It’s that time of year again when the highly-skilled and meticulous Thai mask dance, Khon, returns in Bangkok (Nov 24-Dec 9). The performances will be as beautiful, traditional and prestigious as last year’s, but does anybody care?
Let’s start with highly-skilled and meticulous. The historical Khon was originally performed exclusively behind the palace’s walls by masked male performers, and for its origin, you might have to trace back to as far as the 10th century. Depicting the stories from Ramayana, Khon has won over its fans its smooth and elegant movements, and its spectacular set and enchanting costumes. As with ballet, to acquire those skills and precise muscular control the dancers usually start their training at a young age. As for the scrupulous attire, there are rules on color and style for the costumes for different characters. The mask alone takes over a month to finish and is indeed a handicraft to behold. Combine them together and we have the highest form of Thai performing art, sat on the top of the Thai-ness pyramid.
Then, how can something so important and beautiful become so unappealing? What happened to Khon is simply what happened to many Thai cultural heritages. It is so preserved and frozen that it becomes humdrum. People love and watch Khon, but it’s mainly the same people who have been doing so since 30 years ago. The largely monopolized national Khon is performed and produced by the people from the Fine Arts Department, which also has been operating the three national theaters in Bangkok, Suphanburi and Nakhon Ratchasima for almost 50 years. While this ensures Khon will be made by those who know Khon thoroughly, it’s a worry that this prestigious Thai art lives within a rather tight and limited circle. And the self-admiration within a closed group always endangers any kind of art.
And it’s more wearisome when Khon is something very Thai because it means it is ragarded as untouchable among Thai conservatives (remember Songkran in Singapore or the Tom Yam Gung Robot?). Last month, when people found out about a new Thai horror flick, “Sian Sayong”, centering on a haunting Khon mask, there was an Internet outcry over the movie’s inappropriateness. Thais feel the need to be careful when talking about Khon, like when they talk about monks and temples. Creativity-wise, it also makes no difference to criticize a Khon performance because everything in Khon is standardized to the extent there is no longer good or bad Khon. You can comment on the production, but a bad review of a Khon show is rarity.
Khon is not to be challenged, but respected. Nevertheless, there are those who see differently. Spearheading the call for change is internationally renowned contemporary dancer and choreographer Pichet Klunchun, whose famous piece ‘Black and White’ (below) reinterpreting Khon was rejected and seen as a threat by many in the Khon circle.