Konstantinos Papanikolaou | The Rashomon Effect

The term ‘Rashomon effect’ refers to the phenomenon where a single event can be interpreted in multiple ways due to the subjectivity of the witnesses. This results from differences in social and cultural background, as well as individual perspectives. In this particular case, the choreographer places his own work under the same lens. After first creating a solo movement piece—approximately 15 minutes long—and presenting it to the audience, he repeats the exact same performance four more times, each time accompanied by the recorded commentary of a different person.

First, a dance theorist offers an explanation based on their professional knowledge and criteria. Then comes a regular audience member, followed by the producer of the performance. Finally, the choreographer himself speaks, sharing the story behind the piece and commenting on how it was composed.

While the performance remains unchanged, with each repetition, the audience becomes increasingly aware of just how subjective artistic interpretation can be. At the same time, they witness how each person, depending on their position in the production chain, perceives the work in a completely different way.

The piece aims to explore how representation functions on stage and to question whether what professional creators propose truly resonates with—or relates to—the audience they address.

During the Onassis AiR residency, I studied the phenomenon known as the “Rashomon effect,” which highlights subjectivity in the perception of an event and, in the context of my research, in the perception of an artistic work in particular. Based on this, I created and presented to the public a ten-minute solo movement piece that revolves around the idea of failure.