We live in a world where the notion of freedom is constantly pursued, yet we are also the architects of our own prisons. Our identities are shaped by the eyes of others, expectations bind us like invisible chains, and in the end, we drift further from who we truly are.
A Cage of Fragile Heart, an immersive experimental performance presented by RCB Experimental Art Lab in collaboration with Follow the Star, invites its audience to examine the dualities of freedom and confinement. Directed by Pimdao Panichsamai – a Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 artist and award-winning experimental filmmaker – the work is an intimate exploration of the human condition, unfolding in a series of five strikingly raw and poetic acts. Performances will be held at the RCB Forum, River City Bangkok, from June 7 to 15.
The performance takes its audience on a journey through the delicate spaces between self-perception, societal influence and the weight of expectations. At its heart, A Cage of Fragile Heart is about how we, as individuals, are often caught in a cyclical struggle between the self we are told to be and the person we truly want to become. The solo performer, embodied by David Bigander, weaves a narrative through movement, voice and space, allowing the body to speak truths often left unspoken.
The performance unfolds in five parts:
In the opening act, Innocent, the human form moves with unburdened curiosity. Unfettered by external constraints, identity is a blank slate, undefined and open to infinite possibilities. But soon the narrative shifts in Social Attack / Influence, where the urge to belong takes centre stage. The desire for approval transforms into a performance, the applause and adoration blurring the line between who we truly are and who we pretend to be.
By Trauma, the weight of these imposed expectations becomes palpable. What once seemed like validation turns into an all-consuming pressure. The character begins to lose their humanity, morphing into a machine, repeating motions, until the internalised violence becomes too much to bear.
In Lost, when the burden becomes unbearable, the performer retreats – not to safety, but into a cage of their own making. Fear takes hold, and the search for comfort becomes an illusion. The final act, Found, offers a delicate moment of rebirth. Here, true freedom is not granted, but claimed – as the performer dares to confront silence, to step beyond the constraints of the past, and embrace their authentic self.
A Cage of Fragile Heart is more than just a performance; it is a visceral meditation on the spaces we inhabit, both internally and externally. It leaves its audience questioning: How often do we create our own limitations, and what does it take to break free?
With a runtime of 40 minutes, the show is performed in Thai with English subtitles. Tickets are priced at B500 for general admission, and B350 for students via Ticketmelon. Advance registration is recommended, with doors opening at 5.30pm