Interview by William Chan
The director of local art organisation Comuna de Pedra, Jenny Mok Sin Teng, has told The Macau Post Daily that her art group will be performing a show entitled “The Vanished Figures” on October 7-8 at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) Small Auditorium.
The interview was held at Hiu Kok Art Centre on Avenida do Almirante Lacerda last week after a rehearsal session.
Founded in 1996, Comuna de Pedra continues to concentrate on body movement and dance theatre productions, both on stage and site-specific. Besides, it promotes art education in Macau and curates and produces art projects like exhibitions, festivals, and cross-cultural collaborative programmes.
Mok said that the name Comuna de Pedra – Portuguese for “Stone Community” – signifies that even though stones are commonplace, they build every great structure everywhere. The sentiment behind it is that even simple things, when combined, can create magnificence. The term “community” embodies the organisation’s ethos, wherein every participant’s voice and opinion holds equal importance.
The Vanished Figures
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mok observed and interacted with female labourers such as construction workers. Her approach combined oral interviews with artistic creation. She said that “The Vanished Figures” aimed to offer the audience a more profound understanding and appreciation of the city and its inhabitants.
The show is a part of the “Migration Series” Project, which explores changes in people’s locations, occupations, and other aspects. Mok has previously delved into the stories of male workers using documentary theatre. Recalling her week on a construction site, she acknowledged the often-overlooked presence of the many women there.
One narrative of the performance discusses how excavation work is often undertaken by a married couple. Usually, the husband digs, while the wife transports materials out of the hole. Mok noted the inherent danger in this work, as a small mistake could be lethal. However, she also recognised the intense guilt and remorse experienced by a spouse if an accident were to happen.
In a rehearsal session for this article, two performers – a male and a female – interacted while climbing around a metal cage with tango music in the background, representing the perilous nature of excavation work. Mok observed that in this scenario, the wife is typically subordinate to the husband. Mok said she aimed to confront and discuss this gender disparity in construction work, where male dominance is often assumed.
Another scene involved collecting construction waste, a stereotypically “filthy” job requiring immense endurance and strength. This narrative is told from the perspective of a female construction worker’s son.
Mok pointed out that women often sacrifice more for their families due to traditional expectations of devoting their lives to housework and raising children. “Lower-class women additionally have to work to pay the bills. Once their children grow up, these women often experience a loss of identity and purpose. The lack of opportunity to develop personal interests when young makes it easy for women to feel unneeded and lost as they age,” Mok said.
The stage setting included scattered clothes on the ground, symbolising the daily challenges faced by workers. The performer then struggled to try on the clothes, symbolising the difficulties retired women encounter in finding a new identity after their children have grown up.
Mok pointed out that the Migration Series not only showcases the geographical movement of people but also the shifts in identity and occupation of individuals. “Non-resident workers [NRWs] come to Macau for employment, and as a result, local residents have to adapt and change their occupations. This phenomenon occurs every day, and our goal is to document and interpret certain aspects of these movements through our documentary performances,” she added.
Tickets can be purchased on www.macauticket.com for 250 patacas each, with various discounts available.
Comuna de Pedra’s artists perform during last year’s Macau Arts Festival.
– Photos provided by Comuna de Pedra
Performers posing on a construction site – Photo : Ao Ieong Mike
