The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Boy Villasanta
From October 15 to 26, 2024, the Filipinos are treated with an avalanche of performance arts in every nook and cranny of Philippine society.
“In Situ, Performance and Exhibition” the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with the collaboration of Belarmino & Partners provide the nation with practical and realistic art forms that can liberate the hearts and minds of the people.
One of the artists who are showing her talents and vision is Danish artist Sophie Dupont who has mastered the art of breathing while scratching the surface of a copper plate to evoke peace and quiet not only in herself but the outside world as well.
“In Situ,” a term which means “in site,” a performance can be anywhere, from the rural to the urban, from the traditional stage to the unconventional street play station.
In the case of Sophie who performed Tuesday morning at the Maria Makiling Theater of the National Arts Center on top of Mount Makiling in Los Banos, Laguna, her performance art is interactive with the students of the Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) who hummed and scratched copper sheets with her creating as an art work that conveyed diverse ideas but mostly achieving ideal world of spiritual reflection.
Dupont’s performance art was the quotidian, the palpable reality that surrounds us
It was Dennis Marasigan, CCP Vice President and Artistic Director who collaborated with art curator Vanini Belarmino in bringing Danish artists in the country to show what performance art is as the everydayness of life.
“There is nothing new in performance art. As a matter of fact, it has been here with us for some time. Art is really within us, in everyone of us so performance art is what we do,” exclaimed Dennis in what he meant in more ways than one.
One of the examples Marasigan gave during the press launch of the project was the religious procession people watch and join during its presentation.
Sophie’s “Marking Breath” was a sunrise to sunset activity that every score of her breath was a simple act of spiritual profundity.
Breathing is a natural thing to do and each count is an artistic art.
This morning, October 16, 2024 at 8 to 10 AM, Molly Haslund showed her “Flower Drop” act at the Manila Cathedral and Gen. Luna Street where she gathered people in a flash mob mode to witness how she formed the infinity sign with the audience joining her in the formation of the classic symbol.
On October 17, 2024 at 4-6 PM, Dupont will perform at the CCP ASEAN Park, this time, with dancer Christine Crame to represent her theory on breathing as an art in “Breathing Beings.”
According to the CCP Corporate Communications Division, Sophie has created “Breathing Beings” specifically to suit the Philippine situation. “This piece explores themes of connection and balance through the act of collective breathing, focusing on its cultural significance and how it grounds people in the present moment…,” noted the press briefs.
The other Danish artist to perform in Manila is Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen with her “Magic” at the CCP Front Lawn from 4 to 7 PM.
Filip Vest will present “Bunk,” a more expressionistic but improvised theater presentation to be shown at the Metropolitan Theater on October 18, 2024 at 4 to 5 PM.
Meanwhile, on October 26, 2024 at 6 to 8 AM, Haslund will perform in La Union Beachfront with her interactive performance art of “Infinite” with choreographer Ea Terrado and the Community of La Union.