The Festival
The Festival poses the question of how choreography, installations, sculpture and visual arts interact and facilitate a translation from one to the other. Conceived as a multidisciplinary approach, the festival focuses on the relationship between material and choreographic design, perception and literature interpretation, folding and unfolding design of inner and outer space of the human body, as well as interaction and participation between different mediums.
In a natural and rational way, Kafka combines obscure and surreal scenarios with the real world, a motif which today is used in a variety of literary and cinematic formats. But we intend to challenge our Thai audience to explore other interpretations of Kafka’s works through visual and conceptual art. “Abstract and conceptual art are not there to confuse us, but rather to give us freedom for interpretation and make us think.” Thus, our programme, which gives birth to important cross-cultural and cross-discipline collaborations, definitely conducts creative exchanges with arts communities.
Founder and Artistic DirectorJitti Chompee
Unfolding Kafka is a biennial festival for contemporary performing arts in Bangkok. It was founded by the Thai choreographer Jitti Chompee. He was inspired to establish a festival platform for contemporary dance in Thailand, using ‘Kafka’ as a cipher for conceptual and experimental approaches, after seeing “Der Bau” by Isabelle Schad and Laurent Goldring at Tanzplattform 2014 in Hamburg, Germany.
The performance, inspired by Franz Kafka’s novel, made Jitti realize that the piece, conceived as a dance work, could easily be considered as a visual art. Over the years, the festival has established itself as a central platform, facilitating international guest performances and collaborations. In 2024, coinciding with Kafka’s hundredth death anniversary, the festival will take place for the tenth and final time, aiming for a worthy conclusion.
Festival Team
Artistic Director: Jitti Chompee
Assistant to Artistic Director: Nannapat Kaewngam, Nisakorn Prapsripoom
Stage Manager: Thachaporn Jirasakkee
Technical Director: Jirach Eaimsa-ard
Project Coordinator: Pattarasuda Anuman Rajadhon
Press & PR Coordinator: Jitti Chompee
Programme Designer: Theetat Thunkijjanukij
Web Designer: Chanatda Ruangrat
Web Editorial: Panalee Maskati and Jitti Chompee
Cooperation Partners: the Goethe-Institut Thailand, Ambassade de France en Thaïlande, Embassy of Portugal, Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language,The Embassy of Spain in Thailand, Embassy of the Czech Republic, Jim Thompson Art Center, the Japan Foundation, Bangkok, TCEB, The James H.W. Thompson Foundation and 18 Monkeys Dance Theatre.
Venue Partners: Jim Thompson Art Center, Sodsai Pantoomkomol Centre for Dramatic Arts Chulalongkorn University, Neilson Hays Library and Alliance Française Bangkok
Hotel Partners: The Quarter hotel by Urban Hospitality Group (UHG), Asia Hotel.
Educational program partners: Department of Dramatic Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University (FAA),
Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University / Bachelor’s Degree of Fine and Applied Arts (Performance Practice) and College of Music, Mahasarakham University
International Sponsors and Support: Institut Francais, Spectacle Vivant en Bretagne. DRAC Brittany – Ministry of Culture, Brittany region and City of Rennes, the Internationalization of Spanish Culture, PICE a grant from Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), a state agency, República Portuguesa – Cultura, Direção-Geral das Artes, INAEM Ministry of Culture (Spain), Kunstfest Weimar, Pumpenhaus Münster, Theater im Ballsaal Bonn, Ringlokschuppen Ruhr Mülheim, Kunststiftung NRW, Ministerium für Kultur und Wissenschaft des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, Fonds Darstellende Künste aus Mitteln der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien im Rahmen von NEUSTART KULTUR, Bundesstadt Bonn
Local Sponsors: Canon Thailand, TCEB, The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, Urban Hospitality Group (UHG).
Contributors
The Unfolding Kafka Festival is teaming up with the Goethe-Institut Thailand, Ambassade de France en Thaïlande, The Embassy of Portugal, The Embassy of Spain in Thailand, The Embassy of the Czech Republic, Jim Thompson Art Center, and TCEB to extend a high level of support to our arts and culture festival. We are spreading the word that Thailand has this unique “signature” festival, which allows local people to discover firsthand some of the most dynamic contemporary artists in the world who, most of the time, never came to Southeast Asia.
You not only make this year’s event possible, but also ensure stability for future editions. Gain access to the entire festival programme and support our cause by purchasing our festival pass. Contact us at unfoldingkafkafestival@gmail.com
