What I liked
The multi-media aspect was really well executed. Zoom performances can get stale, but the use of the camera was inventive. Screens recording screens, projections, paint, dance, pre-recorded and live performance, lots of variety in the framing. I was very impressed! It kept me fully engaged despite being an online-only performance.
What I didn't like
I feel like any changes would go against the message itself; life is messy and strange, but beautiful within that. So any messiness feels true to the intent. Not that it WAS messy, but the thing about art is it can always be tweaked. I don’t think this needs to be.
My overall impression
IKIGAI, to me, is a work about connection and hope despite everything. The world is a cynical place, and full of pain. This work does not pretend otherwise. There are moments of abandonment and painful transformation. Many people claim that realism is wise, but this piece takes the stance that hope is always worth trying. You can find what you lost. You can reach out a hand, and someone will take it. You can separate and come together again, find new meaning in the things that were simple.
