NAKA
by Goh Shou Yi (Singapore) & Mai Kubota (Japan)
Essentially, NAKA derive from the Japanese word with its meaning of inner, inside, centre, middle, in the process (Kanji: “中”). The work is a reflection of our collaboration, an intersection of two paths (Mai’s & Shou Yi’s); uncovering what is -inside- of ourselves and of others, where the concept of “inside” & “outside” reflect different states of mind. NAKA is about the simplest things taking place in a genuine conversation between the two collaborators.
Photographies by Bernie Ng & Crispian Chan
Our Collaborative Choreographic Process
“Our inspiration comes from not knowing who or what the other is really like, since we haven’t met each other yet. I often imagine and wonder who Shou-Yi is; I’m looking forward to discovering his emotions and memories (during the residency).”
— Mai Kubota
“To be honest, my inspiration specifically for this creation is Mai. Since the act of collaboration is to work with someone in order to produce something, there is no better approach than to set aside personal egos. I start by listening and getting to know her better, then share my own thoughts. It’s through this back-and-forth, give-and-take process that we begin find the right content and direction for our creation.”
— Goh Shou Yi
“Getting to work with Shou Yi whom I was unfamiliar with meant that I naturally was more reserved in my conversations with him - what could be said, and what could not. This tension was very real, and it contributed to what NAKA was about: our outer and inner states of mind - what could be observed, and what couldn't be.”