With his usual false naivety, Jérôme Bel presents a captivating performance as the result of his meeting in Bangkok with a young Thai traditional dancer, Pichet Klunchun, 34 years old, specialist of “Khon” style in royal dances. Two artists who are worlds apart, but that humour, sensibility and a great open-mindedness bring together in a most original performance. It is a 90 minute dialogue in English. Seated cross-legged face to face, each one asks the other one questions on different subjects such as dance, work, religion, and death…

After a skilful presentation of his partner, Jérôme Bel asks Pichet Klunchun, a virtuoso with magical hands, to show some examples of court dances, and the latter offers a masterly demonstration, much more interesting than a real ballet with traditional costumes and masks. Then Jérôme Bel shows his own work to the Thai dancer who seems quite amazed. Both are pretending to improvise their questions, but their words are most sincere and their complicity delights us. A performance of a rare intelligence although with very little means.

René Sirvin 27.06.2005