I first met Ken Mai in Buenos Aires, in April 2013. Two apparently opposite traits called my attention at first: his simplicity and his extravagance. Even though they might seem incompatible, in Ken's persona they represent the same expression of the self. His trendy / rock starish / eclectic look is not simply a fashion statement; in fact, it is not superficial at all: it expresses his inherent gift of having become an alchemist, of being able to merge his different faces, influences and passions without forcing them to fit. So has been his life: a continuous flow of desires which have led him to find his inner truth through the combination of different cultures, perspectives and disciplines: "I wanted to be a monk but then I decided to be a dancer. I practised Zen at a Monastery and temples, both in Kyoto and Nara for about 16 years, not everyday but sometimes, especially in my local temple which was very close to my house in Kyoto. I also studied martial arts and gymnastics since I was 8 years old, and at the same time Rock drums! What I later realized was that when I was studying gymnastics, martial arts (Karate, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Taichi), acting, drums, Zen, modern dance (Neue Tanz-german expressionist dance), Laban method, Noguchi Taiso, etc... I was already getting prepared to become a Butoh dancer!! In my opinion and personal experience, it is much faster to understand about body, mind and the spiritual side through the whole experience of various art forms".
Dhyana/Meditation 静慮:
In his piece Dhyana/Meditation, Ken explores the paths towards the pure artistic creation. Being also a Yoga practitioner, Ken emphasizes the fact that "any kind of art needs a certain preparation before starting. Yoga is not about Asana (posture), this is not yoga yet! It needs preparation, such as purification, Shatkria yoga (cleasing body and mind), Pranayama (vital control practice), Pratyahara (control of the senses) practice, Asana (posture) or phisical practice, concentration practice and meditation practice, then receiving the last stage called Samadhi (absolute freedom, pure consciousness). When those stages are followed, then it becomes real Yoga. Butoh works the same way: you can't jump into butoh immediately." However similar the starting point in both disciplines is, he clearly distinguishes the artistic aim and requirements of the Butoh practice: "Those are basic practices to understand about the foundations of the human body, mind, the senses, imagination and the law of the universe, but Butoh is different than Yoga: Butoh requires an artistic sense, a reflecting background, character, thoughts, the relation with ordinary life, relations.... individual expression, to accept and respect".
Poem of Phenomenon:
"As a swan she dwells in the pure water,as a flower she dwells in the pure sun. As the rain that falls to the vessel of my empty body, as a dance that gives me the freedom and compassion of love!" by Ken Mai
Sacrifice/Ikenie 生贄:
"My new piece "Sacrifice" focuses on Human´s Sacrifice. It aims to offer body and soul to the Divine God! The images of a human are based on the many layers of physical body, subtle body,and causal body (soul). They are melting,decaying and offered to the Divine. Only the pure of death will remain and this human has transformed to be a Divine.
The Divine uses an other corpse to rebirth from pure water and it becomes a plant, a flower to the light in the heaven and is dancing and singing to the evil. There is full of pain, blood and sadness in the process of Sacrifice in physical level. But in spiritual level there is full of joy, beauty, happiness and love."
The Divine uses an other corpse to rebirth from pure water and it becomes a plant, a flower to the light in the heaven and is dancing and singing to the evil. There is full of pain, blood and sadness in the process of Sacrifice in physical level. But in spiritual level there is full of joy, beauty, happiness and love."
Photo Gallery:
Video Gallery:
| |
| |