Victorious Cupid
Miwa SHIBATA
In 2023, Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels is supporting the Institut Français du Japon for the presentation of Victorious Cupid by Miwa SHIBATA, as part of the 2023 Yokohama Dance Collection.
Inspired by Caravaggio’s Amor Vincit Omnia (1602) and Mathieu Kassovitz’s film La Haine (1995), this new solo performance by Shibata reflects her studies in France and Israel. Shibata delves into Caravaggio’s enigmatic painting to provoke binary oppositions and challenge fixed ideas, while drawing parallels to Kassovitz’s film addressing immigration issues and the complexities of multicultural coexistence. She further explores contemporary themes of gender, identity, and religion. Incorporating a fresh perspective on movement acquired during her residency in France and with a blend of street dance and pantomiming, her choreography resonates with memories of intense citizen protests against authority that she witnessed in France and Israel. It’s a dance that engages the audience, prompting questions about the modern world.
about the artist
Miwa Shibata
Dancer and choreographer Miwa Shibata graduated from the University of Nihon College of Art in 2019. She worked with choreographer Saori Nishi, director of the Kuki dance troupe, as lead dancer from 2019 to 2021. Oblivion, a creation dealing with social issues such as parental negligence, has been reprised three times since its debut in 2019. The work also won the 2021 French Embassy in Japan Award in the context of the Yokohama Dance Collection. Miwa Shibata was selected as artist in residence at DaBY and Session House in 2021.
Photo: © DR
