Border Crossings’ ORIGINS Festival in the UK collaborated with three Taiwanese indigenous women artists Milay Mavaliw (米類‧瑪法琉), Eleng Luluan (安聖惠), and Aluaiy Kaumakan (武玉玲) to launch an exhibition titled “Resurgence and Solidarity: Indigenous Taiwanese Women’s Art” from March 20 to May 22.
The exhibition aims at exploring the need for women’s togetherness as a lived practice and a methodology, whether through a curatorial approach or personal philosophy. By privileging the voices and input of Indigenous female artists, and bringing together the voices of respected Elders, it is hoped that the exhibition will foster togetherness through trans-Indigenous cultural exchanges across generations in addition to transmitting knowledge between peoples of different places.
Nowadays, the rights of women, the protection of Elders, and environmental concerns are especially important for Indigenous Taiwanese women. There is a search for new unexplored possibilities, as they strive to find their own place and circumvent the limits of the COVID-19 pandemic. The three women artists all identify as feminists who embark on their journeys from an indigenous perspective, as well as a concern for the environment. “Resurgence and Solidarity: Indigenous Taiwanese Women’s Art” is cutting edge and contemporary yet essentially indigenous in its mode of expression.
Border Crossings’ ORIGINS Festival celebrates the world’s indigenous peoples through art, performance and debate. ORIGINS creates a unique opportunity to engage with Indigenous artists and activists at the cutting edge of cultural resistance, environmentalism and spiritual tradition. It works with some of the most significant cultural institutions in London to bring together indigenous artists and cultures from across the world to the heart of the capital. International partners include: Indigenous Enter Park (Taiwan), Border Crossings’ ORIGINS Festival (London, UK), Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš (SDG) Sámi Centre for Contemporary Art (Norway), and ISLA Center for the Arts, University of Guam (Guam, USA).