Within the framework of the ‘Panorama Taiwan’ cycle, this film is screened that portrays the creation process of the piece 13 Tongues, by choreographer Cheng Tsung-Iung. The film is divided into three parts:

Episode 1: Body (2021, 11′. English subtitled)

Listen to what CHENG Tsung-lung, the choreographer of 13 Tongues, describes how and where he found his inspiration for his work. Follow the choreographer CHENG Tsung-lung and Cloud Gate dancers to Bangka–CHENG’s birthplace—where they searched for the body aspects and postures of various people and temple gods from his memory, exploring how they observed and transformed these elements into dance movements of 13 Tongues. Witness how CHENG worked with Cloud Gate dancers, and how the rehearsal movements were evolved into stage scenes.

Episode 2: Sound (2021, 14′. English subtitled)

Each street in Bangka has its unique sound–from the chanting of sutra in temples, to the noises of vendors, bargaining housewives, and gossiping girls. These sounds, dormant in CHENG Tsung-lung’s mind and uncovered by Music Design LIM Giong, were integrated into a part of 13 Tongues. Accompany CHENG Tsung-lung and LIM Giong to the southern tip of Taiwan to visit the birthplace of Manjhou folk songs. Hear the stories and meanings of these songs from the Manjhou grandmas and learn why and how LIM Giong incorporated these folk songs and Nakashi tunes, a kind of pop music influenced by Japan in 1960s-80s, into his composition for 13 Tongues.

Episode 3: Color (2021, 11′. English subtitled)

Follow Art Design HO Chia-hsing and Cloud Gate dancers to Bangka, where the choreographer grew up. See through their eyes the vibrant images of hustle and bustling streets in Bangka, where colors of neon signs, fashion shops, temple deities’ costumes and the bricks on temple walls came to life. Begin with the symbolism of the carp–one of the core images in the projection–derived from Tsung-lung’s dream. Art Design HO Chia-hsing explains the selection and reasoning behind the colors and mantras projected on the stage. Meanwhile, Projection Design Ethan WANG talks about the process and enchantment of how these source materials were transformed into moving images on the projection screen.