ROHTKO
Set in a Chinese restaurant, with video projections and rousing beats as a powerful narrative tool, ROHTKO explores different perspectives on authenticity and creation. In response to one of the biggest scandals in the art world, Łukasz Twarkowski embarks on a journey to explore the differences in value between an original and a copy. How can a digital artwork that can be copied without limitation still be worth millions? What is the essence of art and what role does it play in our lives?
Festival Holland Festival
Run time 235 minutes, incl. intermission
Genre Theatre
Language Chinese, English, Latvian, Polish
Surtitles English, Dutch
ROHTKO
One of the biggest scandals in the art world lies at the heart of Lukasz Twarkowski's performance ROHTKO. The production is brought to life by Dailes Theatre (Latvia) in collaboration with Twarkowski's close creative team and actors from Latvia, Poland and China.
In 2004, a couple bought a painting by Mark Rothko for $8.3 million. Years later, it turns out to be not by Rothko himself, but by a Chinese maths teacher from Queens who also forged works by Jackson Pollock. Can a fake painting evoke real feelings? What is real art and what is it worth?
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In just under four hours of steaming beats and two huge video screens, Twarkowski and his cast of extraordinary actors search for answers on the value of real and fake, inspired by philosopher Byung-Chul Han’s book Shanzai, in which 'shanzhai' refers to a unique blend of imitation, innovation, and affordable, locally adapted versions of popular products in Chinese culture.
ROHTKO is set in the grey area between fact and fiction, real and fake, and explores shanzai in a deeper way. The piece goes beyond philosophical reflection; through parallel storylines, dynamic set changes and intense music, Twarkowski creates a cinematic experience that fully engages the audience.
about Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is the largest international performing arts festival in the Netherlands and one of the oldest festivals in Europe. Founded in 1947, Holland Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2022.
The festival takes place every June, in and around Amsterdam at various locations, indoors and outdoors, large-scale and intimate, online and offline.
Credits
direction Łukasz Twarkowski
text Anka Herbut
dramaturgy Anka Herbut
stage design Fabien Lédé
costume design Svenja Gassen
choreography Paweł Sakowicz
music Lubomir Grzelak
video design Jakub Lech
lighting design Eugenijus Sabaliauskas
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cast Juris Bartkevičs, Kaspars Dumburs, Ērika Eglija-Grāvele, Yan Huang, Andrzej Jakubczyk, Rēzija Kalniņa, Katarzyna Osipuk, Artūrs Skrastiņš, Mārtiņš Upenieks, Toms Veličko, Xiaochen Wang, Vita Vārpiņa
production Dailes Theatre
coproduction JK Opole Theatre, Adam Mickiewicz Institute
with the support of Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland
This performance is made possible by
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