Constituent features

Question 1

What is the physical setting?

Answer 1

-There are three walls covered in light grey gores and there are light grey floors which creates a box - a temple
-The set is intercative
-There are 18 monks and 21 boxes

Question 2

What are the costumes?

Answer 2

-Larbi = green jacket, a navy shirt, light grey baggy trousers, black trainers/sneakers - he loses the jacket in the dance
-Monks (1) = they wear the light grey/blue monk uniform with black elastics wrapped around the ankles and black shoes
-Monks (2) = wears the blue/grey monk trousers with the black shoes and wears a dark grey/charcoal t shirt
-Monks (3)= black/navy suit with a purple shirt and black sneakers/trainers

Question 3

How do the costumes help communicate the themes of the work?

Answer 3

-The monks have both traditional and western costumes which shows how they are increasingly becoming more exposed to western culture
-Larbi wears a suit throughout to represent the west but loses the jacket part way through to show he is becoming more exposed to eastern culture
-The costumes help contribute to the visual image of the whole piece with its limited colour

Question 4

How is the aural setting used in the work?

Answer 4

-Mutual co-existence - music and movement relationship - create atmosphere and evoke different emotions
-Musicians are UCS on a raised platform behind a gauze
-Played live - use of found sound and vocalisation
-Music is melancholic and minimalistic
-Instruments = piano, cello, 2 x violins, percussion (some specific to eastern music) (5 musicians involved)

Question 5

What is the movement style in the work?

Answer 5

-Kung Fu
-11 forms of Kung Fu in Sutra
-Use movements like strikes, kicks, blocks, punches etc
-Utilises hard and soft techniques
-Favour wide stance
-Choreography is derived from different styles of kicks
-Protection
-Philosophical