Yuuki Aoki is undertaking a one-month fellowship in Malaysia.
He is staying with a Penan community in Malaysia, experiencing their hunter-gatherer practices firsthand and exploring their knowledge of living in harmony with nature. With the support of a cultural anthropologist closely connected to the Penan community, he is taking part in daily activities such as gathering food, traveling, and preparing meals, exploring a form of cultural exchange in which shared values and bodily awareness emerge through nonverbal collaboration. Aoki aims to explore new forms of expression that connect urban and hunter-gatherer embodiment, while deepening his understanding of the Penan’s communal and cyclical worldview, which offers important insights for contemporary society. He seeks to bring these experiences and insights into his creative practice and workshops.
Photo by Chihiro Okamoto

Profile  Yuuki AOKI 
A dancer and choreographer, Aoki trained in acting and dance at a theatre company and has worked as a theme park performer, backup dancer, and instructor. In 2001, while staying in New York, he experienced the September 11 attacks, which led him to explore the essence of human existence. In 2006, he founded the dance group “Newcomer H Sokerissa!” with people who have experienced homelessness. He has since presented performances and workshops both in Japan and abroad, focusing on expression in outdoor spaces and social inclusion. In recent years, he has also taught at educational institutions. His awards include the NEXTREAM21 Grand Prize (2004) and the Konica Minolta Social Design Award Grand Prize (2016).