- Date 2003-08-30
- Venue National Theatre
Cursive II
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
Comments on the Finalist
In 2001, Lin Hwai-min presented his choreographic work, Cursive, which is characterized by the beauty of ink-brush painting. And in 2003, Lin presented the sequel Cursive II, which drew on the aesthetics of calligraphy and incorporated the music of the avant-garde composer, John Cage, completely embodying the intertwinement of hardness and softness. Distinct from the vagrant freedom and rhythmic intonation of Cursive, Cursive II dispensed with the form and preserved the spirit of calligraphy, expressing freely the delicate perceptions of smoothness, lightness, and elegance. With incessant and rhythmic body movements, these dancers who had practiced Tai-Chi, martial arts, and meditation staged a smooth and pure rhapsody of calligraphy.
Jury’s Comments for the Performing Arts Aewads
A beautiful and sophisticated work emerged in 2003. It utilizes traditional materials in a contemporary way and integrates body arts of the east and the west. The performance incorporates calli-graphy, Taichi, ballet and contemporary dance, and balances well to the simple and pure music of the western avant-garde music master John Cage. It creates a new horizon for dance performances and emb-odies the unique Asian spirit.
Artwork Introduction
Cursive II is the result of a long journey into the ancient practice of movement and spirituality.
Under the direction of choreographer Lin Hwai-min, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan has been exploring traditional Chinese body disciplines. Songs of the Wanderers (1994), performed at the Adelaide Festival(1998), comes from the practice of meditation. Moon Water (1998), featured at the Olympic Arts Festival Sydney (2000), owes its movement motives to Tai Chi Tao Yin, a Chi Kung exercise that can be traced back to more than 2000 years ago. Both works have received high acclaim at prominent festivals throughout the world.
In 2001, Lin Hwai-min further explored the possibilities of Tai Chi Tao Yin and martial arts, and created Cursive, with its title derived from Chinese calligraphy. Cursive II, a sequel to Cursive, is drastically different from its forerunner. Chinese believe there are five shades of black ink. While Cursive emphasizes the darker blacks with lots of vigorous attacks, Cursive II explores the lighter shades in a meditative mood, evoking the serene quality of porcelain from the Sung Dynasty.
About the Artist
My utmost pleasure and most severe afflictions both come from choreography. Those warmly received works will not guarantee next huge success. I am always jittery and nervous. (by Lin Hwai-min)
Production Team
Production Company： Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
