Revolt of the Body: Keynote by Puppies Puppies (Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo)

Critically-acclaimed Japanese and Puerto-Rican (Taino) artist Puppies Puppies (Jade Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo), who lives and works in New York, will deliver a keynote presentation on her research into Hijikata Tatsumi's (1928-86) Revolt of the Body (1968). This marks her foray into Butoh as part of her ongoing engagement with her Japanese heritage.

Guanaro Kuriki-Olivo approaches Butoh—a groundbreaking form of dance that challenged conventions—as a vital contemporary practice. Drawing on Hijikata's expertise in interpreting emotions, the body, and the human psyche, she examines "Revolt of the Body" for its emphasis on bodily transition and its visceral exploration of the inner turmoil of inhabiting a body we inherited. Through a co-creative approach, her investigation invites collaborators to interpret portions of the original work from their own viewpoints.

The keynote will offer insights on Butoh, transformation, and embodiment, followed by a discussion and audience Q&A moderated by Kim Association Artistic Director Christina Li and T:>Works Artistic Director Dr Ong Keng Sen.

Co-presented by Kim Association and T:>Works as part of its Per°Form Open Academy, a porous space bridging solidarities, knowledges and futurities in the precarious present.

Please note: This is a freestanding event.

About T:>Works
Established in 1985, T:>Works is an independent and international arts company based in Singapore at its space, 72-13. It is currently led by Artistic Director, Dr. Ong Keng Sen. T:>Works’ mission and vision are the pioneering of thought leadership in the arts focused on transdisciplinary, transcultural, and inclusive processes. To this end, there is a strong educational perspective with research and discourse contextualising histories, contemporary experiences, and situated art practices of the global south. T:>Works also serves to investigate the current urgencies of being located in Singapore, and larger Asia, through different creative expressions in the public sphere. It is a recipient of the National Arts Council Major Company Grant from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2028. T:>Works is an Institute of Public Character with charity status.

About Per°Form Open Academy
Per°Form Open Academy of Arts and Activations (POA) is an arts conference series conceptualised and led by T:>Works Artistic Director, Dr. Ong Keng Sen. With Per°Form, T:>Works aims to cut across silos, disciplines, and fields to support translocal knowledge production, situated practices, and contextualised research as shared resources for the future. In particular, Per°Form focuses on the arts practitioner as a thought leader engaged in care and repair, actively engaging histories, the precarious present, and world-creating.