mientrant
1979
2021
Full set costume: Headwear, clothes, accessories, shoes.
Collaboration with Choy Ka Fai for Cosmic Wander project
Exhibited at Tanz im August, Berlin, Aug 2021
Model: Dancer Nguyễn Duy Thành
Photographer: Miên
During the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979, many Vietnamese soldiers came from the lowland Vietnam to the mountainous area of Cao Bang to protect the Vietnam's border against the Chinese invaders. Thousands of them had come to the forest and their bodies are disappeared even today. Those who survived the war said they used to pray desperately for the many deities and Gods they only heard the names to protect them in every moment of the fight.
Amongst them was one Holy Lady of Tày ethnic people who represents Forest in the Fourth Realm of Đạo Mẫu celestial system. Praying to an unknown forest God is considered a religious revival act, but at the same time showing people’s confusion and uncertainty about their beliefs. Even though this is the war between Vietnam and China, it is also a war between human and their belief in nature. We hence revive the spirit mediums who would perform propaganda songs in the rituals, wherein the lyrics would encourage believers to defend their homeland.