The Indian epic known as the Mahabharata is one of the most important works of literature in the Eastern Canon and it has had a significant influence on culture and philosophy throughout Asia, including Indonesia.
But even if you are familiar with the Mahabharata, you have never seen it as envisioned by Japanese director Hiroshi Koike.
The visionary artist is bringing his version of the Indian epic to the stages of Salihara this weekend. Koike has interpreted the Mahabharata into a modern dance performance in which dancers perform various characters using different Balinese masks. The story is told not only through the dancers’ movements, but also the abbreviated story that will be projected onto the screen.
The performance is a collaborative project between artists from Japan, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Actually, this will be the “Second Chapter” of Koike’s version of the Mahabharata, the first having been performed throughout Asia is 2013. (You can watch a Vietnamese news feature on that below to give you of what the “Second Chapter” should look like).
Mahabharata (Chapter 2)
Friday-Saturday, January 23-24, 2015, 8:00 PM
Tickets: Rp. 75,000 (public general), Rp. 50,000 (students)
Teater Salihara
Jalan Salihara 16, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta
T: 021-789-1202
https://salihara.org
