When Kumbhakar Swallowed a Dead Dog takes inspiration from two Cambodian theatrical traditions, Sbek Thom (shadow puppet theater) and Lakhon Khaol (classical dance). Both traditions draw on themes from the Reamker, the Cambodian version of the Indian epic, the Ramayana. Here I have revisited both the form and aesthetics of shadow pupettry, while collaborating with my husband Pascal Lemaitre (Pascallemaitre.com) on new visuals. This project arose from a Jerome Robbins Research Fellowship and will develop into a full-evening, participative dance installation for the outdoors, scheduled for the summer of 2022.
Emmanuele Phuon 