Kyueun Kim

Research Trip: Europe – Part I. Zurich, Switzerland (August 2021)

In August 2021, I went on a research trip to Zurich and Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf) for my dissertation research on contemporary Asian theatre and performance. I was unable to travel to other Asian countries due to COVID restrictions, but I was able to see some performances by Asian artists at international arts festivals and performance venues in Europe. The trip was supported by the Lennihan Art and Science Grant, Futures Initiatives at The Graduate Center, CUNY.

Here are some highlights of the research trip, attending performances at the 2021 Zürcher Theater Spektakel.

2021 Zürcher Theater Spektakel at the Landiwiese.
This peaceful, park-like site, is located on the shores of Lake Zurich.
Outdoor installations at the Landiwiese.
Rote Fabrik, a former factory now used as a performance venue.
On August 19 and 20, I watched The History of Korean Western Theatre by Jaha Koo. The performance review of Jaha’s work will be published in The Asian Theatre Journal (University of Hawaii Press).
Curtain call from The History of Korean Western Theatre.
On August 20, I watched Presence by Royce Ng. Remote performance. While Ng was physically in Hong Kong, he appeared on stage through a surrogate performer (avatar?) whom he “inhabited.”
Philosophical questions and explorations about presence, mediated through technology.
Kyueun Kim

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