Beyond Pressure International Performance Art Festival
Yangon, Myanmar
06/12/08 – 14/12/08

The first time I heard about Beyond Pressure was when I met Moe Satt in February 2007, during his short residency at Rimbun Dahan. Over dinner one night, our language barriers smoothed over by beer and friendship, he told me about his idea for an international performance festival to be held in Yangon. I remember thinking that ‘Beyond Pressure’ would make a great tattoo, as well as an excellent toast when drinking. In fact that night we clinked our glasses several times to cries of ‘Beyond Pressure’.

The name of the festival was apt to the point of being prophetic. A few months later, when I received the letter of invitation to participate, so much had already happened: rejected proposals, Cyclone Nargiss. Then, the week that BP was scheduled to take place, a massive sit-in protest by Thailand’s PAD (People’s Alliance for Democracy) froze Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. Coupled with that was the news that Myanmar’s Board of Censorship had denied permission for international artists to perform publicly at the festival.

In spite of these overwhelming obstacles, the festival went ahead. In PART I, we present an email transcript (compiled by Randy Gledhill) between between the festival organizers and invited foriegn artists. In addition to giving you an overall picture of what happened, the conversations that took place before, during and after the festival reflect the complexities of making art happen in the midst of great social-political tension. NOTE: correspondence has been edited grammatically, for clarity.

Look out for PART II in which Randy Gledhill (performance artist and director of LIVE Biennial) writes about his personal experience at BP!

Visit www.beyondpressure.org to learn more.

No art without booze. Beyond Pressure opening party.

09/03/08
Dear Randy,
I will organize the Beyond Pressure International Performance Art Festival in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). The performance festival will be held around 1-5 December 2008, exact dates will be announced later. The festival will take place in Myanmar Medical Association building of Myanmar.

With great pleasure, I extend this invitation to you to join this festival, and to exchange with artists from Asia and elsewhere. I would like to request your favor to participate as a conductor in the workshop that is included in the procedure of the performance art festival.
Moe Satt
~

16/10/08
Dear Artists,
How are you? Could you send descriptions of your performance art work which you will do for Beyond Pressure International Performance Art Festival? For applying permission from Censorship board of Arts in Myanmar. They ask me what foreigner artists will do in Beyond Pressure International Performance Art Festival. That’s why I ask you guys for description of your performance art work. ASAP send description of your performance art work.
Best
Moe Satt
~

Nyein Way performing “Sky Poem”

22/11/08
Dear Artists,
I would like to inform you that Censorship board will come and dialogue with Beyond Pressure’s Participating Artists one day before the performance art event on 5th Dec 2008. So you should explain to them about your performance art, How and Why. After they will say allow or not allow your performance art. If they do not allow your performance art, you should change your performance art or discuss with them.

P.S. I know performance art is difficult to censor, but in my country if we hold art exhibition or  festival, we should pass censorship to get permit. We can not hold exhibition or festival without permit. I hope you will understand my country situation.
best
Moe Satt
~

26/11/08
Dear Artists,
There’s a situation here.
1) The board of censorship denied to screen the performance art pieces which means they can’t allow the festival to happen.
2) So we have to move to plan B  that is we will go to a distant place on 4 December which is 6 hour drive from Yangon and hold the events. But this also depends on whether the local authority can receive us in their village. We have to wait for their answer till 2 December.

This whole plan depends on the Bangkok situation too as most of the foreign participants are to transit at BKK airport. We will wait and see. If you have any question don’t hesitate to ask me.
best
Moe Satt
~

Moe Satt performing “F n F (Face and Fingers)”

29/11/08
Dear Moe Satt,
If nobody accepts us, can we perform somewhere outside or at public space?
Best,
Shu Yang
~

29/11/08
Dear Moe,
We are supporting you in spirit! Now we are really ‘Beyond Pressure’
I’m flying direct to Yangon (no transit in Bangkok) on Dec 3…
Do keep us updated on the situation. Sending a lot of good energy and good wishes your way.
Best,
Sharon
~

M.S.O performing “Untitled”

29/11/08
Dear Moe Satt
Right now situation in Bangkok airport a bit better my flight it isn’t canceled, same with Angie and Kai Lam.

