Ophey, Tsz Kwan Chan
18:30 - 19:00 (GMT+1)
Embodied Resistance: Decolonising Dance Through Research, Performance, and Interdisciplinary Art in the Pluriverse of "The Parallel Gap"
BIOGRAPHY
Ophey (Tsz Kwan Chan) is a Hong Kong native and UK-based interdisciplinary dance artist, who embodies versatility as a dancer, choreographer, and producer. With a background in traditional African dance, street dance, and contemporary dance, she brings diverse influences to her work.
Ophey is an MFA student in Dance and Embodied Practice at the University of Roehampton in London, where she researches and creates artistic work through a creative approach that combines embodied practice, somatic practice, mediated choreography, and contact improvisation. Through her art, Ophey explores themes of human connection, corporeality, existence, and collective liberty. Her work delves into anthropology, ecology, cultural studies, and philosophy, often intertwining elements of activism to highlight social and political issues.
Ophey's work invites audiences to engage with the complexities of shared human experiences and the ongoing struggle for collective liberty, making a profound impact through her exploration of humanity, and its relationship with societal structures.
ABSTRACT
This presentation explores the complex thesis project "The Parallel Gap," which represents resistance and decolonization through a sophisticated combination of research, performance, and multimedia art. Focused on the identity formation process of Hongkongers, this work reflects on how people worldwide can reclaim and construct their cultural identity in the face of socio-political challenges. "The Parallel Gap" is a comprehensive research journey that delves into personal and collective identities, highlighting the struggles and resilience of individuals confronting cultural and political adversities. It showcases how decolonization is both a political act and a deeply personal process of reclaiming autonomy and redefining embodied archives. Through live performance, documentary footage, screen dance, and interactive installations, this project bridges the gap between the personal and the political, the local and the global.