A VR Performance by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2022
60 minutes
Music by
Ryuichi Sakamoto
VR Creator
Katsuya Taniguchi
Produced by
Chiaki Soma
First Performed in Aichi Triennale, at Large Rehearsal Room, Aichi Prefectural Art Theater, Japan, October 4, 2022
Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s tranquil, lyrical movies set in the northeastern part of Thailand and based on folktales, legends, personal memories of the forest, current events and previously lived lives, have enjoyed the attention of audiences and critics worldwide. Beginning with his first feature film in 2000, Weerasethakul has updated the history of cinema with numerous new masterpieces, from Tropical Malady (winner of the 2004 Cannes Jury Prize), to Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010 Palm D’Or) and his latest movie Memoria (2021 Cannes Jury Prize). In addition to his work as a film director, Weerasethakul also expresses his quiet enthusiasm for the world through a series of artworks such as video installations and performance pieces.
For Aichi Triennale 2022, Weerasethakul collaborates with Japanese artists to create his first augmented and virtual reality performance and let visitors commune with invisible ghost-like presences, encounter sick and sleeping bodies, and experience time suspended in a circle. Weerasethakul, whose previous works have brought the invisible, inaudible and untouchable into our realm of the tangible, has greatly expanded the virtual space by making use of augmented and virtual reality. Fifteen audience members at a time are invited into a dark space to roam around, experiencing Weerasethakul’s visual poetry beyond the confines of language, soundscapes of silent waves by Sakamoto Ryuichi, and interactive particles of light floating through the air... They are invited into the depths of memory and existence in a dreamlike world where the origins of life and the afterlife coexist.
- Chiaki Soma
A city
都市
The last dream
最後の夢
Silence
静寂
An evening sky
夕暮れ
A thousand yesterdays
1000日分の昨日
Shadows
影
Anarchy / Monarchy
無政府/君主制
Erased
消された
History
歴史
Birdsong
鳥の鳴き声
Mirror
鏡
Solitude
孤独
The mountain
山
Delusion
妄想
Death
死
A distant movie
遠くにある映画
Concept & Direction
Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Creative Assistant
Sompot Chidgasornpongse
Cast
Jenjira Pongpas Widner, Sakda Kaewbuadee Vaysse, Chai Bhatana, Sam Mitchell, Sita Kiatneramit
Music
Ryuichi Sakamoto
Sound Designers
Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr, Koichi Shimizu
Director of Photography
Chatchai Suban
Camera Assistant and Production
Thanayos Roopkhajorn
Set Director
Natchanon Pribwai
Film Production Crew
Jirayu Rattanakhanahutanon, Pongsakorn Nanta, Suttipong Nanta
Film Production Manager
Phatsamon Kamnertsiri
Film Production Assistant
Somporn Ruensai
Photographer
Chayaporn Maneesutham
Film Production by Kick the Machine Films
VR Creator
Katsuya Taniguchi
VR Production
Taisei Yamaguchi, Hideyuki Kido, Nuttanit Thiantanukij, Kana Kondo, Satomi Yoshizawa, Hisashi Sato, Yoshinori Ikeda, Hikaru Takatori
VR Adviser
Tsuyoshi Nomura
Technical Manager
So Ozaki
Stage Manager
Sato Oikawa
Lighting Designer
Kazuya Yoshida
Producer / Curator
Chiaki Soma
Production Coordinator
Haruka Shibata
Operation Staff
Nanami Hanzawa
Premier Performance / Produced by Arts Commons Tokyo
Co-Production
Aichi Triennale 2022, The Japan Foundation, Theater der Welt 2023
Special Support
Shane Akeroyd
Support
RHINO STUDIOS INC., Goethe-Institut Tokyo, SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Museo Larco Equipment
Support
Psychic VR Lab Co., Ltd.
