27 — 31.05
Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha São Paulo
Tapajós
theatre
| Portuguese, Munduruku → FR, NL, EN | ⧖ 1h30 | €18 / €15
Developing an analogue photograph is like alchemy, making existences magically appear and disappear. In photography’s early days, the development process required the use of the same chemical element responsible for the destruction of the Tapajós River and so many of its inhabitants: mercury. Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, an exciting new voice in the international theatre scene, is engaged in a long-term artistic study of the ravaged rivers of her homeland Brazil and the women living on the Tapajós' banks, fighting to heal their bodies, wombs, children and their river.
Tapajós is born out of an encounter with mothers polluted by the Tapajós River, poisoned by mercury from illegal mining activities. This performance has since become an alliance of mothers: the Munduruku mothers, the fish mother, forest mother, river mother and, finally, the mothers in the audience.
Using trays of water and photographic chemicals to develop pictures, aided by the audience, Carneiro da Cunha creates a performance where emerging images guide a narrative about the river water, about pollution and photography as a form of testimony. The words and bodies of the women and the river combine in a vivid, fervent investigation, with the audience as chorus and instruments of the performance-ritual, helping to link the visible with the invisible world.
Presentation: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Les Halles de Schaerbeek
Conception and direction: Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha & Rio Tapajós | Performers: Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, Mafalda Pequenino | Creation in process: Sofia Tomic, João Freddi, Vicente Otávio, Mafalda Pequenino, Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha | Assistant director: Sofia Tomic | Photographs: Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, João Freddi, Vicente Otávio | Photography technicians: João Freddi, Vicente Otávio | Text editing: Manoela Cezar, Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, João Marcelo Iglesias, Sofia Tomic | Image editing: Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha, João Freddi, Marina Schiesari, Sofia Tomic, Vicente Otávio | Dramaturgy: Alessandra Korap, Maria Leusa Munduruku, Ediene Munduruku, Aldira Munduruku, Cacica Isaura Munduruku, Ana Carolina Alfinito, Paulo Basta, Miguel Chikaoka, Julia Ferreira Corrêa, Rosana Farias Mascarenhas, Dalva de Jesus Vieira, Osmar Vieira de Oliveira, Celiney Eulália de Oliveira Lobato, Rodrigo Oliveira, Mauricio Torres e Eric Jennings | Technical direction and lighting: Jimmy Wong | Sound design: Felipe Storino | Costume design: Sio Duhi | Scenography: Sofia Tomic, Ciro Schu, Jimmy Wong | Exhibition design: Marina Schiesari | Consultancy: Raimunda Gomes da Silva, Dinah de Oliveira, Tomás Ribas | Sound technician and multimedia design: Bruno Carneiro | Partnerships: Associação de Mulheres Munduruku Pariri, Associação Sairé | Support: Associação Fotoativa, Clube do Analógico | Production: Ariane Cuminale | General production: Gabi Gonçalves | Distribution in Europe: Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne
Production: Corpo Rastreado, Aruac Filmes, Théâtre Vidy-Lausanne, Projeto Margens | Coproduction: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Les Halles de Schaerbeek, Wiener Festwochen, Festival d'Automne à Paris, Centre Pompidou, La rose des vents/NEXT Arts Festival, Théâtre Garonne, Kampnagel International Summer Festival
With the support of Manchester International Festival for research & development of the project
