Matthias Neuekirche as Asako Iwama at HKW

Europe (to the Power of) n Festival
Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin
July 2012

Beyond the basic description of Asako Iwama as Japanese, female, artist and cook, Incorporation brings the body of a professionally trained actor (German, male, performer) into the role and gesture of ‘becoming’ another.These are the linguistic markers for positioning the self within the grammar of identity. Here, incorporation is a subtle process of embodiment whereby Matthias Neukirch prepares and serves rice balls as Asako Iwama. The one who is ‘eaten’ offers the possibility of eating, to be eaten by others.

A film serves as backdrop to the performance, and the ritual questions the symbolic act of naming as a narrative of minute motions, moldings and making by hand.