Director/ Huang, Yi-Min

 

I have a three-year-old daughter. Whenever she hears the singing and dancing from children’s channels, she would dance along as if she’s summoned by the music. If even a three-year-old dances along to lively nursery rhymes, the act of dancing is probably installed at birth as a part of human nature. On the other hand, as adults, this particular instinct seems to fade out as we grow up under the intervention of social environment and education, and gradually conform to the ways of this world. However, this state of “trance” brought by genuine dances and games summons an imagination free of “the principles of reality,” and is priceless for all living beings.  

 

In order to awaken this pleasant nature in every individual, we entitled our 2024 art residency program“Summon! Dance! Carnival!”  “Summon” reflects a self-awareness obtained through delving into self-consciousness. The embodiment of such awareness as a beast is inevitably complex, mutative, and quirky. “Summoning” is the process of visualizing internal mental images while eliminating the external. Instead of a pure dance performance, the “dance” here refers to a dynamic art embodiment of the “summoned” spirit and thoughts, and an art practice that amplifies actual existence and self-actualization. Lastly, through a “carnival,” the outcomes of “summons” and “dances” are presented as a social extension of art, which reaches out to a larger crowd, thereby bringing greater impacts. 

 

We hope to invite artists from around the world. Regardless of creative means and forms, we welcome all artists to join us with art forms that are both inspirational and full of spirit. With people from different backgrounds, we envision a platform where artists gather and generate sparkles. As we work together and bring along vitalities from a world that deeply moves us, we shall spur the possibility of making the ubiquity of art and creativity a reality. Tainan is an age-old city. With its rich cultural substance, those interested in individual and/or group art practices shall find abundant materials to work with. We also hope that everyone who joins us will have a chance to obtain a brand-new experience and be enriched through the program.