It doesn't bark because it's happy; it's happy because it barks.

GRINDER-MAN, a performance unit emerging from the contemporary art scene, actively engages in collaborations with diverse fields such as the intersection of body and technology, and body and science. They consistently produce unique performance works through their original approaches.


In "SONAR," presented at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in 2011, audience members were given smartphones to experience the work while moving through the museum. This summer, in "MIRAGE," presented at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation (Miraikan) with neuroscientist Naotaka Fujii, they utilized Spatial Reality (SR) technology. Participants wearing a system called an "alien head" had their perceived reality subtly altered, revealing how fragile our assumptions about reality can be.


Their new performance "bow-wow," premiering in September, focuses on facial expressions—the physical expression of contracting facial muscles. Utilizing the venue, ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE, and its surrounding spaces, the performance interweaves the performers' and audience's sense of distance, experienced while moving, with emotional expression. We look forward to their new work, which centers on a fresh perspective: "the body as a vessel for emotion."

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GRINDER-MAN

A performance group that spatializes the interaction between performers and audience, originating from contemporary art. They present themselves as designed humans, or humans who impose rules on themselves for living, wearing a cubic box on their heads.

Since 2005, they have been presenting the "MUSTANG" series of performance works themed around "groups and individuals." In these performances, the audience moves through a stage space where the proscenium arch has been removed, offering a sensory experience that shakes the viewer's body and mind through the direct actions of highly physical performers.

In February 2011, they staged "MUSTANG Colors," the latest in the series, with music by evala, at the Kobe Art Village Center. In March, they presented "SONAR," a new performance utilizing smartphones, at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa. In April 2011, they produced "The Power of Art," a performance by approximately 30 dancers for a recovery support project following the Great East Japan Earthquake, organized by Spiral. In August 2012, they presented "MIRAGE," a pioneering performance work using the SR system (Spatial Reality technology) developed by RIKEN's Brain Science Institute, at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. In parallel with their own productions, they have also begun offering their expressive talents externally, including directing and choreographing for Genki Sudo's dance performance unit "WORLD ORDER." Their expressive approach, unbound by genre, extends beyond the stage.

Official HP | http://grinder-man.com




ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE DANCE NIGHT VOL.5

GRINDER-MAN "bow-wow"

Script, Composition, Direction = Hitoshi Taguchi

Direction, Choreography, Performance = Makiko Izu

Performers = Shimpei Mitsuhashi, Yoshiei Higashiyama, Takeo Nashimoto, Yuki Enomoto, Kaori Ito, Koji Ozono, keke

Music = Yu Imai

Date & Time | September 20 (Thu) 19:30, September 21 (Fri) 19:30, September 22 (Sat) 19:30, September 23 (Sun) 19:00

Venue | ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE/PARK

1-Kaigan Dori, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Tel. 045-661-0602

Tickets | Advance ¥3,200, Same-day ¥3,500

*Time specified / All seats unreserved

*Student discount | ¥500 off advance and same-day tickets (Student ID required at reception on the day)

*Preschool children not permitted

*Reception and same-day ticket sales begin 30 minutes before curtain at the ZOU-NO-HANA TERRACE entrance.

*Performance proceeds in light rain. Please bring rain gear if rain is expected. Performance may be cancelled in case of severe weather. Please check the website (bow-wow.grinder-man.com) for updates.

www.zounohana.com


<Post-Performance Talk>

September 20 (Thu) | Naotaka Fujii (RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Team Leader of the Adaptive Intelligence Research Team)

September 21 (Fri) | Masao Koizumi (Principal, Koizumi Studio, Architects)

September 22 (Sat) | Taro Amano (Chief Curator, Yokohama Museum of Art)