EXHIBITION /
Friday, September 3, 2021 to Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Category: Performance Films
Venue: Online

Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples have long been marginalized and angered by oppressive regimes. Since the 1980s, the Indigenous movement has channeled its anger through the will of self-governance and Indigenous self-determination. These trends of thoughts have deeply influenced the formation of Indigenous art. Formosa Indigenous Song and Dance Troupe was established in 1991, evolving in parallel with the Taiwanization appeal. Since 2000, burgeoning performance groups have also been experimenting with a variety of practices in between their cultural subjectivity and artistic expression. To this day, Indigenous creation has become a powerful force that stirs the contemporary art world, spreading like wildfires in schools, exhibition sites, and various venues of art practices. Nevertheless, how to continue this force and let the powerful body break through the encirclement of the mainstream art market remains an unfinished task.
 

To empower the voice of Indigenous performing arts, Pulima Art Festival initiated Indigenous New Talents Selection Project in 2016.  It subsequently expanded to the Pulima Art Award and Performing Arts Competition for new works in 2018, selecting experimental pieces within 15 mins and supporting them to extend their production scale in the following year.

New Indigenous talents gain momentum with their works and gradually shine through the making of Pulima Art Festival. This supportive program not only gives positive encouragement to the emerging creators but also boosts their self-reflection and dialectical thinking while proclaiming contemporary art forms. It pays attention to the creating process of the new generations and appreciates those who reach a balanced point between their lightspeed creativity and their mother culture. The inherent immediacy and the reflective nature of performing arts have granted us the space to think rebelliously and limitlessly on the existential questions about Indigenous performing arts, from either Indigenous or non-Indigenous perspectives. Also, through examining the life experiences of the new talents, we may be able to expand the terrain and perspectives of Indigenous performing arts.

This time, three works from the 2019 Pulima Performing Arts of New Talents were selected. Aulu brought the wedding atmosphere he experienced as a child, at his community, to the stage. Render his innermost feelings, of both steadfast and lost, with the overly dazzling and sweet "Pink" color in its various shades and tonalities. Mic.usay.munali’ uses the Amis word “aynuko” to express the struggles of her mixed identity, and ultimately look out to the world and reflect on the fact that the world has long been mixed. Another work "semupu", as the choeographer Ising undergoes the death of his father, he found a sense of tolerance and balance facing spirit, people, and the world in the process of repeatedly reciting the Hail Mary in the Paiwan language. Though the three artworks concern distinctive topics, they all tell extraordinary stories within ordinary conditions,  and their arts eventually shine through the hustle and bustle of life.

The global performing arts industry has been suffering the setbacks brought by COVID-19, therefore, it now actively seeks new methods to connect with the local communities. Various performing arts markets pay increasing attention to the presence of Indigenous people. This exhibition project responds in parts to such a phenomenon, but it only serves as a starting point. More importantly, we aspire their talents will be widely dispersed in the world, to gain strength, and come back to challenge all established mechanisms and imaginations.

 

In 2016 Pulima Art Festival, 8 promising art groups performed throughout the museum. Soon after, there were 17 groups in 2018, and 16 groups in 2020 respectively participating in the live competition. Their works not only increased in quantity but also gradually diversified in their qualities throughout the competition. 

3 of the winning pieces for Pulima Performing Arts of New Talents were selected this year. Their performances will be presented next May in Experimental Theatre in Taipei.
 

Artists /   Ising Suaiyung《semupu》  mic.usay.munali‘ and ufa《aynuko》   Aulu Tjibulangan《Pink》

Executive Editor /  Chenghua Chiang (Sera) 
Assistant Editor /  Liwei Cheng
Film Editor /  Maurice Lai (dance films)   Dola (Interview )
Translator / Tzu Tung Lee
Footage and Image ©Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation

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