Profile:
Performances by Art Union Humanscape attempt to separate energy from volume and density to reveal the universality of being as it is. Through dance and sound, Art Union Humanscape cultivate energy as an equal and independent construction component allowing energy to ebb and flow, even while silent and still. The lack of physical spectacle explores the ability of the artist to communicate art through refined existence.

Art Union Humanscape was formed in 1998. Since then, they have performed extensively throughout the U.S. and Japan at venues such as large-scale outdoor art installations, an office building lobby, and a skateboard halfpipe. Art Union Humanscape has presented over 50 long form improvisations in the past 6 years.
Reviews:
Anderson, Jack. "Battling the Self and others in Showcase of Struggles." New York Times 25 April, 2005: Arts B3.

Anderson, Jack. "Lost in a Private World as Shadows Come to Life." The Arts, New York Times. Monday, September 29, 2003: B2.
...their program made immobility and silence as important as movement and sound.

Chicago double-bassist Jason Roebke and dancer Ayako Kato combine beautiful sights and wonderful sounds with this longstanding project. Roebke's sound is up there with the greatest improvisers -- players like William Parker, Barry Guy and the late Peter Kowald. - Omar Khalid, Creative Loafing (Atlanta) April 2003

Bassist/composer Jason Roebke and dancer/choreographer Ayako Kato perform Art Union Humanscape, an evening of sonic and spatial exploration, as part of the EMIT series (of course). The two have performed together since 1998, feeling out the overlap in the aesthetics of free jazz and traditional Japanese arts. Kato, trained in classical ballet, is fluent in Japanese dance forms influenced by Taoism and Zen. Roebke has studied and performed with many of Chicago's foremost free jazz artists. The duo's basic tools: sound, movement, silence and stillness. - Weekly Planet (Tampa, FL) April 2003

biographies:
Ayako Kato is a dancer and choreographer active in Tokyo and Chicago. She has worked with Michiyo Yagi (koto) and produced Sound and Movement Ten Nights Dream, original story by Soseki Natsume in 2004 and also worked with Stephen Rush (live electronics) and Michael Gould (percussion) and choreographed Water Blue (premiered in Tokyo, 2000.), and the work was performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention 2003 and University of Michigan. In 2005, she was selected to appear in Dance Theater Workshop's Fresh Tracks. She has improvised with musicians, Yoshiko Hagiwara (violin), Megumu Nishino (taiko), Taku Sugimoto (guitar), Toshimaru Nakamura (no-input mixing board), as well as Jason Roebke. Kato has also worked on experimental collaboration with artists such as Yuji Miyao, Jotoku Masuda, Haruo Higuma and dancers/choreographers such as Asimina Chremos and Heidi S. Durning. She has presented solos in events such as Tachikawa International Arts Festival (2000-2002) and The Quadricentenial of Japan and Holland Exchange Festival (2000). She received MFA in dance from the University of Michigan in 1998.

Jason Roebke is a bassist and composer living in Chicago. He is active in the groups tigersmilk (Rob Mazurek and Dylan van der Schyff), The Valentine Trio (Fred Lonberg-Holm and Glenn Kotche), Terminal 4 (Fred Lonberg-Holm, Jeb Bishop, Ben Vida), and his own Rapid Croche (Aram Shelton and Tim Daisy).

Roebke is also a frequent collaborator with visitors to Chicago. He has shared the stage with Paul Lytton, Francois Houle, Andrew D'Angelo, Charlie Kohlhase, Dylan van der Schyff and Tony Bevan. In 2002, Roebke performed with Francois Houle, Han Bennink, Marc Ducret, Gail Brand's Lunge, and others. Roebke collaborates with dancer Ayako Kato in the group Art Union Humanscape. While in Japan, he has also performed with musicians Taku Sugimoto, Tetuzi Akiyama, Toshimaru Nakamura, Masahiko Okura, and Utah Kawasaki.