text by: Evelyn Wan
Archipelagic Method: Amidst Islands
Beyond the Shore is a travelling series that connects different coastal locations at sea through research and performance. We work with an archipelagic method, inspired by Caribbean philosopher Edouard Glissant. The archipelagic emphasises the relationality of islands. In an archipelago, no island is above another and each has its own characteristics. The diversity of islands is held by the collective identity as an archipelago.
As an artistic collective, we work in a horizontal, relational manner, rather than in a hierarchical structure. Each of us is an island – each member of the collective interprets and builds upon the collective research and idea pool in generating new installments in the series. This inherent multiplicity allows for diversity within the artistic creations. Like the archipelago, the works unite through a strong focus on concept and dramaturgy.
Deep mapping as navigation
Our project maps and remaps the oceanic world of the Pacific Ocean, from mythical figures to actual historical events. At our home base of archipelagic Hong Kong, we form the foundation of the artistic research through investigating Hong Kong's coastal and port histories. In the larger frame of the South China Coast and the Asia-Pacific, the project builds historiographies of the region through researching early inter-Asian oceanic voyages, diasporic Chinese migration, and the relations between European colonial trading ports in Asia. Through this lens, we create ocean-centric narratives.
Pirate archives: A treasure trove of feminist stories
More specifically, Beyond the Shore is interested in untold stories of female figures at sea. You might have heard of pirate Cheung Po Tsai and his hideout cave on Cheung Chau, but do you know the heroic tales of his wife Zheng Yi Sao? Between the 13th and early 19th century, we had our very own Pirates of the Pacific. In the margins of history, we trace and unearth hidden stories of female goddesses, mythical creatures, divers, pirates… and retell their secrets buried in the sands of time.
A collective of pirate imaginaries
From early wokou piracy in Japan and China, to colonial dealings with the Dutch, British, and Portuguese, to recruitment in the Philippines and hiding out in Vietnam, Pirates of the Pacific travelled on multilingual, multiethnic, and multicultural ships at sea. Inspired by their alternative formation, Beyond the Shore is created by a collective of artists trained and based in different parts of the world. We draw from a multitude of artistic disciplines to create hybrid forms that bring together dance, theatre, music, moving image, and technology. We tailor our performances to specific sites and spaces, and present our stories through multisensorial and multimedial means.
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