But one thing I have concern, about artists security with your country. Please tell us what’s going on after we cannot do performance in Yangon. What about your government? They already have all of artists name and what do they do? Right?… if ‘we’ go there what’s going on at the immigration?…. we can go to your country?…safe or not?…please tell me….
Waiting for your reply,
Aor Nopawan
~

01/12/08
Dear Artists
The situation is very frustrating and sad. Now, we decided we can’t postpone the festival. But we’ve figured out some plans.

Plan (A) is we hold the meeting at some safe place but no performing. Maybe its kind of workshop.
Plan (B) is we hire an eating room, we eat dinner and do performance. There will be invited artists home and abroad.
Our plan (C) is we go to the village we mentioned if we are permitted. The village lies on the bank of the Irrawaddy River.
Best
Moe Satt
~

Aung Ko performing “Untitled”

01/12/08
Hi Moe Satt.
My AirAsia flight from Bangkok is cancelled indefinitely and most likely can only be able to use after this sunday, and it will be too late. Therefore i have decided with regret to return back to Singapore.

I have also made this decision because of the dire situation you are in. Please think about this situation more clearly, because it is most likely you will not get approval from your government, and they will be observing you for the next few days. So it is unwise to continue with the festival, or do something related to BP. I suggest you should postpone it, and for sure, I and other artists will join you again next time.

You also need to think of the larger picture that if you continue to hold this festival, it might have a negative effect on Yangon art community as well as the artists you had invited. I would like to suggest to you, plan D, that is to go ahead with meeting artists and observers who have already arrived and will be arriving. But just meet and talk for now. And plan for a future festival based on the understanding of the current situation.

Please re-strategize your movement for now, and do not make any activities related to performance, because the situation in Yangon is more important to upkeep than a performance festival. In order to continue, you will need to retreat sometimes.. and wait for a better time to hold it again. In Singapore, we had waited for 10 years..for our first international festival.

My apologies to you for my not turning up. My non-participation this time, is to help you not get into deep problem with the local authorities there. I do not understand the Yangon situation fully, but I know that if we defy a strong military regime, it will create repercussions for other artists or community in Yangon.

Still support your good intentions, please consider what I suggest to you.
Keep in touch and in solidarity.
Kai Lam.
~

01/12/08
Hi Moe,
Have you decided your plan of action? Kai Lam’s comments make a lot of sense. Regardless of how things proceed, I believe there will still be a fruitful outcome through discussion and meeting each other. Can you reply with an email confirming that there will be someone to pick me up from Yangon airport at 12:40pm, Wednesday 3 December (tomorrow). Malaysia Airlines Flight no. MH 740. And also provide a contact number that I can call just in case.
Thanks.
Sharon
~

Aung Pyi Sone performing “That is not art/ insist that is art”

02/12/08
hi everyone
great letter Kai
I agree totally
there you go Moe listen to your brother
I am in Chiang Mai now
researching if there are any ways to visit Burma as a tourist
it looks doubtful so looks like I also must decline with regret
so close and yet so far
imagine peace
question authority
watch your ass
love
Randy
~

02/12/08
Hi all,
I am poet “Nyain Way”. I agree with Kai Lam. At least we can have friendly meeting in wonderful Yangon.
Nyein Way
~

