Butō Dance at the Ma: Espace-Temps au Japon Exhibition in 1978

The text examines the performances of butō artists—Yoko Ashikawa (1947–), directed by Tatsumi Hijikata (1928–1986), and Min Tanaka (1945–)—at the 1978 Festival d'Automne in Paris. These sessions were part of the exhibition Ma, Espace-Temps au Japon (Ma, Space-Time in Japan), curated by Arata Isozaki (1931–2022). The study provides a historical overview and delves into the Japanese cultural idea of Ma , aiming to connect butō dance with this interval-based space-time framework. The contrast between Japanese and Euro-Western views of space-time opens up new ways to think about how performances interact with the spaces in which they take place. Thus, the study of Ma illuminates principles of butō , while simultaneously fortifying the "place" category as a fundamental aspect mediating cultural exchange processes within performing arts.