Artist Image, Harmony. Patina, OzAsia Festival2018.
Composer David Kotlowy may be an Adelaide local but his music belies his background. It would be easy to think that Patina is traditional Indonesian music, not contemporary Australian work.
This new work is a mellow fusion of Indonesian and Japanese cultural expressions in music, art and dance. The 60-minute program offers a peaceful escape from the real world outside and the opportunity to hear instruments rarely seen on stage.
The music is mainly performed by Gamelan In Situ, a group of Adelaide musicians who originated some years ago at Flinders University. They play authentic period instruments, dressed in black and seated on cushions on the floor, giving it a sacred feel. Kotlowy also performs on stage playing a Japanese Shakuhachi flute. And there is some electronica, creating a melding of ancient artistic traditions and contemporary performance.
Dancers Ade Suharto, from Indonesia, and Shin Sakuma from Japan, interpret the music alongside Japanese artist Juno Oka. The contemporary dance choreography echoes traditional movements and the street-style painting is fluid and unfussy. Together they create a gentle musical degustation. Some of the other effects, the glitter and glue, and the beat boxes, felt superfluous to the artistic integrity of the work that was otherwise deeply satisfying.
Patina was commissioned by the 2018 OzAsia Festival and enjoyed its world premiere performance at the Space Theatre on November 6th. Two performances only.
4 stars ★★★★
Patina
Composer and musician – David Kotlowy
Musicians – Gamelan in Situ
Dancers – Ade Suharto and Shin Sakuma
Artist – Juno Oka
25 October – 11 November 2018
OzAsia Festival
