Soup of Forgetfulness
Soup of Forgetfulness is a solo work in progress inspired by the Taiwanese Folklore myth, Mong Po Tang (孟婆湯) about the afterlife and the process of reincarnation. I’m curious about the space between remembering and forgetting, and the space between the living and the deceased.
About the Mong Po Tang myth:
It is believe that after death, what await you is the Yellow Spring Road (黃泉路) in the underground world. At the end of this road there’s a rapidly moving river called the Forgotten River (忘川河) On top of that river there’s the Bridge of Helplessness(奈何橋)
Once you arrive to the foot of the bridge you are greeted by an old looking lady name Mong Po (孟婆) with the Soup of Forgetfulness (孟婆湯)
To go forward on your journey, you must drink this mysterious soup offered by Mong Po. As the soup entre your system, it erases every memory you have of your past life. All your relationships, accomplishments, regrets, and wonders fade away with each step you take crossing the bridge. All your longing, love, hatred, and grief dissipate as the soup works its way into your body.
By the time you arrive at the other side of the river you are reborn into your next life as a blank canvas. Innocent. Free and liberated from your past self.
Some key questions embedded in the work:
If each spirit lives through multiple cycles, but is cleansed and emptied in each beginning, do ancient impactful memories get stored in ways that’s beyond the cognitive?
Is the liminal underground world where the line between each life cycle blurs, and where a spirit is the closest to gaining full access to the ancient lived wisdom?
When one is unable to recall a fleshed-out memory, can sensations serve as a portal to re-experience and embody a glimpse of a distant past?
Phase One: Foray Residency at Morrow
Collaborator/Outside eye: Shion Skye Carter
Mentor: Natalie TY Gan
Phase one of Soup of Forgetfulness was a 3 weeks paid residency generously supported by Foray Residency at Morrow, by Odd Meridian Arts Society in Dec 2023/Jan 2024.
Special thank you to Ziyian Kwan, Tin Gamboa and Samantha Kyristal
Studio showing: Jan 5th 2024 at Morrow
Length of work: 34min
Music Credit:
單純的人_林強 (A pure person by Lim Giong)
現在是12月34號早上5點57分_陳婧霏 (by Jingfei Chen)
I AM LOVE by Jade Feat. ChillSeph
Photo Credit/video documentation: Sophia Wolfe
Phase Two: Antler Ridge Dance Studio Residency
Mentor: Natalie TY Gan
Phase two of Soup of Forgetfulness was a week long residency in October 2024 made possible by Dance West Network and Antler Ridge Dance Studio, Salt Spring Island.
Special thank you to Uncle Rob, Pammela, Joe, Robbyn Scott, Salt Spring Island Coffee and Dr. Jane Gabriels
Studio showing: Oct 18th 2024 at Antler Ridge Dance, Salt Spring Island
Length of work: 15min
Music Credit:
單純的人_林強 (A pure person by Lim Giong)
主意_你太白，去曬黑 (by ShyHey)
Video documentation: Rob Lowrie
Phase Three: Dance In Vancouver_Boombox
Phase three of Soup of Forgetfulness was a mix bill presentation opportunity by Here For Now Collective, Boombox a part of Dance In Vancouver Festival.
Special thank you to Erika Mitsuhashi, Francesca Frewer, Sierra Megas, Kira Radosevic and Pei Lai
Performances: Nov 19th, 20th, 22nd 2024 at Boombox
Length of work: 15min
Mix bill: Soup of Forgetfulness (Juolin Lee), Dance doe the Dead (Emmalena Fredriksson), Pickles (Kira Radosevic), Stump (Reed and Ry Jackson)
Music Credit:
單純的人_林強 (A pure person by Lim Giong)
主意_你太白，去曬黑 (by ShyHey)
Soup of Forgetfulness is an invitation to imagine and re-imagine goodbyes. It attempts to expand our perception of what lays beyond the physical world.
