Lin Hwai-Min, Songs of the Wanderers, performed by Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, dancer WU Chun-hsien. Picture © YU Hui-hung
Festival: The Many Faces of Buddhism, The Victoria & Albert Museum and The Barbican Centre, London, April 25 – May 17 2009
"Most people don't know that nuns perform sacred dances," reasons Robert Yau Chung Ho, discussing the dozen-strong Indian group he's secured for this festival.
"These people haven't been out of their country before. There's not a real good word for it, 'cause we call it dance but it's not a performance – I mean, most of these things are not considered performances."
The son of Robert Hung Ngai Ho, a Hong Kong philanthropist who has played a major role in supporting centres for Buddhist research and Chinese culture across the world, Ho Junior is also Programme Director of this three week showcase of arts and cultural activities from the East.
Buddha seated in meditation, 3rd-4th century AD. Picture © V&A Images, courtesy bequest of Dr E May
Offering talks, sacred dance and films, it coincides with the opening of the Buddhist Sculpture exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum, a collection from the V&A's vast archive in a gallery named after the Ho Foundation.
Ho admits to being "a bit bashful" about having the family name attached to the gallery, but he is pleased with the way in which the V&A has presented the show.
Noh play (Japan) - Kayoi Komachi - Shizuka Mikata
"One way of looking at these pieces is to say they're from an old culture or from different parts of the world – that's a traditional approach, to look at it in a very passive way.
"To their credit, I think in the narrative of the exhibition the V&A will try to tell the story that Buddhism is actually a continual evolution from 2,500 years ago up to the present day in the western world.
"I don't know if this is verifiable, but I'm told their archive rivals the British Museum. Given the history of the V&A in Asia and that part of the world, thinking back I'm not that surprised."
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya (Nepal) - Avolokiteshvara 2. Picture courtesy Andre Elbing
Aiming to complement the exhibition, the season will welcome the US-based International Buddhist Film Festival to London for the first time after Ho persuaded the Barbican to host ten days of screenings from 12 nations, including more than 20 UK premieres.
"They always wanted to be in London," he says. "Strangely enough, for such a large, cosmopolitan city it’s never really had a Buddhist film festival of this scale. To have a ten-day one at the Barbican has never been done before, so they were excited to help out."
Noh Play (Japan), Atsumori, Shizuka Mikata
There is also a rare opportunity to witness sacred rituals from India, Japan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. "These dances have been performed for centuries," says Ho, reflecting on their differing expressions of Buddhist culture.
"As Buddhism goes through every culture in every country the basic message stays the same, but how it’s outwardly practiced incorporates a lot of local cultures and belief systems.
"The Nepalese dancer is the 35th in line of his family or clan who has been practicing this dance, so it's really incredible to see something like that.
"There are some like Charya, which is the Tibetan word for dance, but it doesn't strictly mean dance – it’s more like a performance or body movement."
Kimsooja, A Needle Woman - Kitakyushu (1999). Single channel video projection, 6:33 loop, silent. Picture courtesy Kimsooja Studio
Most of the participants were contacted through Core Culture, the Chicago "dance preservation" organisation run by Joseph Houseal, who also appears at the festival.
"In the case of the nuns it puts them in a meditative trance, the right frame of mind to practice their Buddhism further," explains Ho.
Kimsooja, A Laundry Woman - Yamuna River, India (2000). Single channel video projection, 10:30 loop, silent. Picture courtesy Kimsooja Studio
"In the case of the Sri Lankans it's part of their ritual worship and devotion, the practice of Buddhism that goes on that part of their world. For the Nepalese the dancer himself becomes the deity, not only to dance for himself in that tantric state, but also to tell the Buddhist messages.
"It's not been done before so I hope it's not too esoteric, because they're all different in their energy and what they do. Again, it's like, 'what are people's preconceived views of Buddhism?' One of our beliefs is that the insights of Buddhism are a very powerful vehicle for personal and societal transformation.
"It's really more of a philosophy and a way of approaching life than a religion. The audience is just sharing the space, experiencing it, and we hope they come away from it feeling something personal."
Full programme:
Opening of Robert HN Ho Family Foundation Gallery of Buddhist Sculpture
V&A, London, Wednesday April 29, 1.30pm.
International Forum on Buddhism and the Arts Today
Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre, V&A, April 25 2009, 2pm – 5.30pm. Admission £15 (concessions available), call 020 7942 2211.
Buddhist Sacred Dance Traditions: A Talk by Joseph Houseal
Hochhauser Auditorium, Sackler Centre, V&A, April 29 2009, 1.15pm – 2.45pm. Admission free.
A Day of Rare Buddhist Dance
Raphael Gallery, V&A, London, May 1 2009, 11am – 4pm and 4pm – 9pm. Admission free.
International Buddhist Film Festival
Barbican Centre, London, May 7 – 17 2009. Visit The Barbican for full details.
