nightmares. human-data. drowning worlds.

TADRA, and other visions is a collision of multiple realities at once. A warping and distortion of the dreams of the ancestors of Moana nui a Kiwa, and the nightmares of the realms that have been opened in a post/current-colonial occupation. Following the statement made by Simon Kofe, Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister, about Tuvalu becoming the first digital nation, TADRA, and other visions follows the translation of human-data and body-stories of Moana Nui a Kiwa as it is translated into ‘the cloud’. 

Using real-time motion capture and live performance, TADRA, and other visions swallows the questions of body-memory vs technological advancement and contemplates the repercussions of replacing Moana Nui a Kiwa’s land, water, people and relationships with globally accessible digital data-banks. 

TADRA, and other visions is a show-in-development between core collaborators Jahra Wasasala, Henry Lai-Pyne and Oliva ‘Spewer’ Luki and had it’s first development showing commisisoned by Chunky Move Company as a part of their Activators 10 2023 programme. TADRA, and other visions was shown as a part of and supported by Naarm’s inaugural FRAME: Biennial Dance Festival in 2023.

“As our land disappears, we have no choice but to become the world’s first digital nation. Our land, our ocean, our culture, are the most precious assests of our people. And to keep them safe from harm, no matter what happens in the physical world, we will move them to ‘the cloud’. Islands like this one, won’t survive rapid temperature increases, rising sea levels and droughts, so we will recreate them virtually.
Piece by piece we’ll preserve our country, provide solace to our people and remind our children and our grandchildren what our home once was. "
- Simone Kofe, Tuvalu’s Foreign Minister