Croquis + Tendrils
A quick sketch of a garment, a ‘croquis’ is often the first step towards bringing an idea into tangible reality. In Ralph Escamillan’s innovative solo, the pencil is the body and the paper a modular canvas – dissecting the desire to imprint oneself into physical space. Central to the work is a garment constructed entirely out of paper, inspired by the historic ball gown skirt which evokes celebration, femininity and pomp, as well as a type of confinement and mourning.
Created and performed by Ziyian Kwan, Tendrils is the first in a series of works that that are odes to artists whose inspirational writings, teachings, and practices are living toolkits for survival and hope. Kwan brings her signature imagery and shape-shifting presence to a solo that relays and responds to her correspondence with the late Canadian dance icon Tedd Robinson, performed alongside items from his creative archives that were gifted as part of 10 Gates Dancing’s Multiples Project. Tendrils is medicine for the healer in each of us.