After the success of the first run of Unfolding Kafka Festival in 2015, founder and director Jitti Chompee, together with Goethe Institute, brings back a series of performances, exhibitions, film screenings and lectures that unfold the seclusive and complex identity of Franz Kafka and his works this Nov 3-22.

Festival-goers can expect to examine the meaning of "Kafkaesque" and to immerse themselves in the madly bizarre and surreal world of one of the most influential authors of modern literature and his renowned writings such as Metamorphosis and A Report to an Academy.

For the second edition, the festival will also take move onto Chiang Mai on Nov 24-25 at Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum. 

Prices and venues of the shows vary, though a B1,650 gets you access to the full festival. For information on schedules and venues visit www.unfoldingkafkafestival.com.


Before the festival kicks off, here are some highlights:

Saiyah #2.3 

Inspired by the seclusive nature of Franz Kafka, Japanese artist Yoko Seyama plays with the idea of revealing identity metaphorically. Light refraction creates a live performance as the spectrum of light is folded and unfolded on a spectral glass. 

Nov 3-12, 1-8pm. Bangkok CityCity Gallery, 13/3 Sathorn Soi 1, 083-087-2725. Free for festival pass holders and B100 for non pass holders

K:Kafka in Komiks

An exhibition by German design company Gold & Wirtschaftswunder displays an interpretation of Kafka’s ambiguous, alien and eerie fictional settings through the form of a graphic novel.
 
Nov 3-12, 8am-6pm. Goethe Institut Thailand, Sathorn Soi 1, 02-108-8200. Free.

Kafka in Films with a post-screening lecture 

The selected films like Daddy-Long-Legs (1919) allow the audience to gain an in-depth perspective on Kafka’s life, his inspirations and the influences for his works. The screening will be followed by a discussion and Q&A session with German film producer Stefan Droessler.

Nov 7, 1-9pm; Nov 8, 1-6.15pm; Nov 11-12, 10-11.30am. Goethe Institut Thailand, Sathron Soi 1, 02-108-8200. Free

Holistic Stratu

A kinetic performance piece featuring choreography by Hiroaki Umeda. The performance examines expression through the movement of lights, bodies and sounds.

Nov 20-21, 7.30-8pm. Sodsai Pantoomkomol Center for Dramatic Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Rama I Rd., 0 2218-4870. Free for festival pass holders and B300-600 for non pass holders.