Having spent several months in online discussions with Kamal and Sidha, I looked forward to experiencing the in-person Residency in Kuala Lumpur in August 2022. The online discussions were at times several hours long and kept bringing us back to an idea of not knowing. The plan for a group of artists from diverse cultures coming together with no real outcome in mind was exciting. Trust was a clear intention that both Kamal and Sidha were hoping to create amongst the participants.  

Themes and thoughts merged and weaved themselves in and out of my mind about why we gathered and what we hoped to achieve. It seemed the strongest feeling was that of sharing – of generations, space, time, knowledge, stories and love. I felt a strong sense of awakening and a merging of time  - past, present and the future, and that it was only this moment that mattered, and required me to find complete focus on the here and now. While Gondwana refers to a land that was joined, of continents fused in that past and had drifted apart, it seemed to also represent a metaphor of our/myself. My country, My Body.

I was excited to meet the other artists participating in this program. We spent around 8 hours together each day visiting places around the city and doing studio work. The studio activities included were framed around the elements of earth, fire, water, and inspired by ancestral texts from the histories of the participating cultures. Studying together as a group, while creating with each other was quite a different experience for me.  Outside of the studio, we visited the Batu Caves Temple and the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Kuala Lumpur. We also visited Pulau Carey and connected with the Mah Meri Orang Asli people in Selangor. This was a highlight for me.

Daniel Wilfred (Indigenous Ceremonial Leader from the Wagilak Yolngu community in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia) really blew me away. To me, he was the strongest presence in the residency. He was real, honest, and did not seem to have to prove anything to anyone – this is a glorious place to be in! His deep sense of the land was powerful and the elements of earth, water, wind, fire emerged through conversations and interpretations. Songs and dreams of his people were shared, and while many of the people in the residency were dancers or musicians, it became more than about the forms of the art – but rather the “soul/spirit” of the art. Art became multidimensional, therapeutic, social, multitemporal, organic and more.

I also loved our exploration of “Ulik Mayang” a traditional song from Malaysia that I have listed to many times.

The soul of the fisherman was abducted by sea princesses and he loses his ‘inner energy’ which has to be restored. A battle ensues between the shaman and the 6 Princesses.

“Let those from the sea, return to the sea, and those from the land, return to the land”

Mohd Hisharudy’s invocation of this tune with Sukhi’s interpretation of a story from Mother Ganga’s (river Ganges) life was very special. It left me wondering:

What functions do rituals serve? Are they meant to be performative?

In general, the residency seemed to be telling me that I needed to go home, not literally, but perhaps just be at home in my body and mind. My personal approach is always to look at the positives and draw from these experiences to enrich myself as a human being and an artist(-ish). I loved the time spent with the other participants and will cherish the deep connections formed and the learning opportunities that came with the program.

As with any program, there is always opportunity for learning. Greater clarity on the program objectives may have helped me as a participant. Also, it would have been nice to receive some printed background information, which could be shared with attendees to the final day showcase too. I must however congratulate ChitAmbara on their immense effort in producing their first ever residency and for choosing to do something very different and rather experimental. Branching into new spaces and places is never easy. I look forward to the future journey of this project and hope to participate in more such experiences with ChitAmbara.  

Dr Joseph Gonzales, Head of Academic Studies in Dance at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts | Re-Searching Gondwana Participant | 30 November 2023