Over the past few months I’ve been researching and reconnecting with my Filipino heritage which will be a major influence in my portfolio work going forward. My mum is of Igorot descent, a distinct group of tribes and peoples from the mountainous region of Northern Luzon. I would like to, in some form incorporate aspects of there culture into my works. I have an affinity for it as I grew up taking part in gatherings where some of the UK diaspora would come together. I would always feel welcome but never truly part of the celebrations because I don’t speak any of the native languages.

Automated Gangsa Performance

Begnas is a community celebration that could be for a number of reasons including spiritual healing, community mourning and thanksgiving. Food is shared around while gong playing, dancing and chanting takes place.

I would like to focus on the spiritual virtues of the gangsa sonically and spatially in exploring . The circular layout in which the gangsa are often played promotes unity and solidarity between clan members. The sustained resonance of the gongs summon anito or spirits to the celebration and as an extension appeases Kabunyan the son and messenger of Dios Adi Kaila, the one we do not see, creator and supreme deity.

I’m not sure yet what to focus on whether as to adapt the idea to fit with exploring otherness, alienation and diasporas as this would be more relevant to my understanding and upbringing around these beliefs and values. There are also some ethical questions to consider when replicating a spiritually loaded dance/celebration to perform to. Am I qualified/educated enough in the belief system to enact something so spiritually meaningful to a group of people? Often a village elder will be leading the celebrations with empowering words for the community. Is it also ok to turn a dance, essentially, into an exhibit, considering how the main demographic consuming my work will be white and upper middle class?