Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)
2025/11/21(Fri)～2025/11/23(Sun)
In the world of cinema and art, few can claim the visionary prowess possessed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. His latest tour de force, A Conversation with the Sun (VR), is a shrine to avant-garde multimedia and cinematic .—THAI.NEWS
The great Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose soundscapes are nothing short of magical, perfectly synchronizes with the visionary narratives of Apichatpong. His music resonates like a deep, heartwarming embrace around the story, crafting a symbiotic alliance of auditory and visual storytelling. —THAI.NEWS
Apichatpong, once again, transcended the boundaries of traditional storytelling, proving that cinema is not confined to the screen but can exist in a space where reality, memory, and imagination intersect. —Bangkok Post
The contrasts between light and dark that he plays upon are not only a constantly renewed homage to the shifting nature of cinema and its link with sleep and dreams. They are also specific forms of engagement with beliefs and local history. As such, they are the manifestations of a political sensitivity which smolders away, relentlessly so, beneath the always peaceful surface of his images.
—2024 Festival d'Automne à Paris
Apichatpong × Ryuichi Sakamoto: A Shared Gaze into the Subtleties of Life
Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul returns to the stage following Fever Room, unveiling his first-ever theatrical work that incorporates virtual reality.
"The sun is a constant light in a world of perpetual change."
Celebrated as the “poet of Thai cinema,” Apichatpong Weerasethakul is known for his meditative pace, nonlinear narratives, and deeply immersive sensory experiences. His films often weave together Thai folklore, forest imagery, the cyclical nature of reincarnation, and the supernatural, while also probing the complexities of Thailand’s sociopolitical landscape. In 2004, Tropical Malady won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2010, he was awarded the Palme d’Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. In 2021, Memoria once again earned him the Cannes Jury Prize.
A Conversation with the Sun(VR), commissioned by the Aichi Triennale, Apichatpong Weerasethakul developed a VR work, marking his first exploration of the medium. Since then, it has toured Japan, France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Thailand, and South Korea.
Is this a dream? A return to the origins of life? Or a journey to the brink of life?
A Conversation with the Sun(VR) sees the sun as a source of life-sustaining energy, with the beam of the film projector serving as a metaphor for the sun. Through this radiant lens, memories of past lives, a body in illness, invisible specters, and the cyclical flow of time are cast into motion. Paired with Ryuichi Sakamoto’s hauntingly beautiful and almost magical score, and set within a virtual world crafted by VR artist Katsuya Taniguchi, the experience feels like drifting through a dream, hovering between sleep and wakefulness, life and death.
Apichatpong dedicates this work to the late Ryuichi Sakamoto in a heartfelt tribute to the legendary musician. Their dialogue across time and space continues to echo through the piece.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)©Seunghyuk Park, Courtesy of MMCA
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)©Seunghyuk Park, Courtesy of MMCA
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)©Hervé Véronèse
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)©Theater Commons Tokyo '24 photo Shun Sato
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)©Seunghyuk Park
Concept & Direction／Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Creative Assistant／Sompot Chidgasornpongse
Cast／Jenjira Pongpas Widner, Sakda Kaewbuadee Vaysse, Chai Bhatana, Sam Mitchell, Sita Kiatneramit
Music／Ryuichi Sakamoto
Sound Designers／Akritchalerm Kalayanamitr, Koichi Shimizu
Director of Photography／Chatchai Suban
Camera Assistant & Production／Thanayos Roopkhajorn
Set Director／Natchanon Pribwai
Film Production Crew／Jirayu Rattanakhanahutanon, Pongsakorn Nanta, Suttipong Nanta
Film Production Manager／Phatsamon Kamnertsiri
Film Production Assistant／Somporn Ruensai
Film Production／Kick the Machine Films
VR Creator／Katsuya Taniguchi
VR Production／Taisei Yamaguchi, Hideyuki Kido, Nuttanit Thiantanukij, Kana Kondo, Satomi Yoshizawa, Hisashi Sato, Yoshinori Ikeda, Hikaru Takatori
VR Adviser／Tsuyoshi Nomura
Technical Manager／So Ozaki
Stage Manager／Sato Oikawa
Lighting Designer／Kazuya Yoshida
Producer＆Curator／Chiaki Soma
Production Coordinator／Haruka Shibata
Production Coordinator Assistant／Nanami Hanzawa
Premier Performance＆Production／Arts Commons Tokyo
Premier Performance＆Co-Production／Aichi Triennale 2022, The Japan Foundation, Theater der Welt 2023
Special Support／Shane Akeroyd
Co-operation／RHINO STUDIOS INC., SCAI THE BATHHOUSE, Museo Larco
Equipment Support／STYLY, Inc.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul A Conversation with the Sun (VR)
New Media｜Exhibition
※Approx. 60 minutes without intermission.
$1000
National Taichung Theater
Designated accommodation
※Approx. 60 minutes without intermission.
※Suggested for ages 13 and above.
※For a more comfortable VR experience, wearing contact lenses is recommended.
※Those prone to motion sickness are advised to assess their condition before participating. If you experience discomfort during the performance, you may close your eyes or remove the VR headset to rest briefly, or seek assistance from our staff.
※Due to the nature of the performance, all audience members are required to remove their shoes before entering. We recommend light attire for ease of movement. If you require assistance, please notify the front-of-house staff.
※Latecomers will not be admitted, and no video relay will be provided.