02/12/08
Dear artists
Here is the last option of beyond pressure.
We have divided Beyond Pressure into two parts.
Part 1 – 3rd Dec to 6th Dec (Arrival time 3rd Dec and Departure time 7th Dec).
Hong O Bong (Korea) and Sharon Chin (Malaysia) will arrive tomorrow (3rd Dec,2008).
We will make succession section on 4th Dec at YMCA.
We will make symposium (morning) on 5th Dec at YMCA.
Symposium – 1. Hong O Bong (Korea),  2. Nyein Way (Myanmar) , 3. Aung Min (Myanmar) and (evening) will make workshop – conducted by Po Po (Myanmar).
We will make performance art at eating room (evening) on 6th Dec.
I would like to know who would like to join Part 2 of Beyond Pressure
If u want to join Part 2 of Beyond Pressure, please contact me ASAP.
Part 2 – 12 Dec to 15 Dec (Arrival time 12 Dec and Departure time 15 Dec)
Part 2 of Beyond Pressure will be depend on the Bangkok situation.
But we have decided a dead line – Part 2 of Beyond Pressure will be 15th Dec.
If no artist will join Part 2 of Beyond Pressure we don’t hold Part 2.
and finished Beyond Pressure International Performance Art Festival this year.
best
Moe Satt
~

Nyo Win Maung performing “Keep Clean”

02/12/08
Hi Moe
Now that Bangkok airport is reopening there is slight chance I can still come to Yangon on about Dec 6
but reading your new e-mail I wonder why you don’t hear Kai and me (and others like Chumpon, Toi, etc.)
We are worried about you and the artists and the future
It is time to become relational not proactive
No festival, no symposium, no workshop
just friends
We just eat and drink and talk among ourselves
As Kai said sometimes it is more strategic to retreat
If I can come to Yangon it will be as a tourist to meet friends, bring fairy tale books for the children and see your beautiful city
Randy

ps: there is never a last option there is only new ideas
~

02/12/08
Dear moe satt
Just want to let you know this time I cannot participate in your festival and yes! I’m worried about you and your festival and I agree with Kai.

And I hope I can join your festival next time So anyway I will contact you later Hope everything will be fine and so sorry I cannot go there
keep in touch
Aor Nopawan
~

03/12/08
Dear Randy
I’m kind of stubborn person.
If I have a goal I try to get and find many ways.
I do not give up easily.
Today 2 artists arrived. Hong O Bong (Korea) and Sharon Chin (Malaysia). They are safe. No one ask in Immigration at airport when they enter Myanmar.
Don’t worry too much.
Pls come and see real situation.
Pls let me know of your arrival time and flight no.
best
Moe satt

P.S: if you have any question don’t hesitate to ask me.
~

Phyu Mon performing “Survival in the Life”

04/12/08
Dear Moe Satt
I would like to join part 2 of Beyond Pressure, of course it will depend on the Bangkok situation. But it seems everything is going well now!

Please let me know how many artist will join in the Part 2 and is it available for me to arrive and leave earlier one day (11 to 14 Dec)?

Hope to hear from you soon
best
Tran Luong
~

04/12/08
Dear artists,
Hello, how are you? I’m Sharon Chin, artist from Malaysia, writing to you now from Yangon, Myanmar. Moe Satt is sitting beside me. We’re writing to you to tell you about our plan for Beyond Pressure Performance Art Festival, Part 2. I want to tell you my experience of being in Myanmar.

I arrived here on Tuesday, 2 Dec. I flew direct from Kuala Lumpur to Yangon, so I didn’t have trouble with Bangkok airport. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived. The airport is new and beautiful. No questions from immigration department – they just chop my passport, didn’t even check my luggage.

So far, I have spent some time with Moe Satt, Hong O Bong from Korea and many local artists. It’s been a great experience. It’s true that the situation is difficult, but after listening to a lot of discussion amongst the Myanmar artists, I realize that they understand the situation with the authorities and the censorship board, and they are very careful with how they are deciding to proceed with the festival. A lot of work, spirit, energy and intellectual thinking has gone into the making of this festival.

We had the first artist discussion and workshop today at YMCA. It went smoothly. We decided that we will go ahead with the symposium tomorrow with 4 artists speaking about their work. The next day, the censorship board will meet with the local artists and have a dialogue/discussion with them, after which they will give their permission to proceed. Then, only local Myanmar’s artists will perform publicly at Thamada Art Gallery. After that, all of us will have dinner together, and me and Hong O- Bong (the only foreign artists here so far) will perform at the dinner venue. It’s not a public performance, so it’s ok.

