press
interview
art
Buah Zine
6.29.2020
“I also think there is a tendency for a lot of BIPOC American artists, especially when they are young, to define themselves in relation to whiteness ... Like, explaining your existence for the white gaze. Sometimes, this is out of necessity; other times, because we weren’t taught any other way. I’m grateful that I’ve grown into a version of myself where that is no longer the only way I know how to describe myself or look at my work. And so, in my art, I think whiteness and white audiences are now peripheral, and I try really hard to maintain that. They can’t take that away from me.”
review
danceSeattleDances
7.1.2019“Imana Gunawan’s tribute to victims of systematic violence, vestiges, to those who couldn’t hold on, was a softly beautiful work of bodies perpetually tumbling and circling, mimicking the rose petals that fell from the ceiling throughout the piece.”
feature
danceInternational Examiner
6.5.2019
“‘I think the perpetual challenge is finding your individual voice while still being rooted to the communities that nourish you,’ Gunawan said. ‘For me, these communities are often groups of people that have been historically pushed aside. I want to continue honing in on creating work that never loses sight of where I come from and work that honors the shoulders I stand on.’”
feature
fashionKUOW
2.21.2019
“My mindset is ‘You can beat me but you can't beat my outfit.’ … Even though I often use clothing as an armor, it's never been about hiding anything. It's about amplifying the elements of myself that fuel me the most on a particular day and use it to tell a story.”
review
danceSeattleDances
8.28.2018
“These moments conjure up images of resilience; their confidence seems to say Despite the mayhem of the world around us, we own what we do with the obstacles in front of us.”
feature
danceCityArts
8.14.2018
“‘It’s a residue from a past project exploring what it means to be in the Indonesian diaspora and exploring ancestry from far away,’ says Gunawan, who grew up in Jakarta. ‘Traveling to different places, there’s always mythology about the moon that teaches us lessons about how the world is larger than we are.’”
review
danceSeattleDances
5.26.2017
“An elaborate headpiece makes its way through the audience, demanding attention before it’s even seen. Beneath the headpiece is Imana Gunawan, who slithers and retreats, gathering momentum almost as if she’s storing it inside her grandiose skirt. … Even though her gaze penetrates the audience, there’s an air of mysticism in her presence. Flowers are scattered on the floor in a half moon shape and an ornate, gold-hued set design provide a background. Her satin red skirt flows behind her, a regal trail of fire.”
review
danceSeattleDances
5.11.2016“Work by recent UW grad Imana Gunawan seems to be popping up everywhere these days, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for this prolific choreographer.”
review
danceSeattleDances
9.22.2015
“Gunawan’s spotless technique and understated performance quality stood out”
review
danceBroadway World
12.9.2015
“Set on a slippery white tarp atop the stage … The shifting of movement in different groupings sparked a meditation on self-reflection and consciousness, and sparkled with each assisted lift or solo suspension.”