Can women of color in solidarity, as connected foreign debris, evolve into a new creature – a Chimera?
Chimera Exhibition/Screening Proposal
Chimera is an immersive movement-based sound-optics-focused performance and installation, in collaboration with AAPI Performance Collective IS/LAND, and optics researcher, Do Young Kim.
By definition, a Chimera is ‘an organism composed of mixed genetic tissues’ but also, when applied to science, a goal that is ‘that is hoped for but is illusory or impossible to achieve’. Both of these definitions apply to the experiences of AAPI women—how their experiences and complex life identities are vilified and simplified by the white supremacist patriarchy, but more so, how their achievements are also subject to the glass ceiling, with aspirations and dreams made impossible by existing social standards. Is it possible for AAPI women in this country to fully integrate into the fabric of Western society, or will they always be subjected to being othered? Can AAPI women in solidarity, as connected foreign debris, evolve into a new creature – a Chimera? This performance then confronts and questions these two conceptual definitions through an immersive sound/optics environment.
We suggest three different ways to share our performance film in your exhibition space with audiences.
(more explanation on our proposal’s value?)
Proposal 1
Film Screening of Chimera: Phylogenesis
and/or Chimera: Liberation
Chimera: Phylogenesis, performance film, 13 minutes 9 seconds, 2024
Director: Okyoung Noh
Editor: Okyoung Noh, Chien-An Yuan
Dancers/Choreographers: Mia Brooks, S. Jean Lee, Catherine Miller
Music: Whodat, Chien-An Yuan
Installation: Okyoung Noh
Video Projection: Do Young Kim, Okyoung Noh, Chien-An Yuan
Producer: Okyoung Noh
Executive Producer: Do Young Kim
Camera Operators: Eesha Nagwani, Maddie Vassalo, Luke Rademacher, Dylan Chen, Mya Enxer, Aaron Williams
Tech Team: Patterson Mckinney (Managing Producer), Matt Giard (Assistant Audio Studio Manager), Catherine Miller (Assistant Video Studio Manager), Steve Eberle (MSA, Associate Director)
Sponsor: ArtsEngine
Editor: Okyoung Noh, Chien-An Yuan
Dancers/Choreographers: Mia Brooks, S. Jean Lee, Catherine Miller
Music: Whodat, Chien-An Yuan
Installation: Okyoung Noh
Video Projection: Do Young Kim, Okyoung Noh, Chien-An Yuan
Producer: Okyoung Noh
Executive Producer: Do Young Kim
Camera Operators: Eesha Nagwani, Maddie Vassalo, Luke Rademacher, Dylan Chen, Mya Enxer, Aaron Williams
Tech Team: Patterson Mckinney (Managing Producer), Matt Giard (Assistant Audio Studio Manager), Catherine Miller (Assistant Video Studio Manager), Steve Eberle (MSA, Associate Director)
Sponsor: ArtsEngine
👉 Click Here to Watch the Full Video
(Password: 1100)
(Mininum payment for screening)
Proposal 2
Multimedia Installation of Chimera: Phylogenesis and Chimera: Liberation
How can AAPI women as foreign debris be connected with the bodies of
visitors? Can we invite audiences to be another body of Chimera?
Inspired by the shapes of cells and the stretchy fabrics featured in the video, we will make three long, chimeric-shaped beanbags. Audiences can freely lie on them and watch the videos. Above these beanbags, yellow heat lamps will be installed. These warmed, irregularly-shaped, and yellow-colored beanbags represent the bodies of connected AAPI women. The audiences who lean on these bags would become a part of these bodies. They would be enveloped by the silky texture of fabric which feels like a cave, mother’s arm, or womb. They will not only watch the films, but under the soft glow of the lamp, these entangled bodies will wait to be hatched into a new creature.
Proposal 2 includes 3 beanbag installations, 3 heat lamp installations, and projected videos of Chimera: Phylogenesis and Chimera: Liberation
Inspired by the shapes of cells and the stretchy fabrics featured in the video, we will make three long, chimeric-shaped beanbags. Audiences can freely lie on them and watch the videos. Above these beanbags, yellow heat lamps will be installed. These warmed, irregularly-shaped, and yellow-colored beanbags represent the bodies of connected AAPI women. The audiences who lean on these bags would become a part of these bodies. They would be enveloped by the silky texture of fabric which feels like a cave, mother’s arm, or womb. They will not only watch the films, but under the soft glow of the lamp, these entangled bodies will wait to be hatched into a new creature.
Proposal 2 includes 3 beanbag installations, 3 heat lamp installations, and projected videos of Chimera: Phylogenesis and Chimera: Liberation
(we need a better rendering image)
(List of credit/budgeting)
Proposal 3
Performance for Chimera
The Proposal 3 is designed to be accompanied with either Proposal 1 or 2. If you want to host Proposal 3 solely, please let us know and we will accomodate.
Three local or IS/LAND performers wearing the same custumes as featured in the video appear in the exhibition space. They slowly approach to audiences scattered in the space and start touching their bodies (arms, legs, heads, or shoulders). The performers start whisperring and singing short poems. Those poems are written by femme poets of color after watching Chimera.
The performance will take approximately 30 minutes in the exhibition space. The performance should be announced in advance with a brief content warning: The performance may involve bodily interactions such as touches and hugs. The performance may contain verbal description of racism, sexism, and personal trauma.
Three local or IS/LAND performers wearing the same custumes as featured in the video appear in the exhibition space. They slowly approach to audiences scattered in the space and start touching their bodies (arms, legs, heads, or shoulders). The performers start whisperring and singing short poems. Those poems are written by femme poets of color after watching Chimera.
(I am still developing it. Any idea?)
The performance will take approximately 30 minutes in the exhibition space. The performance should be announced in advance with a brief content warning: The performance may involve bodily interactions such as touches and hugs. The performance may contain verbal description of racism, sexism, and personal trauma.
(Sample Performance Clips? We can make it real quick in dance studio at Umich.. Or it can be an old one)
(List of credit/budgeting)
(List of credit/budgeting)
Exhibition / Screening History
Jun 2024 Leaning Against the Wrong Place, Tribowl, Inchoen, South Korea