I think that this is a good plan. As a foreign artist, I feel safe. I understand if you feel insecure, especially with the situation in Bangkok. But I think it’s worth coming to Myanmar, even if you don’t perform – just to observe, meet the artists and have a discussion. Reality is not what you see and hear in the media. Real life has to be experienced.

So just to be clear, if you do decide to come, then Beyond Pressure Festival will enter into Part B. In Part B, the main objective is to meet each other and have discussion. Because the Myanmar artists have performed already (in Part A), they will not perform again. If foreign artists feel comfortable and wish to perform, we will arrange a suitable performance space (not public) in which we can still do performance. We want to make clear that the authorities have not allowed any public performance. But a closed-door performance is ok. If you don’t want to perform, it’s ok! We’ll talk, we’ll drink. We’ll discuss about art and life.

So what dates? The news says that Bangkok airport is reopened starting tomorrow. Hopefully everybody can re-book their flight. We are hoping to have Part 2 from 12 – 15 December. However, depending on what your plans are, we can still push back the dates. It all depends on when you are able to fly to Yangon. Please reply with your possible flight dates, or if you don’t wish to make the trip. Then we can make the best plan for the situation.

So, come to Myanmar! Even if for a few days, even if you don’t do performance art. For me, this has been a rare opportunity, a great privilege to experience a culture and a country through the eyes of its artists. It’s safe. Don’t be afraid. Don’t worry too much. Tonight we had dinner and drank whiskey at Mother Land Inn, a very good hotel with great food, hot shower, satellite tv and… INTERNET!!!

Reply us with your email, even if you don’t plan to come. Tell us your plans and your thoughts. We really want to hear from you. (But we want to see you, even more).
See you soon!!! Best wishes and lots of love from:
Sharon Chin and Moe Satt and all the Beyond Pressure team.
~

Popo performing “Against the Gravity”

04/12/08
Just to let everyone know, so far these are the foreign artists who have come OR are coming for Beyond Pressure:
PART A (3 – 7 December – we are here now!!)
1. Sharon Chin (Malaysia)
2. Hong, 0-Bong (Korea)
PART B (around 12 – 15 Dec but dates are not fixed)
1. Ronaldo Ruiz (Filipines)
2. Tran Luong (Vietnam)
Hope to add to this list :D
Best, Moe Satt
~

04/12/08
Dear Moe, Sharon and All,
Am back in singapore. Its thoughtful that you guys are updating us about what is going on in Yangon, things happen smoothly now is good, and i hope it is not going to  have negative effect on Moe Satt and Yangon art community after the  ‘international’ fanfare is gone..

‘Real life’ is not just what one experiences now, please consider for local individuals and community who are still dealing with the system when the visitors are gone.

I still do not agree with your continuing of BP, but I want to wish you guys much success with it.
Peace be, Kai.
~

04/12/08
Hi Moe I arrive in Yangon (from Bangkok) Sunday Dec 7 @ 8:00 AM
Flight FD 3770 Depart (to Bangkok) Saturday Dec 13 @ 8:30 AM
Should I still phone Motherland Inn from the airport to pick me up?
or are their alternate new plans?
Looking forward !!!
Randy
~

04/12/08
Dear all
Yes… I’m the one who concern about your festival Moe Satt and hope to participate with you next time and wish your time is safe and smooth till the end of festival and you will be safe too!!
love
aor nopawan
~

05/12/08
Dear Randy
Ok I will book for you the Mother Land Inn. Some one from Mother Land Inn will pick you up at airport. See you tomorrow.
best
Moe Satt
~

Mrat Lunn Thwne performing “O! Picnic (Plantation)”

07/12/08
Hi Randy,
hope you have safe arrival and enjoying Yangon.
Sorry can’t be there to spend time. Please speak to Moe Satt what was discussed about BP in Bangkok. Its always better to have someone talk to him in person.
Kai Lam
~

07/12/08
Dear artists:
Yesterday Beyond Pressure – Part One ended well. In the morning, the Board of Censorship came and dialogued  with the Myanmar artists. After the dialogue,  the Board of Censorship gave permission for the Myanmar artists to publicly perform the remaining Beyond Pressure Festival.

