SUKEBENINGEN

Sukebeningen Official WebsiteL: http://sukebeningen.org

What is Sukebeningen Project?

The project presents inter media art of characteristically Japanese eroticism. We explore the cultural differences in the conception of eroticism between The Netherlands and Japan through music, dance, electronics, fine arts, and olfactory art.

The name "Sukebeningen"

The name of the project "Sukebeningen" comes from the beach Scheveningen in Den Haag, The Netherlands. Japanese pronounce the word "Scheveningen" /sukebeningen/. The word "sukebe" means somethig like "lecherous" or "naughty," and "ningen" means human being. So "Sukebeningen" means a naughty person. In Japan, therefore, Scheveningen is well-known as a beach with a funny-sounding name. One might say the name is ambiguous: for Dutch, it refers to the beautiful beach; for Japanese, it refers to a naught person. For both peoples, the name of the project is very familiar.

Why eroticism?

One's conception of eroticism reveals his or her sexual sensitivity at a very personal level. At the same time, eroticism reflects the taste of a people at the cultural level. Indeed, eroticism is an important aspect of the cultural aesthetics. Everyone is interested in eroticism, and how different cultures conceive of it. But, it is also a sensitive topic, and it can be difficult to talk about it. We want people to enjoy our works personally and casually, although at the same time we deal with eroticism honestly and seriously.

About the Works

(1) The Tattooer 

The Tattooer is based on the beautiful sado-masochistic tale by Junichiro Tanizaki. In the piece, Tanizaki€™s world is crystalized using carefully selected materials from the story.

About the scents; The first scent: Jinko, an aphrodisiac incense that used to be diffused permanently in the Japanese red light district in the old days. It symbolizes ecstasy. The second scent: Shoko, an incense that is employed in Buddhist ceremonies and funerals. It symbolizes death.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics and composition : Yota Morimoto

composition and violin : Noriko Koide

supervision : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

tattoo : Yuki Hatazawa

percussion : Ryoko Imai

(2) Moon

The concept of the work is an installation of kehai, a Japanese word which means 'a vague sense of the presence of something.' When one perceives or becomes aware of an indication that somebody/something exists around him/her, many faculties of senses contribute to pick up that. We created a dance piece in which multi-sensorial experience is explored. The auditorium is in complete darkness, suppressing the sense of sight, and making other modalities more sensitive. The seats in the auditorium are arranged with intervals, through which the dancer will dance, keeping an intimate proximity to the audience. They will be able to feel the kehai of the dancer. In addition, She wears a perfume, developed by the olfactory artist, to emphasize her kehai (where she is, and what she does in the dark).

About the scent; the scent of a flower that blooms at night to attract moths.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics and composition: Yota Morimoto

composition : Noriko Koide

supervision : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

 Shijuhatte, refers to the catalogue of 48 erotic positions partners can take during the course of making love, as depicted in shunga (Japanese old erotic picture). Each position has a poetic name, giving us the impression of the rich imagination of the people in the Edo period. The choreography is based on these 48 positions, and the music is based on the sound that was actually heard in yukaku (Japanese red light district) where yujyo (the women who work in yukaku) were. Besides an amplified mini-koto and some small percussions and toys which are strongly associated with yujyo, we also developed a switch that triggers various sound effects. In addition, we've put elements of Ozashiki-Asobi (game or play with yujyo in yukaku), presenting the sophisticated culture that enjoy communication with yujyo though the games and plays more than sex itself back in that period.

About the scent; the scent of cherry blossom.

Video directed by Kaname Onoyama.

electronics : Yota Morimoto

composition : Noriko Koide

mini-koto : Akane Takada

dance : Chiaki Horita

olfactory art : Maki Ueda

percussion : Ryoko Imai