Joyce Lam

家族に関する考察のトリロジー
レクチャーパフォーマンス

法的に定める「家族」の関係性は結婚でしか獲得できない。多くの社会学者や人類学者が「家は近代の発明だ」と論じているように、私たちが持っている「家族」に対する考え方は各国の法律をはじめ、地域的・文化的制約、そして家庭イデオロギーなどによって制限されている。このレクチャーパフォーマンスでは、作者個人の家族歴史に基づいて、家系図を使用しながら「家族の定義」を考察する。

作・演出・出演：ジョイス・ラム

On Family
Lecture performance

In many countries, legal ‘family’ relationships can only be acquired through marriage. Referring to the concept that ‘the household is an invention of modernity’ in sociology, our ideas of family are created and restricted by national laws, regional and cultural conventions and other factors.

“On Family” is a project that explores the different definitions of ‘family’ using family tree structures. Through this practice, the project aims to chart and objectify complex family relationships. The lecture performance is a trilogy that is structured around three motifsーmoon, tree and fireーelements that were sampled through research that extends across various fields and perspectives, including family studies, cultural anthropology, the history of travel in Japan, cultural history, and so on. Performed and screened in Japanese, English, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, the confusion I find in my own identity is expressed again through the reading of a script that is composed in different languages.

Part 1: Moon
With the introduction of a personal family photo, the performance begins with an explanation of how to draw family trees. According to NASA's definition of family where affinityーfamily who are chosenーis prioritised over consanguinity, I will have no immediate family as a single woman. On the other hand, nationality, race and gender are human identities that can be seen as irrelevant in outer space or on the moon. My identity as a foreigner living in Japan is questioned: am I a ‘foreigner’ on the moon?

Part 2: Tree
Part 2 is shown as a single-channel video work that covers the genealogy of the gods in Japanese mythology which originates from Takachiho, Miyazaki Prefecture. It is a meta-documentary film composed of a travelogue of a fuyō-fukyū (‘not necessary and not urgent’, a phrase that is widely used in Japan during the coronavirus outbreak, which was also commonly used during the Second World War) journey, an interview with the chief priest of Takachiho Shrine, and news reports related to the marriage and honeymoon of a princess who gave up her royal title in consequence of marrying a commoner.

Part 3: Fire
The last part analyses the architectural space of the ‘house’ (ya), where families live together, and examines both the activity spaces of men and women and the roles they play in the house. The possibilities for new family forms through communal eating is discussed based on the anthropological ideas that family members are those who sit around the fire (including furnaces, fireplaces, and dining tables) that is placed in the middle of the ‘house’ (ie, or ihe in old Japanese).

Concept, Written, Performed and Video by Joyce Lam
Animation: Kyoko Takahashi
Music: Taro Ishida
Sound design (video): Ryota Fujiguchi
Technical Director: Kazuya Kato
PA: Kanji Kuwahara

［performance］DEC 12&19, 2021
YPAMフリンジ2021参加作品、ミントの家
Performed at Yokohama Performing Arts Meeting Fringe 2021, Mint House
(past event info here)

［exhibition］APR 2-MAY 8, 2022
TOKAS-Emerging 2022の個展として、TOKAS本郷にて展示しました
Exhibited as a solo exhibition at TOKAS Hongo, as part of TOKAS-Emerging 2022