EVENT
Leu Wijee + Nagara Wada Workshop “Artist Massage Parlor”
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This collaboration brings together two artists from different backgrounds: Indonesian choreographer Leu Wijee and Kyoto-based director Nagara Wada, who began working together during the 2024 ADAM Artist Lab in Bangkok and Taipei.
Focusing on the relationship between massage and gossip as performative elements—“movement” and “speech”—the artists have conducted research in Taipei, Indonesia, and now in the hot spring town of Kinosaki.
As part of the research process for their new work-in-progress massageXgossip, they will open a temporary massage parlor inside KIAC. This artist-run massage parlor is available by reservation only, with sessions limited to two participants at a time.
On the same day, an open studio will also be held, where visitors can explore a collection of massage tools gathered by the artists and learn more about their creative process. No reservation is required for the open studio, so please feel free to drop by.
At first glance, they might seem totally unrelated—but what if both are actually super important human techniques for “touching” someone, in one way or another? That’s the idea we’ve been playing with lately.
We had a hunch that if we explored these two elements—massage and gossip—through dance and theatre, something really fun and unexpected might emerge. And that’s how this project, massageXgossip, began.
In this workshop, we’d like to gently touch your body (like in a massage!) while also hearing a little bit about your daily life. Things like relationship dramas, work stress, news that’s caught your eye, or some recent bad luck—anything small is totally fine. And of course, if you’ve got any juicy gossip to share, we’re all ears (your secrets are safe with us!).
Our studio will also be open, so feel free to drop by anytime. You can try out some of the massage tools we’ve collected on our journey so far, and we’d love to chat with you about our research too.
Leu Wijee + Nagara Wada
Focusing on the relationship between massage and gossip as performative elements—“movement” and “speech”—the artists have conducted research in Taipei, Indonesia, and now in the hot spring town of Kinosaki.
As part of the research process for their new work-in-progress massageXgossip, they will open a temporary massage parlor inside KIAC. This artist-run massage parlor is available by reservation only, with sessions limited to two participants at a time.
On the same day, an open studio will also be held, where visitors can explore a collection of massage tools gathered by the artists and learn more about their creative process. No reservation is required for the open studio, so please feel free to drop by.
At first glance, they might seem totally unrelated—but what if both are actually super important human techniques for “touching” someone, in one way or another? That’s the idea we’ve been playing with lately.
We had a hunch that if we explored these two elements—massage and gossip—through dance and theatre, something really fun and unexpected might emerge. And that’s how this project, massageXgossip, began.
In this workshop, we’d like to gently touch your body (like in a massage!) while also hearing a little bit about your daily life. Things like relationship dramas, work stress, news that’s caught your eye, or some recent bad luck—anything small is totally fine. And of course, if you’ve got any juicy gossip to share, we’re all ears (your secrets are safe with us!).
Our studio will also be open, so feel free to drop by anytime. You can try out some of the massage tools we’ve collected on our journey so far, and we’d love to chat with you about our research too.
Leu Wijee + Nagara Wada
- Date
- 2025-07-19 (Sat)
[Workshop] 14:00/15:00/16:00/17:00
[Open Studio] 14:00~18:00
2025-07-23 (Wed)
[Workshop] 17:00/18:00/19:00/20:00
[Open Studio] 17:00~21:00
*Workshop: Approximately 45 minutes each
*Open Studio: Free entry and exit during the scheduled hours
- Venue
- Kinosaki International Arts Center
- Fee
- Free of charge
- Eligibility
- Open to all
- Want to bring
- Comfortable pants suitable for movement
- Notes
- - This workshop includes physical exercises involving touch. Please note that it is not intended as a medical or therapeutic treatment.
- Stories and experiences shared during the workshop may be used in the development of a new performance, with your consent.
- Participants will be asked to sign a brief counseling form upon joining the workshop.
- As the workshop operates on a time-slot reservation basis, please arrive with sufficient time in advance.
- Supported by
- The Saison Foundation
- Reservation
- Please call or fill out the online form below (Join us button).
*When calling, be sure to give us the title of the event, your name, the number of people attenging, and contact information.
- Service
- If you would like to use childcare services, please call Kinosaki International Arts Center(KIAC) to make a reservation at least one week before the event.