Performance Poetry

Words become brushstrokes, emotions become choreography, and silence becomes applause.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was teenager, I felt that some words were bound by the ropes of formalized institutions, prejudice, and discrimination in an invisible jail. So I started to express my poetry in performances in order for the words to meet freedom and love early in my careea.

The words I bring to the audience on the performance stage are not only poetry but also a voice, an in-breath, a warmth, an echo, a vibration, sound, and a living visual language. 

There is the tone and exhistance of the words as a free and independent entity, liberates from the rope of attachment to the meaning of the words. There are scents, images, melody and both pre-meaning and post-meaning narratives.

While I have always had such an organic relationship with words, I have also respected the role that words have to play in society and for individuals.

I am not interested in writing poetry that only ends up conveying  just emotions, phenomena, lamentations, and melancholy. Poetry should be a positive visionaire that heals people's hearts, inspires them, and attracts hope of the future. Because poetry is an action for living, and this world and the universe are moving toward the future every moment. 

What the world and our planet urgently needs today is an altruistic philosophy and word that inspire individuals and society to transform for the better.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               -Setsuko Chiba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaborating with 10 white roses, robe and the sea breeze

 

 

 

 

New York

©Abel  Yee

 

 

 

Tokyo

©Motoki Tsuda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have long believed that some memories are what I would call original memories, deeply imprinted in my mind even though I did not experience them.

It is as if they were highly concentrated oxygen that existed in my seeds of life before I was born.

And often they have influenced my life and inspired my work.

 

Some of my primordial memories were painful.

They were about the most agonizing events in human history.

This sense of pain led me to search for words that could support the most vulnerable people to heal, to regain their human dignity and to be happy.

And this search for words and expressions continues to this day.

It is like an invisible guide to make me grow up as a human being.

 This practice teaches me that human beings are living strength and precious dignity that turn every pain into a joy of growth and maturity for peace and happiness.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           -Setsuko Chiba

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With soul of word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Description

 

 

Setsuko Chiba, a mixed media artist, poet, performer, and author, infuses her performance poetry with a blend of theatricality and contemporary artistry.

 

Unique Style and Artistic Spirit

Setsuko’s practice spans literature, performance, photography, writing, and contemporary art. Her artistic spirit and philosophy weave through each expression. She doesn’t conform to traditional poetry readings. Instead, her performances take on a life of their own, transcending mere recitation.

 

Theatrical Transformation

When Setsuko recites her poems, they transform into theatrical experiences. She becomes a conduit for emotions, stories, and universal themes. The stage becomes her canvas, and her words paint vivid scenes. Her gestures, intonations, and movements elevate poetry beyond the ordinary.

 

Visual Elevation of Poetry

Setsuko believes that poetry isn’t confined to ink on paper. It’s a multisensory experience—a dance of words and visuals. Her performances engage the eyes as much as the ears. She crafts visual metaphors, inviting the audience to see beyond the surface.

 

Contemporary Relevance

Setsuko’s poetry resonates with contemporary issues. She addresses love, healing, resilience, and global unity. Her themes are relatable, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern challenges.

 

Conceptual Portrait Art Performance

One of her remarkable endeavors is “POETGRAPHOLLIA”. This performance art piece celebrates also the transformative power of love. Love, she believes, isn’t limited to romantic notions. It’s an energy that can turn seemingly unfortunate circumstances into hope and peace. Through this performance, she emphasizes the importance of mutual support and growth.

 

 

In Setsuko Chiba’s poetic theater, words become brushstrokes, emotions become choreography, and silence becomes applause. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honey flows over the desert   

With transformative installation

 

 

 

 

She believes that poetry exists in everything.

And that it is part of a poet's role to find it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To perform poetry is to cross the boundary between inside and outside.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Setsuko's most telling message