Silpathorn Award-winning artist Sineenadh Keitprai's latest work is about women's bodies, especially the breasts. Entitled Ngao-Rang (Shade Borders), the show doesn't treat the subject in a sensual sense; instead it seeks to tell stories, express feelings and recall memories behind the female form.
Ngao-Rang.
As well as directing the performance, Sineenadh will also perform alongside four others — Korjai Ouiwatanapong, Ladda Kongdach, Sukanya Pheansri and Orada Lelanuja.
First shown at the celebration of the 10th anniversary of Silpathorn Awards earlier this year, the performance is back again as part of the "Performative Art Festival 2014" at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Interestingly, the inspiration for Sineenadh's work is Pinaree Sanpitak, another Silpathorn Award winner in the visual art category.
"I always like to explore women whenever I come up with a play or performance," said Sineenadh. "And Pinaree's visual art tends to focus on female bodies, especially the breasts. I choose to do this through movements because there's something deep in us which we couldn't and wouldn't want to tell with words."
The show is in every aspect a result of a "devising theatre", or collaborative creation. Though she is the director, Sineenadh is by no means the sole scriptwriter and choreographer.
From one workshop to another, these performers wrote down or spoke out about and shared feelings and memories connected with their bodies, and gradually turned the information into movements, the means which Sineenadh believes has the power to express beyond words.
"We also went to talk to Pinaree," said Sineenadh. "We discussed her art with her — why she created this work, what she was thinking. We looked at each piece of her artwork and talked about it in our group. To find our movements, each performer would just improvise. We sometimes projected photos of Pinaree's works on the wall and put on some music to help. It's basically a collage and I, as a director, piece these all together."
Sineenadh said none of the performers' bodies are what would be considered by some to be the ideal female form, and the fact that each performer's physique is quite different, from short to tall and light to rather heavyset, is an important element that adds colour to the narrative.
Sineenadh didn't specifically choose trained dancers, even though it's a movement-based performance. What's more important than anything is the chemistry between the cast.
"I chose to work with those whom we're willing to share our stories with," she said. "What's really important is whether one feels secure enough to share something deep and create something out of that together."
With little dialogue and sometimes with photos of Pinaree's artworks projected on the screen, Sineenadh is interested in seeing what these movements can conjure up in the audience's mind. Like Pinaree with her art, Sineenadh leads the cast in translating what's deep inside to something that's very intimately accessible in the theatre environment.
"This is the most personal show I've ever done," said Sineenadh. "Through art, images, and movements, we are speaking the truth."
- Ngao-Rang is on at 7pm on Aug 15 and at 3pm and 7pm on Aug 16-17 on the 4th floor of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Tickets cost 500 baht.
- Call 081-929-4246 or 086-797-1445.
