Comments on the Finalist

In the theatrical space under a canvas tent, the joyous, festive atmosphere does not come from weddings or funerals, and the melancholy seems diluted by the jugglery of mambo. Bringing together elites of cultural anthropology, theatre, dojo, jugglery and music, Thunar Circus parodies the physical diagrams in Taoist rituals and the performance culture of spirit guiding. The work uses elements such as funeral, jugglery, electronic piano, jazz drumming and suona to reveal grotesque bodies in a strange, bacchanal, chaotic setting informed by nonsensical comedy mixing sorrow and laughter as well as a range of emotions, defying any definite descriptions. It is folk stunts and jugglery in a liminal state between life and death as well as the embodiment of typical Taiwanese black humor. (Commentator: YU Shan-Lu)

Artwork Introduction

This new work created after two years of field research about folk culture attempts to incorporate the distinctive “Nong Nao” acrobatic performance typically performed in Taiwanese funeral rites into circus performance, displaying an acrobatic language and body characteristics informed by both the traditional and contemporary spirit. The mesmerizing performance of crotales (small cymbal) and fireball in funeral rites often play a role of diluting the sorrow with laughter, entertaining the spirits as well as the living. The director refined the symbolism of objects and the implications of rituals before integrating them into the modern performance. A tri-colored Taiwanese-style tent was put up outside the National Theatre & Concert Hall, decorated with the multi-colored paper craftwork of Hsin Hsin Joss Paper. In addition, real practicing shamans were invited to join the performance, bringing a mélange of humor and fluidly arranged music that enlivened the live scene. The audience sipped wine while enjoying the performance, taking part in a liminal atmosphere with alternating somber and boisterous rhythms to witness the transitioning of the transient life. Blending religious rituals and live acrobatic performance, the work ferried the melancholic burden of collective sorrow to the other shore with a lighthearted mambo, unfolding an alternative soul-liberating ceremony with much therapeutic effect.

About the Artist

Thunar Circus Founded by Lin Cheng-Tsung, Valentin Lechat and others in 2016, the theatre company’s name, Thunar (THe UNited ARtists) signals the boundless and infinite cycle of life, and aims to serve as a free site that extends diversely in the experimentation and exploration of contemporary circus art. Meanwhile, Thunar Circus connects with folk culture through actions, naturally introducing organic humanity and warmth into circus performance. The theatre company’s name also indicates to unite and share the art of contemporary circus art, hoping to bring together artists and audience through the theatre company and their performances while provoking new ideas to generate contemporary social philosophical thinking with the poetic power.