Tate Modern, London’s renowned modern and contemporary art gallery, is set to present the world premiere of “Hagay Dreaming,” a new performance piece by Shu Lea Cheang and Dondon Hounwn. The performance, based on a story from Taiwan’s Truku tribe, combines traditional tribal culture with cutting-edge technology.
The collaboration between Taiwanese American new media artist Cheang and Taiwanese artist and Truku shaman Hounwn brings to life a tale of a hunter who encounters spiritual non-binary beings called Hagay in a dream. These beings impart ancestral knowledge of living, weaving, and hunting, reflecting the Truku principle of Gaya, which perceives all living beings as interconnected.
“Hagay Dreaming” incorporates a range of elements, including lasers, dance, instrumentals, ritual, and chant. The performance unfolds across six acts in The Tanks, Tate Modern’s raw industrial space. Performers navigate through horizontal and vertical laser beams, symbolizing weaving, rain, and hunting, accompanied by a soundtrack that merges contemporary classical music with traditional Truku rhythms.
The project, initiated in 2020 with producer Ping Yi Chen, has been presented in various formats previously. However, Tate Modern’s staging marks the first full-length theatrical production of the piece. The performance aims to present an artistic vision for the future based on the Truku people’s principle of living, known as Gaya.
In addition to the main performances, Tate Modern will host an artist talk featuring Cheang, Hounwn, and Chen. The talk will provide insights into their collaboration and delve deeper into the Gaya principle. A dance workshop inspired by the “Exchange” act from “Hagay Dreaming” will also be offered, led by key dancers and the choreographer.
The presentation of “Hagay Dreaming” aligns with Tate’s broader commitment to exhibiting, collecting, and researching performance and participatory artworks. It is part of a series of live performances and interactive installations scheduled at the gallery, including a performance by digital art pioneer Samia Halaby and the Kinetic Painting Group, tarot readings in Meshac Gaba’s “Art and Religion” installation, and a support group series led by Abbas Zahedi.
The performances of “Hagay Dreaming” will take place between March 13-15, 2025. The associated artist talk is scheduled for March 12, and the dance workshop will be held on March 16, 2025. These events are presented in collaboration with the international festival Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, which runs from March 12 to April 8, 2025, across various London venues.