The performance art proceeded from 3:30 pm at Thamada Art Gallery to a large audience. After the performances at the Thamada Art Gallery, we moved to the M3 Restaurant where Sharon Chin ( Malaysia) and Hong O Bong ( Korea ) performed in a private event to a big audience that followed us from the Thamada Art.

Randy Gledhill ( Canada) arrived this morning. Randy and Myanmar artists will discuss performance art tomorrow. The day after tomorrow Randy will conduct a private performance art workshop.

Beyond Pressure – Part Two will take place December 12 – 15. So far, two international artists have confirmed their participation – Ronaldo Ruiz (Phillipine) and Tran Luong (Vietnam).
Best
Moe Satt
~

10/12/08
Dear Sharon and Hong,
Impressed by your collaboration and understanding upon how many artists are living and making art (we are not making war) under limited resources and situations. WE ARE BEYOND PRESSURE!!!!!!
Poet Nyein Way
~

Sharon Chin performing “How To Talk to Strangers”

08/12/08
Dear artists,
I just wanted to add my personal experience to Moe’s report on Part I of Beyond Pressure.

On Saturday (6 Dec), me and Hong O-Bong got to sit in on the dialogue between Myanmar artists and the Board of Censorship. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but I was surprised at the fact that the atmosphere was quite light – you’d imagine it to be kind of serious, but in fact there was a lot of laughter! Each artist stood up by turn and described what they were going to do. Apparently the officials were quite helpful: giving suggestions about how the artists could improve their performances!

At the end of the dialog, we got what we were hoping for: a certificate saying that Beyond Pressure Performance Festival was officially allowed to happen publicly. Only then did I realize what an important moment it was for everybody. For the first time, the artists managed to build a bridge with the authorities, and by extension, the general public. It meant that the artists could perform openly, without fear, and that the audience could attend openly, without worry. I can’t even begin to imagine what this means for the future…

Everyone immediately went on an ‘invitation spree’, calling everyone to let them know that the performances were going ahead. By 3pm, more and more people started to fill the room, and when the first artist, Nyein Way, started his performance, I estimate there were about 40 – 50 people there. Moe later told me that not only had the number of audience exceeded their expectations, it was the diversity as well. It was not only artists, but students and members of the general public.

As for the 9 Myanmar artists who performed… what can I say… each work was powerful, intellectual and deeply inspiring.

After that, we all went for dinner at a restaurant near the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. There, me and Hong, O-Bong performed our pieces with great participation from all who were present. Even though foreign artists were not allowed to perform publicly, I think most of the audience followed us to the restaurant venue… in the end, it was still a ‘public’ performance. This taught me a big lesson about how to adapt to situations, and to make it work for you.

So, finally… I arrived safely in Malaysia last night after an amazing 4 days in Yangon. Saying goodbye was more difficult than expected. I still feel overwhelmed by everyone’s warmth and friendship, as well as the emotional and intellectual stimulation I got from the festival. It’s been a great privilege to meet, talk, perform, experience the city and drink copious amounts of whiskey together. I’m looking forward to next year’s festival! And I hope more artists will make their way to Yangon…

Sending lots of love and thanks across the sea,
Sharon
~

16/12/08
hi Moe
I am now back in Vancouver
jet lagged, culture shocked and recovering
just a quick note to thank you for your gracious hospitality
I had a wonderful time with you and your friends in Yangon
I am still unpacking and organizing my jumble of travel debris
will write about my Beyond Pressure experience and post it soon
meanwhile must sleep
love & peace
Randy

Hong O-Bong performing “Happy Myanmar!”

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