Performances in Memory of Disasters in Taiwan

• In Event: Commemoration, Catharsis, Critique – Asian Theater and Film Responding to Disaster

Abstract

Performances bring comfort to heal people’s trauma caused by disasters such as the 921 Earthquake and the 721 Kaohsiung Explosions in Taiwan. The 921 earthquake registered 7.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Jiji Nantou County, Taiwan, on September 21, 1999. 2,415 people were killed, 11,305 injured, more than 100,000 people were made homeless, causing an estimated US$10 billion worth of damage. The gas chemical tubes underneath the ground in Kaohsiung exploded in a series lasting from July 31 to Aug. 1, 2014. In the explosions 32 people died, 308 were injured, and hundred thousands of households and buildings collapsed and were damaged. Representing the disasters artistically, some performances were held to bring comfort to the traumatized people. Taiwan government built the 921 Earthquake Museum to preserve some of the phenomena related to the earthquake to remind the public of the need to prepare for such disasters and to be able to offer emergency rescue. In 2014, the 15th anniversary performance including kids’ dance, drumming and music played by the Butterfly Orchestra in memory of the 921 Earthquake was held in Puli, Taichung in the Paper Church to symbolize rebirth and hope. Helping the 721 Kaohsiung explosion victims, some performances were held, such as the concerts and the performance of Bodhisattva with thousands of hands and thousands of eyes performed by handicapped artists from China. My paper will analyze how performances in Taiwan bring catharsis to people and foster healing of post-disaster trauma.

Author

• Iris Tuan, National Chiao Tung University