Open Call: Our Labyrinth by Lee Mingwei @ Shanghai Biennale

Arthub loves Lee Mingwei and if you don’t already, you soon will. Find out how to become involved in the artist’s project for this year’s 11th Shanghai Biennale…

Dear DANCER,

I’d like to invite you to audition for a unique performance-based art project at Shanghai Biennale.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Our Labyrinth by Lee Mingwei (born 1964 in Taiwan, Based in New York; Paris)
Mixed media interactive performance

Our Labyrinth involves a dancer sweeping a mound of rice along a labyrinthine path of their choosing within the museum galleries as a gift to visitors. The project was inspired by a visit to Myanmar, by the gesture of removing one’s shoes before entering any temple, pagoda or mosque, and by the pristine space created for visitors by volunteers who constantly swept the sacred grounds. Our Labyrinth has been performed at Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Museum of National Taipei University of Education.

EXHIBITION/PERFORMANCE DATES:

The public exhibition dates for Our Labyrinth at Shanghai Biennale are November 11, 2016 – March 12, 2017. Performances will be held in the 1F of Power Station of Art. Performances are scheduled in 3 hour shifts, based on the availability over the 121 day run of the project. Dancers with partial availability for the run are still strongly encouraged to apply.

Dancers will be selected by audition to take part in the project. A final rehearsal and performance schedule will be scheduled in late October with the performance schedule to begin on November 11. A schedule will be generated based on the dancers selected by the audition and their respective schedules. Please be assured that maintaining good health and wellbeing is a top priority of all artists and producers involved.

AUDITION DETAILS:

Auditions will take place on the 3F Theater of Power Station of Art on Thursday/Friday September 1 & 2. Please contact Li at liweizhen@powerstationofart.com to schedule a 5 minute time-slot. The audition panel will include members of Shanghai Biennale, Power Station of Art staff, as well as staff from Lee Mingwei studio. You’re welcome to provide a headshot and resume at the time of the audition, but there’s no need to submit materials prior.

A mound of rice, brooms, and a sarong will be prepared at audition. You may improvise accordingly. We are open to a range of performers—past performers have included dancers, a yoga teacher, a tai-chi master. You may also prepare a dance piece of your own choosing to showcase.