EX NILALANG: BALUD
Club Ate
Collection of Art Gallery New South Wales, Australia
What new perspectives can we spark by reimagining stories?
Prepare to be hypnotised by this reinterpretation of Filipino diasporic identities through a blend of myth and speculative fiction. This mythical creature is a ‘manananggal’ which is often depicted as a nocturnal vampire-like entity that can sever its upper torso and fly using bat-like wings. Said to prey on pregnant women, in traditional folklore, the story of the manananggal serves as a cautionary tale.
Club Ate re-imagines the manananggal as an avant-garde science fiction figure with sparkling skin and a sensuous poignancy. She sings a local Waray song, ‘Balud’, mourning the loss of part of her body, conveying both sorrow and resistance. ‘Nilalang’ means both ‘to create’ and ‘creature’. Club Ate use the word to emphasise that they are both transforming existing mythologies and imagining a form of Filipino futurism.
Can you empathise with the manananggal’s mournful song?
Club Ate is a Filipino-Australian art collective formed by Justin Talplacido Shoulder and Bhenji Ra. Ex Nilalang is a four part performance-video project that transforms urban myths and traditional Filipino folklore into stories of queer resistance. This first episode 'Balud' features Jai Jai, a performance collaborator from Tacloban in the Philippines.
CREDITS
The first three episodes of Ex Nilalang were commissioned by Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane for the Asia Pacific Triennial 8 2015-2016. This part of the project was also co-funded by NAVA's NSW Artist Grant 2015.
Ex Nilalang (Balud, Dyesebel, Lolo ex Machina) 2015
Single-channel HD digital video, 16:9, colour, sound
Performers: Jai Jai (Balud); Love Kaori & Love Marie with Bhenji Ra (Dyesebel); Justin Shoulder (Lolo ex Machina)
Costume Design: Justin Shoulder in collaboration with Daniel Guarino, Anthony Aitch & Ami Shoulder; headpieces for Dysebel by Naimah Mambuay
Hair: Christian Villareal
Makeup: Felicia regina Marie R. Luna
Cinematographer: Sasha Palomares
Producers: Justin Shoulder, Christina Ra & Monica Baldeo
Production Assistants: Christian Villareal & Bill Barrinuevo
Sound Recorder: Jonathan Q. Hee Kai Choong
Editor: Kelli Jean Drinkwater
VFX: Bec Stegh
Composer: Nick Wales
Singer ‘Balud’: Cielo Tibe
Production Photographers: Gregory Lorenzutti & Joseph Pascual
The fourth episode of Ex Nilalang was co-commissioned by Acmi Melbourne for Asia TOPA and Blacktown Arts Centre for Balik Bayan 2017.
Ex Nilalang (From Creature ~ From Creation) 2017
Single-channel HD digital video, 16:9, colour, sound
Written and Devised by Bhenji Ra & Justin Shoulder
Director & VFX: Tristan Jalleh
Performers Bhenji Ra & Justin Shoulder
Composer: Corin Ileto
Costume Design: Matthew Stegh
Makeup: Kiki Targé
Producer: Christina Ra
Production Assistants: Emmett Aldred & Xeno Genesis
Director of Photography: Ryan Alexander Lloyd
Camera Assistant: Bryn Whitie
Photogrammetry Assistant: Andre Piquet
Installation photography: Matthew Stanton