The Land of Formosa- Prayer for People and Dreams

6th Baguashan Powerart Performance Festival, Changua Taiwan,

Curated by Yujun Ye

27th October 2024

@Changhua Nanguokeng Riverside Plaza (Changhua Arts High School Third Campus), kaobinge

The second performance was on the next day. I prepared a structure with four sides using branches and rope to hold onto the text on the cloth. The performance resonated with the land of Changhua, Taiwan. It started with a vision to grasp the land with four words describing people and land.

 The land of Formosa,

The four-direction spirits represent four side temples in Changhua city and the cardinal four-direction.

The land of Bagushan Buddha (Big Buddha)

The Prayer from the Machu goddess temple in the Glass factory

These words are structured and serve as a foundation for the land and its people. The primary challenge was translating this message into Mandarin Chinese and having it on white cloth. I approached Ting Yung Chang for assistance, and she quickly helped me with the translation.

 

 

The upcoming challenge was to design a sculptural structure, and I couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement mixed with apprehension. With the clock ticking down, the pressure was on to transform our ideas into something truly captivating in a limited timeframe. I spent the morning preparing, and after giving a talk on ecology and art practice, I hurried to start working on my sculpture. Surprisingly, I noticed the text was ready on four long pieces of clothes written magically and placed on a chair. I later learned that the artist and designer, Zoey Wu, created it. It was my first encounter with her, and I felt overwhelmed.

As I was constructing the sculpture, although it seemed like an impossible task, I told someone that I had faith it would happen and did not know how it turned out to be true.

The performance started as planned, featuring a sculptural headdress symbolizing the land and its spirits. I walked toward a separate space, passing through a miniature replica of a military building. I invited people to write messages for their ancestors, friends, or loved ones who belonged to this land and foreign lands. The Messages were in Mandarin Chinese, which I could not understand. Later, I asked the audience to paste these messages onto my body, and I concluded my performance by offering a prayer for the land and its people.

Dimple B Shah 27th October 2024 

Embracing the Light

6th Baguashan Powerart Performance Festival, Changua Taiwan,

Curated by Yujun Ye

26th October 2024

@Changhua Nanguokeng Riverside Plaza (Changhua Arts High School Third Campus), kaobinge

The performance was second among the performance rituals, following the drum performance. YuJun Ye, the curator of the festival, had requested an opening ritual to set the tone for the celebration. After careful contemplation and deep reflection, I considered how to foster a meaningful connection between the audience and the space. A vision began to crystallize in my mind. This vision was a vast open space illuminated by radiant light, symbolizing hope and possibility. It was an image that resonated with the spirit of the festival and the shared human experience, aiming to evoke a sense of unity and inspiration among everyone present.

The concept behind this opening ritual performance was to evoke feelings of light, consciousness, positivity, hope, and a therapeutic essence within the audience. To set the tone, I began my performance by balancing a large mirror atop my head, each careful step imbued with intention. My face was adorned with several smaller mirrors meticulously attached to ribbon strips, creating a collage of reflections.

As I moved slowly forward, the mirrors sparkled, capturing and reflecting whatever light was available, creating a shimmering effect that metaphorically conveyed themes of hope, trust, and the vibrancy of life itself. Each movement was curated to resonate with Nature around me—the trees, the sky, and even the fleeting rays of the sun that struggled to break through the grey, cloudy atmosphere. 

Despite the lack of bright sunlight and the dreary, overcast backdrop that enveloped us, I sought to communicate a message of inner light. The subdued environment prevented me from using the mirrors to effectively pass on the light to the audience as initially envisioned, but instead, it invited a deeper exploration of the concept that, even in the darkness, hope and positivity can still thrive. My performance became an embodiment of that belief as I invited the audience to reflect on their inner light amidst the cloudy exterior. 

Standing at the centre of the gathering, I could feel the atmosphere charged with anticipation, urging everyone toward a moment of profound connection. This ritual moment commanded my attention, drawing me into a meditative state where I connected deeply with the energy surrounding us all. I purposefully advanced toward the stage, holding Vibhuti, the sacred ash, firmly in my hand. With a decisive motion, I scattered the ash into the air, releasing its strong aroma and instilling a profound sense of calm among the crowd.

As I approached the audience, I distributed portions of the Vibhuti along with small round mirrors, determined to symbolize the transfer of light to each individual. Unfortunately, the overcast sky obscured the sun, preventing it from illuminating the mirrors as I had intended. However, this did not deter me; I clearly articulated my message about embracing our inner light, regardless of external conditions.

The audience responded with enthusiasm, their greetings energizing the moment. This connection reminded us of our collective journey, illuminated by the deliberate act of sharing light.

"Embracing the Light" is a powerful ritual performance that boldly conveys the concept of light, hope, and the invigorating power of life as we forge towards a brighter future. This performance is a deliberate initiative to establish respect and understanding among diverse cultures.

I firmly integrate elements from my Indian heritage, using ashes to symbolize renewal and mirrors to reflect our shared humanity. The distinct movements, chants, and offerings honour my cultural traditions and create a dynamic space for meaningful dialogue and connection. 

This performance serves as an artistic expression, a call to action to forge connections between cultures. By honouring individual identities, we can collectively embark on a transformative journey toward unity in our increasingly interconnected world.

Dimple B Shah 

26th October 2024