THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ISLAND

The Possibility of an Island

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Inspired by a nihilistic science-fiction "The possibility of an island", the performance is aim to present the coexistence of spacetimes: the past, the present and the future.

The Possibility of and Island is a french novel written by Michel Houellebecq, set within a cloning cult that resembles the real-world Raëlians who encourage scientific research to extend life. It is based on a comedian Daniel’s life story mostly about the relationships with two female, Isabelle and Esther, and how he gets eternal life through cloning after being a member of Elohim church. While what Elohim believe is hedonism convincing people that pleasure and happiness are the proper aim of human life, Daniel can not stop himself from sickness and depression of his career and love life. Eventually, he ends his life.

A thousand years on, his clones, Daniel 24 and 25, who live in a time where the human species is on its last legs (or alternatively, the first legs as a loop), read their predecessor’s story and have different view point. The clones live separately and communicate with each other by message and call with subtle and clean words like poetries. Due to the progress of technology, they lost the basic element of human being, feeling and emotion. On the down side of technological progress, humanity is back to Dark Ages because of climate change and nuclear war. Coexisting with the clones, there are nature human who live in small tribes as primitive people without any knowledge of civilisation and language.

At the end, Daniel 25 is inspired by Daniel’s life story, deciding to leave the comfort zone to seek the value as a human being.

18th century tailoring

Daniel's costume is inspired by 18th century tailoring and laughter. Through the print and embroidery of laughing faces, I intend to create melancholy and misanthropic of the character.

Developing from 18th century fashion, I intend to keep historical silhouette in their costume. Over the history, in order to emphasise gender difference, there have been different dress and decoration for men and women from shape to colour. Male clothing has been designed with rectangular shapes and sharp points with strong colour and bulky material to emphasize physical and social dominance, while female clothing was designed to express successful maternity by centering interest on the breast and stomach with rounded contours and rich, soft materials.

Despite following historical research, I would like to bring contemporary element into 18th century fashion. Aiming to explore a wide rage of textile and material, I simplify the decoration of the garments during the time, and develop different texture on fabrics. Not only for garments, the wig and haircut would be more exaggerated and performative from shape to material, linking the personality of characters.

Interactive garment

The red dresser is inspired by Daniel's young mistress, Esther, who is a desirable actress. Her costume embodied love control and passion. To present the connection between performers, I use cord as main material which have great flexibility no matter for simple or complicated shape and function.

To present the connection between performers, I use cord as main material which have great flexibility no matter for simple or complicated shape and function. These costumes would allow dancers to interact with each other in depth by playing with the cord. Not just as garments, the costume is like incarnation of different attitude to love and sex. In terms of colour, each costume has one main colour as characters’ identity and personality, avoiding one overwhelmed by another.

I intend to explore the characteristic of cord to create my own textile with weaving, knitting or knotting. With hand-made pattern as textile, it would be more depth and organic, just as imperfection of relationship and love.