers before becoming assistant to Philippe Decouflé for the XVIth Winter Olympic Games’ opening ceremony, in Albertville (1992). The title of his first piece is "Nom donné par l'auteur" (1994). He has since created over a dozen works: "Jérôme Bel" (1995), "Xavier Le Roy” (2000), "The Show Must Go On" (2001), "Véronique Doisneau" (for the Paris Opera Ballet, 2004), "Pichet Klunchun and Myself" (end of 2004), "Cédric Andrieux" (2009), and, last but not least, "3Abschied" (2010) with Anne-Teresa De Keersmaeker.
Artist's website: www.jeromebel.fr
Pichet Klunchun is one of the leaders of Thai contemporary dance. He was trained in Khon (classical dancing with traditional masks) by Chaiyot Khummanee, one of Thailand’s great masters of the art. The precision of his choreographies, his focus on mixing modernity and tradition, have gained him his image as a remarkable dancer. From New York to Paris, from Singapore to Melbourne, Pichet is the unchallenged interpreter of Thailand’s heritage and contemporary dance.
Artist's website: www.pklifework.com
Co-organized with the Dept of Dramatic Arts, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University
