————重要的不是勝利，而是參與————
藝術節還能做什麼？
除了告訴大家藝術有多美好之外，一定還有很多事情能做的吧。2024年有什麼事情能做，或是還有什麼事情沒做的呢？適逢四年一度的體育盛事，如果把它作為主題，搭配玩聚場一直以來貫徹的「開放、活力、創造」，是否能撞出不同的火花？
在賽事格言中，「更快、更高、更強」是各項選手們不停努力的目標。但就藝術工作者來說，我們能「比」些什麼？或許我們無法比出勝負高下，但我們常挑戰極限：挑戰表演能力的極限、作品的極限、議題的極限、藝術的極限。
如果大家一起來挑戰極限的話，會是個怎樣的風景呢？
本次玩聚場將以運動精神作為延伸發想，以「挑戰極限」為主題，用各種形式「玩」起來。每位創作者將選定一個「最⋯⋯」的形容詞，並用各自專注的形式對選定的主題進行詮釋或挑戰。運動精神最重要的不是勝利，而是參與，積極地讓觀眾在玩耍之中一同參與，並在自己長期關注的議題中，藉由C-LAB開放創新的平台得到更多發展的可能性。
三缺一劇團、娩娩工作室，與陳家聲工作室要擷取生活所見，詮釋最日常、最神秘，與最恐怖的故事；創作者李祐緯、嘎造・伊漾、以及周翊誠將延續個人所專注的主題，以最LONELY、最沒差，與最邪惡為引，直探議題核心；北部綜藝能工作室、不可無料劇場，與煙花宇宙數位音像工作室將要挑戰自己的極限，用最敬業、最有機、最原創三個最高級形容詞，試圖和不同類型的觀眾進行最直接的互動體驗；蘇瓦那與慢島劇團也帶來各自的拿手好作品，分享最自由和最重要的那些小事。最後，劇場PODCAST節目Intercomパイ與演員的自我修養也將在C-LAB園區內，為各位帶來一整天不停歇的相關活動。
期待觀眾們能在這些極限挑戰當中，看見表演藝術更多元的樣貌；也期待這些創作在觀眾的參與之下，能持續在每個未來的展演現場持續發酵，讓這無邊的藝文之路上，有奮發向前的順風一同陪伴前行。
2024玩聚場藝術節策展人 徐宏愷
2024 Play Arts Festival – All the Way to NUMBER ONE
——It’s not about winning, it’s about participating.——
What else can this arts festival do?
There must be more to do than just telling everyone how wonderful art is. In 2024, what are some things that can be done or have not been done? This year’s festival coincides with the Games, which are held once every four years. With a focus on the Olympics, complemented by the concepts of openness, vitality, and creativity that have always been part of the Play Arts Festival, can new sparks be created?
The official motto of the Olympic Games is “faster, higher, stronger.” These are the goals that athletes strive to achieve. What is the equivalent for art workers? Perhaps we can’t compete with one another, but we can and often challenge limits: the limits of performance, the limits of works, the limits of issues, and the limits of art.
What kinds of landscapes will emerge if everyone challenges limits together?
This year’s Play Arts Festival is inspired by the Olympic spirit. Its theme is “challenging limits,” using various forms of “play.” Each creator participating in this festival presents an art form they are concentrating on to interpret or challenge the theme based on their choice of superlative. In 1936, Pierre de Coubertin, known as the “father of the modern Olympic Games,” said that, “The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part.” We actively invite audiences to participate in play. In addition, C-LAB, as an open and innovative platform provides more possibilities for the development of issues that have long been of concern.
One Player Short Ensemble, Myan-Myan Studio, and Garsonplay Studio capture what we see in life and interpret the most mundane, mysterious, and terrifying stories. Guided by the superlatives of the loneliest, worst, and most evil, creators LEE Yo-Wei, Kacaw Iyang, and CHOU Yi-Cheng go straight to the heart of the subjects on which they are focused. Beibuzone Entertainment, BIU Theatre, and Endospace Studio challenge their own limits, using three superlatives: most dedicated, most organic, and most original, as they attempt to provide the most interactive experiences for different audiences. Suana and Slow Island Theatre Group also showcase their masterpieces through which they share the little things that are the freest and most important. Finally, theater podcast Intercompai and An Actor Prepares Podcast bring a full day of non-stop activities to C-LAB.
It is hoped that amid these attempts to challenge limits that audiences see more diverse aspects of the performing arts. With the participation of audiences, it is also anticipated that these creations can continue to ferment in every future performance venue, to smoothly move forward together on the boundless arts and culture road.
Curator of 2024 PLAY ARTS FESTIVAL, Hsu Hung-kai