Cavite Young Writer’s Association presents: KAAKUHAN-KALAYAAN
Kaakuhan-Kalayaan is an exhibit-theatre-play-poetry performance-bazaar-carnival fair presentation of the Cavite Young Writer’s Association in cooperation with other artist groups of Cavite. It will be held on June 12, our national day of independence, something that Cavitenos can be doubly proud of, because the first Independence Day was celebrated right here in Cavite. As such, it is a celebration of the independent status of artists and of the self as represented in the arts, and of the self as part of the nation.
If the theme sounds familiar, it’s because it’s a spin-off from Alejandro Garcia Abadilla’s Ang Ako, which is only fitting since this is his hundreth year celebration. Abadilla’s representations of an egocentric self, Ako ang daigdig, is taken to another level as CYWA (and others) digs deep into the self to come up with glimpses, bold glances, stolen shots, paintings, dances, music, what-have you of the self in the carnival of the universe.
A carnival with flashing lights, rides, poetry readings, bands and great music, exhibits, plays, all going all at once, no holds barred, the idea for this year’s art event in Cavite. Of the carnival itself, of the self in the carnival, of the carnival of the universe, and of the carnival-like universe, seen at different angles, and conflicting paradigms and shifts, CYWA aims to bring out cultures, sub-cultures, and counter-cultures of Cavite by involving artists, fair-goers, students, the local government, and just ordinary people who came for a show. Definitely, this is one show, they won’t soon forget.
Using the perya as a format and take-off for the ako, the event is deliberately multi-layered to represent, uncover, and add more layers to the ako, the centerpiece of the event. Thus, the following are necessary parts of the celebration:
I. Exhibit- one tent crammed wall to ceiling with artist’s representations of their own ako, their kaakuhan, their daigdig. The artworks will be pasted/ installed side by side, thus the whole exhibit is also one big installation of the ako. When viewers enter the tent, they will be treated to the daigdig of the ako, as the whole installation/exhibit will seem to engulf them in its seamlessness. Their will also be film installations all around the project site.
II. Theatre- the tula-dula, or street theatre will be highlighted in this celebration. Taking one of Abadilla’s plays and adding a modern twist to it, the play is then made accessible to ordinary people. Shown in the open, the tula-dula will call people to watch, take part, and engage in their own ruminations of Abadilla’s and their own ako.
III. Performance Poetry- as poetry is one of the more personal forms of art, the performance of it will speak of the ako of the poet, and also how s/he deals with his/her daigdig. This is synthesized by the poetry chapbook that CYWA will be releasing at the event.
IV. Dance- using the body as canvas, the dancers will elucidate in mimes, gestures, and dance their own ako, and the daigdig of their ako. The fitting backdrop for this dance festival is experimental music from emerging artists.
V. Music- an open-air concert of bands coming from Cavite. Their presence would be a sure crowd-pleaser and the music that they play, part and parcel of the general atmosphere of the perya. The thought that travels in sound is also that which powers the ako.
VI. Bazaars- anything and everything will be put up for sale, auctioned, and inspected to within an inch of their lives. In this marketplace of clothes, food, music, art, and ideas, people come to buy what they need for themselves and their souls.
