Productions

Look out, look carefully; what do you see? Look in, look closely; what have we become? A different kind of breakthrough marks the latest work from founding Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer, Kuik Swee Boon. With PheNoumenon《现·象, Kuik peels away the facade of prosperous modern Asia to explore its complex cultural, sociopolitical and identities.

He says, "take a long, hard look around us. The chaos and distress in our world is singlehandedly caused by Man’s actions. At times it feels like we are barely surviving in an age that is darker and more troubling than generations past. All the more so, we must fight to preserve the dignity and sovereignty of every individual being." The free spirit tears away from hegemonic thinking – habits, cultures and systems that hide under the illusory cover of a prosperous modern society. Look around, what lessons can be learnt from the socio-political, technological and climate chaos threatening to upend our entire lives?

To create a setting that truly sensitises the watcher to the urgency of his message, Kuik has chosen to remove the conventional seating and place the audience squarely within the dancers’ space, thus, obliterating the safety zones that traditionally keep performer and spectator apart.

With the support of immersive d&b 3D multi-dimensional audio system Soundscape, PheNoumenon created in collaboration with six dancers from the T.H.E main company, Singaporean lighting designer Adrian Tan, costume designer Loo An Ni and Malaysian sound artist Kent Lee, the performance employs various stage devices to engage the senses of sight, smell, hearing, and sensorial contact.

"In this moment, life seems especially bleak. Where is the respect, care and reflection? It seems that to be alive means to be constantly challenged to become wiser, and a better person. If we fail, our enthusiasm and compassion for life will have amounted to nothing. We need to resist the cruelties that life inflicts. This is why we exist. This is why we dance."