Responding: International Performance Art Festival and Meeting

Responding: International Performance Art Festival and Meeting is a new challenge that seeks to “respond” to social issues and problems through performance art and thus facilitating critical dialogue between art and society. The current social issues are, at the very least, the recent pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis, which is common to all human beings regardless of country or region. Performance art must undoubtedly “respond” to this challenge. Responding Performance Initiative is an organic and fluid collective that responds to current social and environmental issues through performative acts such as performance art based on field researches and dialogues among various communities within both local and global contexts, particularly in our “post-truth” era with our counter narratives as “impact-narratives” that repossess truth and reassert small histories of lived experience working as “proto-monument” and compassion for the pain of others. The initiative has been developed through the trials and errors within the process of operating Responding: International Performance Art Festival and Meeting as the organizing committee in 2018 and a year long practice of R2 Osaka and R2 Philippines in 2019. It will continue developing through flexible changes of members and range of activities. We are currently in conversation with a Singaporean art collective The Artist Village determining to hold our third project “R3” in Singapore/Japan in 2020-2021.

Responding:International Perfroamnce Art Festival and Meeting website


Within post globalism international community, we can instantaneously connect with a wide variety of people all over the globe with the wide spread of social networks. As a result, diversity indispensable for social change and development should become more recognized. On the other hand, what is happening on the opposite side of the globe may no longer be “matters for others”. Information is overflowing and it is difficult to identify what is real in a singular form among what is expressed by words such as fake news and alternative truths. Responding: International Performance Art Festival and Meeting is a platform that enables practical trials and errors to explore the real. We belong to plural units indicating society called “community”. Beginning with family and friends, workplace, gender, hobby-oriented, and in large, language sphere, country, etc. Naturally ten different people have ten different positions and opinions. Our existence lies within multiple communities intermingled in complexity, and it often make us suffocate and feel difficult to get by. In that case, let us “Respond” to real of society freely with the sensibility of ten different strokes for ten different folks. Praxis of performance art as a means to do it. It is a new community itself, a new language that artists and audiences experience in the same sense of air on the site. Present COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to various unknowns and new challenges.


R1: Tokyo - Fukushima 2018

R1: Tokyo – Fukushima 2018

Facebook page banner, 2018

R1: Tokyo - Fukushima 2018

R1: Tokyo – Fukushima 2018

2018, a group photo after the symposium at Keio University, Tokyo, Japan

R1: Tokyo - Fukushima 2018

R1: Tokyo – Fukushima 2018

children’s workshop at Iwaki Kids conducted by Sinead O’donnel, John Court, Wang Yanxin, Daisuke Takeya

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

After performance group photo at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Mideo M. Cruz performance at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Yeonjeong performance at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Aze Ong performance at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Futoshi Moromizato performance at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Daisuke Takeya performance at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Yoshiya Makita facilitating the symposium at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Yoshiko Shimada presentation at the symposium at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Yoshio Shirakawa presentation at the symposium at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

group photo after the symposium at FIGYA. Arts Council Osaka Grant

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Mideo M. Cruz performance at Taisho Okinawa Kaikan. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Futoshi Moromizato performance at Taisho Okinawa Kaikan. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Soonji Kim performance at Kobayashi Park. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED project - Osaka 2019

R2: monumentED project – Osaka 2019

Yeonjeong performance at Kobayashi Park. Arts Council Osaka Grant. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

a lecture at Ritsumeikan University, Osaka, Japan, 2019

Bangan Project Space Flyer

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mineki Murata performanceat Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Racquel De Loyola performance at Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Yeongjeong performanceat Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Takumichan performanceat Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mideo M. Cruz installationat Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Daisuke Takeya performanceat Bangan Project Space. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Racquel De Loyola performance at school visit organized by Bangan Project Space

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Daisuke Takeya lecture at school visit organized by Bangan Project Space

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mineki Murata performance at school visit organized by Bangan Project Space

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Takumichan performance at school visit organized by Bangan Project Space

R2: monnumentED - Philippines Project 2019: Tanbay

R2: monnumentED – Philippines Project 2019: Tanbay

Visit to University of the Philippines Center for Musicology, coordinated by Dayang Yraola

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019

Field research led by Dr. Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019

Field research led by Dr. Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

Performative dialogue facilitated by Dr. Tessa Maria Guazon

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

Mideo M. Crus installation. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

Performance art by Daisuke Takeya

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

Yeonjeong performance. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: A visit to lolas at Lila Pilipina

Racquel De Loyola performance

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project: Manila Bay

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project: Manila Bay

Mideo M. Cruz installation at the base of the comfort women

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project: Manila Bay

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project: Manila Bay

Yoenjeong performance at the base of the comfort women

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

Mineki Murata performance preparations. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

Yeonjeong performance. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED - Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

R2: monumentED – Philippines Project 2019: The Miramar Hotel

Daisuke Takeya performance. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

M Gallery Flyer

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mineki Murata performance at M Gallery

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Graciela Ovejero Postigo performance at M Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Takumichan performance at M Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Daisuke Takeya performance at M Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Tanya Jizelle performance at M Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Yeonjeong performance at M Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Kanto Gallery flyer

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Racquel De Loyola performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mineki Murata performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Tanya Jizelle performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Jef Carney performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Mideo M. Cruz performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Gong Dela Torre performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Eghai Roxas + Django performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Martin De Mesa + Joee Mejias performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Daisuke Takeya performance at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Nicolas Aca performance presented on screen at Kanto Gallery. Photo by: Yoshiya Makita

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

R2: monumentED x igkAs collaboration 2019

Jie Zeng, Executive Coordinator of UP-ON International Live festival lecture at Kanto Gallery

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism collaboration 2020 - 2021

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism collaboration 2020 – 2021

Mitamachi shopping street, Shimosuwa, Nagano prefecture, Japan, 2020

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism collaboration 2020 - 2021

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism collaboration 2020 – 2021

Online preparation meeting, August, 2020

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism

R3: Scape-City: TAV x Responding x Suwa-Animism

Online preparation meeting, September, 2020