We heard about the happy accident of how the last minute decision to use three female performers corresponded to a painting in the exhibit called "TRES MARIAS" What was the initial plan?
Budoy Marabiles(BM): I did'nt have an exact plan because I wanted to leave things to chance. The plot was to simulate a ritual - the elements of light and water - but one that's more fluid than rigid. The performance was to fuse the two contradicting concepts of spontaniety and routine. Celebrating this contradiction, we wanted to come up with a free-flowing ritual.
First I thought of using nude models, and then just one nude model. But since we could'nt afford the sevices of a model, we opted for volunteers. That was quite a problem. So I thought of a male priestly figure. naked from the waist up, pouring water on a fully clothed woman while another guy lights the candle and then puts them out one by on. Another was a plan to have girls from a theater group in Cebu to peform a similar ritual, you know, like an ode to our "babaylan" tradition of female priests.
Still knew that nothing was final. I had a little over 24 hours to tie things up. In the end it was there at the start of the show that was convinced of the concept and was willing to participate in a free wheeling ritual-evoking performace.
The two European women who hardly knew each other gave the performace a gothic auro. This was in tune with the gothic-like colors of the paintings. Having three women performers coincide with the Aissa's series painting title " Tres Marias." But that wasn't the only serendipity. Christina is a practicing white witch. Verena has had some theater training. And Aissa, the exhibiting painter wanted to participate. so I got in as the candle girl. Somehow things just fell in place.
Do the candles and the water symbolize anything to you?
BM: Not really. Except perhaps that they make up baptism paraphernalia. And that the performance was a baptism of sorts for both the performers and the audience.
How will you differentiate the performance from those done in the yearly Mindworks of the UP Fine Arts?
BM: The audience involved. Not only was a large part of this audience uninitiated with performance art, many of them did'nt expect one.
How did they respond to it?
BM: Positive. Even those who did'nt get to watch it - because their view was blocked - said it was good. (Laughs.) But really, many of those who saw it said they liked it. It surpassed my expectations.
If you could, what would you have changed in that performace?
Perhaps I would have the putting out of the candles done in a counter-clockwise manner to allude to the witches' dance in Europe that goes against the sun. Other than that, I would'nt be able to change much since spontaneity plays a big part in the performance. Even I did'nt know how it would go until i was through.
Articles taken from: Cebu Daily News
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