Osamu Shikichi makes dance and performative installations that explore physical identity and notions of self-possession. Often referencing WET (Weird Erotic Tensions) movements, such as ASMR visualisations, their work examines how the assumptions we hold about our bodies are coded by spectatorship, and the politics and violence of the gaze. Shikichi is born in Japan and studied sculpture before transitioning to performance. Recent works include happy ice cream YDC2020 (2020); blooming dots, TPAM2021 Fringe (2021); and hyper ambient club, ROHM Theatre Kyoto (2022) and Creative Centre Osaka (2023). Shikichi received the Pola Art Foundation Fellowship in 2023 and also was selected for ‘Under 30 Changing the World’ (Forbes Japan, 2023).

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Not so long ago, in Japan, Fueiho Law (the Adult Entertainment Business Regulation Law) made it illegal to dance in clubs after 24:00. Techno Udon was an event where people would lay udon noodles under their feet, play techno music, and hold a diy rave to dance. The idea was, “We’re not dancing—we’re making udon” By presenting it that way, they managed to slip through police regulations and reclaim the freedom to dance. Now that the restrictions have been relaxed, there’s no longer any need to dance on top of noodles. Still, they've decided to mix in a little of Techno Udon with their own dance practices this time. At the intersection of society and art, let our bodies dance free on all the elements that make dancing possible.

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