Silvering: Bodies of Experience | Featuring Peggy Baker, Davida Monk, Barbara England & Wen Wei Wang

Presented by Springboard Performance’s Fluid Fest

Lotus Shoes (excerpt from Last Solo)*

Foot binding was the Chinese custom of breaking and tightly binding the feet of young girls to change their shape and size for over a thousand years. Feet altered by foot binding were known as lotus feet and the shoes made for them were known as lotus shoes. In late imperial China, bound feet were considered a status symbol and a mark of feminine beauty. However, foot binding was a painful practice that limited the mobility of women and resulted in lifelong disabilities.

The aesthetic distortion of foot binding is the ultimate manifestation of the instrumentalization and objectification of women. It uses secular interests (marriage) and morality (female morality) as bait, making women actively or passively accept this physical harm in pain.

I use the shoes to express my sexuality, my Chinese heritage and to express beauty and pain.

*This excerpt does not include projects or live vocals from Gary James Joynes.

MORE INFO

Last Solo is a creative collaboration between Wen Wei Wang (Choreographer & Performer) and Gary James Joynes (Composer & Live Audio Visuals).

Choreographer and Performer: Wen Wei Wang

Visual-Sound Artist, Composer, Performer: Gary James Joynes

Lighting Designer: Jonathan Kim

Costume Designer: Linda Chow

Rehearsal Director and Choreographer Assistant: Connor McLeary

Outside Eye: Daria Mikhaylyuk