studies in form, movement & balance

These drawings were made over a period of three years and were finally presented at Galleries’ Night in Bangkok in 2020.

It is a collection of drawings based on time spent in the studio with my beloved, long-time muse, model, and friend. He is a professional ballet and Butoh performer.

He introduced me to Suriashi, a traditional Japanese movement technique primarily used in martial arts, and Butoh, a modern Japanese avant-garde style of dance.

Suriashi refers to a specific foot movement where the feet slide along the ground, maintaining continuous contact without lifting. Its purpose is to move while maintaining one's balance.

The other, Butoh, aims to express deep, often intense emotions and explore the human experience. Butoh deals with themes like life, death, decay, suffering, and transformation.

Our conversations sparked a great love affair in studying these foreign disciplines. We had multiple drawing sessions where we explored these ideas—he through performing the physical movements, and me through ink and paper.

The series was originally entitled, “Greg in a housedress talking about Suriashi.” The ideas behind these two disciplines bind my thoughts and interests to my drawing practice: the concepts of maintaining balance, conscious breath, and moving fluidly through life. Controlled breathing, connecting breath with movement, helps improve focus and keeps energy flowing steadily.

In Butoh, I see a reflection of my interest in how everyday life mirrors our inner states. The focus on slowness, careful observation, and stripping away distractions to focus on a single movement speaks to my desire for exploring emotion with clarity and depth.

SURIASHI SERIES ONE AND TWO
INK ON PAPER
560mM X 760mM
2018-2020