Asia Dance Channel

ELEPHANT rampage

23 July 2009

Thailand

by Pawit Mahasarinand

'Knesh', Pichet Klunchun's new solo dance, could be his most daring--aesthetically and politically.

Back from two-week workshops and performances in Mexico, and free from flu, and before his company’s work “The Battle of the Sun”, internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun admits that he struggled mightily with an elephant before deciding his new solo work "Knesh" was ready to be seen.

"I've been working on it for almost two years," Pichet says of the show this weekend and next. He'd been listening to the soundtrack of National Theatre’s performance of "Phra Knesh Sia Nga" ("Ganesha Lost His Ivory"), an episode of Ramakien written by King Rama VI.

He then danced all six characters in the story and saw it could be presented onstage successfully.

"The classical Thai dance movements were beautiful and the narrative was clear enough, but I thought, 'What's the point of retelling such a well-known story?'"

Pichet tried a fresh approach, using Western contemporary dance, "and the performance looked good", but a question remained: Was it relevant enough to anyone today?

“Personally, I strongly believe that when a work of art is neither telling a contemporary story nor is relevant to your life at the present time, there’s no reason creating it.”

After opening his studio and renaming his company three months ago, Pichet reconsidered the project.

"I realised that I didn't just want to dance beautifully or powerfully. Everybody knows I can do that, so I needed to up the ante."

"Instead of simply recounting the tale of the revered Hindu god, "Knesh" became a lesson in distorting the truth in the pursuit of power.

"What I'm trying to say is that our society cares too much about face," Pichit says. "Behind the major events that have taken place in Thailand in the past few years lie many hidden truths.

To the six characters in the original story, all of whom can be compared to contemporary figures from different social classes, Pichet adds one new character—himself.

“But you won’t actually see them as characters on the stage.”

“Come to think of it, ‘Knesh’ is truly my first work. I do it for the arts and the society, and I’m sure some audiences may not like what they see.”

Judging from every photo here, "Knesh" looks sure to be Pichet's most controversial work to date.

"Knesh" will be performed at the Chang Theatre on Soi Pracha-uthit 61 in Thung Kharu district, in Thonburi from July 24 to 26, and again on August 1 and 2, nightly at 8. Tickets are Bt500. Call (081) 985 0281, e-mail contact@pklifework.com or visit www.PKLifework.com.