Dear Friends,
October was for me an interlude, a moment in time to reflect and prepare for the new season. I took time to rest plenty after the very happening Summer which I am happy to share today with you here in this November news-letter. Ever since I moved to Berlin as the weather drops, I usually travel South, like birds in search of warmth. This year I will take flight again and stay in France a couple months where I will be playing and leading workshops too.
BONJOUR LA FRANCE !
First stop : Tenrikyo Center - a spiritual oasis where I will retreat the first 8 days before arriving to Bordeaux to officially kick-off the season with a fabulous event called Bliss Festival. I will play for the immersive sound workshop which is a flow and alpha-state happening event curated by Armand Florea. This will be the beginning a series of sessions intended to spark moments of deep awareness, allowing us to experience a sense of freedom and deep tranquility. Join us at Studio Bivouac at Darwin Ecosystem on Saturday, November 16 at 12h30.
- November 16th / 12h30 - 14h30 / BLISS Festival
- November 23rd / 18h30 - 20h30 / WayUp_ART
TSCHÜSS BERLIN !
Looking back Summer highlights, Berlin Art Week’s marked a turning point. I played for an entire week at the MaHalla Open for the exhibits curated by Mariko Yoshida and Etsuko Sakamaki. What struck me the most were the moss-inspired proposals : The Past Obscured in Green & Reaching Into. The performance with Eline Gaudé, was the ultimate form of minimalism to me. Gaudé, a French-Finnish visual artist based in Helsinki, wove embroidery and poetry, reciting verses often aloud. Reaching Into… , with Ikebana master Hisaya Kumano, moved the traditional japanese floral arrangement practice into the field of contemporary art. The site-specific installation became a space where subtle light, color, sound and darkness met silence - the environnement was drapped in a velvet hue.
THE ZEN ENSEMBLE FINALE !
Last, not least, performing artist Fusako Yamamoto and Cara Kong took part in module 3 of my new experimental practice THE ZEN ENSEMBLE, intended to deepen our capacity for truly tuning-in and listening to what is (within and without). This experimental workshop allowed for pure expression to emerge naturally and intuitively - with great freedom. In such spontaneous explorations, contemplation and resonance play the pivotal role. Like an inner calling, we invoke natural phenomena and seek to breathe in the cosmic energy of pure manifestation such as leaves swayed by ocean breeze on an autumn day.
DOMO ARIGATO
DEEP GRATITUDE to all those who made Summer 2024 brilliant ! Especially to all of you who made possible all these beautiful events. I especially would like to thank Fusako Yamamoto for her video editing and performance, Mariko Yoshida and Veronica Weinstein.
Wishing you a comforting month of November filled with Zen-Drumming and Peace for All.
KENJI MINAMI
Credits:
photos courtesy of Fabio Dondero, Fusako Yamamoto and Mariko Yoshida