JUNYA ISHII - Interlopers

The Interlopers

Direction : Junya Ishii Perform and

Text: Junya Ishii, Jon Bonnici, Eszter Szollosi

PARL - Performance art Research Ljubljana WORK IN PROGRESS PRESENTATION www.parl.si

Ljubljana, 31 August 2022

“The Interlopers” is a performance dealing with the topic of territorial disputes that have been enduring for as long as we have been human. The performance is inspired by Saki's short story, while Junya Ishii decided to make a piece reflecting and twisting his personal experience humorously.

In 2022, a Japanese man goes to Europe to listen to the stories of people who have experienced the Yugoslavian conflict. Amidst a series of flight cancellations, he takes off his mask and, feeling a sense of freedom, travels by train and bus from the Carpathian Mountains where Saki's story is also set, to the Balkans. However, unaware of the unprecedented decline of the Japanese Yen, he soon loses his funds and begins busking. In Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, he encounters a girl from Transylvania and while spending time with her, he becomes involved in an incident. Unsure of whose territory and narrative is true, the man who is asked to give a statement reveals what is hidden deep in his heart.

The creation was based on feedback from Slovenian directors, dramaturgs, performers, and artists as part of the PARL - Performance Art Research Ljubljana, Slovenia program.

Photo: Matjaž Rušt

PARL - Performance art Research Ljubljana
Photo: Matjaž Rušt