Presenter: Dwight Owens (Ocean Networks Canada)

Description:
In September 2021 the fruits of a unique collaboration between ocean science and Filipino modes of cultural expression were shared in a global virtual live event connecting scientists with performing artists. Applied theatre was used to translate scientific knowledge about our changing ocean into choral performances. Vancouver Canada-based Filipina poet, Karla Comanda wrote four quatrain poems transformed into choral pieces composed by Filipino composer, Darren Vega. These poems were inspired by Tanaga—a traditional Tagalog poetic form—rendered as metaphors for coral bleaching, overfishing, sound pollution, and marine conservation. Members of the University of Philippines Los Baños Choral Ensemble and the Harmonya String Ensemble recorded each track individually via Zoom and personal mobile phones; all were combined into group performances through post production. The performance addressed colonization, erasure of traditional island culture in the Philippines, and elision of archipelagic ecological epistemology. In performing ocean science through an interdisciplinary inquiry, ocean-theatre virtual performance aims to unpack the industrial and technological colonization of the ocean. Ocean art-science collaboration cultivates transnational alliance building in creating new visions for the regeneration of the ocean. The result was an emotionally articulate collective performance and cathartic experience for some audience members. One commented, “I've viewed hundreds of hours of [underwater scientific] video tape--could never have articulated a response so powerful, responsive. Bravissimi!” This presentation will describe our process of bringing applied theatre methods into the sphere of ocean science and conservation, share some snapshots of the resulting performances, and summarize some insights that arose both from the many months of collaboration and the alchemy of the live event.