ZOMIA

2023
Screen

Performed in
China Academy of Art, Hangzhou, China

ZOMIA is an ideal sanctuary for hill barbarians to escape from the domination of lowland civilization, or rather, a fragmented region. In traditional historical narratives, people always assume that backward, simple, and even barbaric ethnic groups will be assimilated by advanced, prosperous, and sophisticated ethnic societies and cultures. However, the ZOMIA region provides a completely opposite example. The ZOMIA civilization more embodies a human survival state of mutual dependence and mutual benefit, rather than control and being controlled, ruling and being ruled.

Anarikis was born in the Javanese tribe in Southeast Asia, and was stamped with the cruel ethnic customs that the Javanese tribe had continued for hundreds of years since birth. In an accidental event, she began the road of self-awareness. Adult Anarikis ran away during her circumcision ceremony and passed through the ZOMIA region during her escape. The free air of ZOMIA attracted her, and finally, Anarikis, who was determined to be "born this way," decided to spend the rest of her life here.

CG: Yueling Chen

Visual Effect: Xinchen Liu, Jiayu Du

Music Producer: Baicheng Jiang, Xiaokai Feng, Jiayu Du, Yueling Chen, Xinchen Liu

Choreography: Jiayu Du

Fashion Design: XIANSHIWANGZHI, NEONPOND, CHEN Yueling (CG)

Makeup Artist: Jiayu Du, Xinchen Liu

Graphic Design: Xinchen Liu, Jiayu Du

Tutor: Mengjie Qi, Enjian Yu, Kevin Patton

Acknowledgement: Baicheng Jiang, Xiaokai Feng, Yifei Zhang, Yufei Yan(Beijing Foreign Studies University), XIANSHIWANGZHI, NEONPOND