Cloud Gate's new work, Water Stains on the Wall, debuts
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The world-renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance group in Taiwan, debuted its latest work, "Water Stains on the Wall", in Taipei on Friday. |
The world-renowned Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance group in Taiwan, debuted its latest work, "Water Stains on the Wall", in Taipei on Friday.
On a large white stage which tilted eight degrees, where dancers dressed in long, widely cut white pants performed, images of drifting clouds are projected in different degrees of blackness. It gave the audience the experience of unveiling a classical Chinese landscape painting scroll featuring flowing ink and drifting clouds.
"It offered me a moment of meditation," said Eva Chou, in her 30s, who was coming out of the theatre Friday night.
"The dance is sublimely beautiful. The trace of Tai Chi and martial arts is evident, which were subsumed in the dancers' western modern dance technique. I like that," she said.
Lin Hwai-min, a renowned Asian choreographer and founder of the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre, said the dance was inspired by a conversation between two of the most respected Chinese calligraphers.
Yan Zhenqing, a brush writing master in Tang Dynasty (618-907), asked young Huai Su, who later became the most renowned calligrapher of the wild cursive style, "Where do you get the inspiration for your calligraphy?"
"I observe summer clouds that resemble mountains with spectacular peaks," Huai Su replied.
"How about water stains on the wall?" asked Yan Zhenqing. "Right on!" Huai Su exclaimed.
The legend of the conversation established "water stains on the wall" as a popular metaphor that represents the highest state in the aesthetics of Chinese calligraphy.
"I've been enchanted by the story for years. The water stains, summer clouds, flying birds and terrified snake mentioned in the story are all a state of nature. So I decided to create a dance titled 'Water Stains on the Wall' to see if I can reach such a natural state," Lin said.
However, Lin said though his latest work drew inspiration from calligraphy, it is not a choreography which is devoted to interpreting calligraphy. "I only want to use the story to enrich the prospect of the dance."
Lin also designed the angled stage to enable the audience to better enjoy the projected images of drifting clouds, though the stage posed a great challenge to the dancers.
"Dancing on a tilted stage is like wearing a flat shoe and a high heel at the same time. The dancers have to find ways to keep their balance and perform their movements," Lin said.
Lin founded the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre in 1973, naming the company after the oldest known dance in Chinese history.
Starting in the 1990s, Cloud Gate dancers began training with great emphasis on meditation, martial arts and Tai Chi, and in recent years, weekly calligraphy classes were also added to their training program.
"Water Stains on the Wall" is widely believed to be an extension of Lin's previous calligraphy series, namely "Cursive" in 2001, "Cursive II" in 2003, and "Wild Cursive" in 2005.
"In 'Cursive,' I used images of Chinese characters on the stage, while in 'Wild Cursive,' actual calligraphy ink flowed on cloths set up on the stage. This time, virtual images of ink-resembled clouds are projected onto the angled stage," he said.
"Then the stage becomes very simple with the projected images as the only decoration."
"Now I prefer to use the simplest element to convey the most. 'Water Stains on the Wall' bears such ambition. But it depends on the audience to judge how much I've achieved this aim. I think I'll spend several years to gradually make my work more delicate," Lin said.
"Water Stains on the Wall" is scheduled for nine more performances in Taipei before closing on Nov. 28. Then, it will tour on the island, going to Taichung and Kaohsiung. About 90 percent of the tickets for performances in the first week have been purchased, according to Cloud Gate Dance Theatre officials.
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