Exuberant Display of Live Deer Ballet Performance
In the heart of Hollywood & Highland, the Academy Awards Stairs area is hosting an extraordinary event - BAKERU: Transforming Spirits. This participatory exhibition invites visitors to delve into the supernatural world of Japanese folk traditions, offering an opportunity to explore the intersection of tradition and technology.
BAKERU: Transforming Spirits is a space for connection and transformation, aiming to bridge the gap between the everyday space and the space of festivities. The organisers seek to connect the northern region of Japan, particularly the Tohoku region where the traditional deer dance, Shishi-Odori, originated, with the world.
Shishi-Odori, a ritual dance performed on various occasions, is a captivating spectacle featuring dancers in elaborate costumes that conceal their identity. The dancers are transformed into heavenly messengers, symbolising and invoking spiritual protection and vitality. The performance is a testament to the resilience of Japanese folk culture, having been handed down from generation to generation.
The dance is believed to have been an offering to express gratitude for nature's gifts. It is performed by dancers from esteemed groups such as Tokyo Shishiodori and Gyouzanryu Maikawa Shishiodori.
The exhibition is a platform for preserving and interpreting this rich cultural heritage. By incorporating digital technology, BAKERU: Transforming Spirits seeks to reimagine the spiritual and artistic expressions inherent in Shishi-Odori. This might include digital installations, multimedia art, or interactive experiences that connect traditional ritual with modern audience engagement.
The purpose of such an exhibition is multifaceted. It aims to foster a dialogue between Japan's folk culture and the digital age, bridging the past and present, tradition and innovation. It offers new ways to appreciate and sustain intangible cultural heritage, transforming it for a contemporary audience while preserving its essence.
The word "bakeru" in BAKERU: Transforming Spirits means 'transform' in Japanese, encapsulating the essence of the exhibition perfectly. It's a journey through time, space, and culture, inviting visitors to experience the magic of Japanese folk traditions like never before.
- The participatory exhibition, BAKERU: Transforming Spirits, hosted at the Academy Awards Stairs area, invites visitors to explore the intersection of tradition and technology, offering a unique platform to delve into the supernatural world of Japanese folk traditions.
- The performance of Shishi-Odori, a captivating spectacle featuring dancers in elaborate costumes, is a testament to the resilience of Japanese folk culture, having been handed down from generation to generation as a representation of spiritual protection and vitality.
- By incorporating digital technology, BAKERU: Transforming Spirits seeks to reimagine the spiritual and artistic expressions inherent in Shishi-Odori, possibly comprising digital installations, multimedia art, or interactive experiences that connect traditional ritual with modern audience engagement.
- The purpose of BAKERU: Transforming Spirits is multifaceted, aiming to foster a dialogue between Japan's folk culture and the digital age, bridging the past and present, tradition and innovation, while transforming and preserving the essence of intangible cultural heritage for a contemporary audience.
