CHUMPON APISUK

Dear Boris,

My comment on PC5:

First of all I would like to take this opportunity to thanks organizers from Europe, i.e. ASA and Ultimate Akademie, as well as individual who make this happen. This gratitude is not personal, but many of my

colleagues in thailand who participated in the PC5, asked me to convey this to you. The PC5, has put Thailand on the map of performance movement, it created recognition to performance art in the country.

Many discussion and small discussion after PC5 in bangkok in various alternative art space, may not directly an effect of the conference but it is a continuous trend. There were a few public intervention

performances at various street fair in bangkok today. These show confidence in the the art form has been taking place in Bangkok today.

About the conference itself; Many of us (especially me as one of the organizer) did not know what performance conference would be like. It was very new to us, both the term of conference and the way it organized. Some of Thai participants expected somekind of texual presentations like discussion or lecture, as well as visual or audio medium like video, etc. Though we realized that there will be some language issue in which organizer have to deal with. But there was almost non-discussion (though we tried - but not successful), but many exciting performances to see. It was overwhelm, though many

participants as well as me, agree that it has been the most successful workshop and education about performance art to us all, despite without verbal discussion.

Many (Thai) artists did not utilized the conference as much as it should be, but they rather show what they've done, so it is like a festival, or event, sometimes. Though there are certain degree of workshop oriented, but it could be make clear that this opportunity was rather for experimentation and discussion.

For me personally, I have good opportunity to share my experimentation work which I have never done before. It was very good experience for me, that the conference allow me to seeks new possibility for my future performance. This new experiment work give me a closer look into what I am doing as an AIDS activist, and how it can be together with my art activities. I try to merge two possibilities together.

However, I would like to stress that the PC5 is successful, as it has create imapcts and environment for performance art. It is an advocacy in itself. We are certainly welcome another opportunity, next year. And we can do it better this time.

Regards,

Chumpon