Seven Idiomatic Pieces (VI) – Performance

Seven Idiomatic Pieces – A Drop in the Bucket

Performance: Concordia University, 2012

 

Chun Hua Catherine Dong and her performance partner wear lab coats, standing in front of two buckets and looking at each other

Chun Hua Catherine Dong and her performance partner wear lab coats, shaking hands n front of two buckets

Chun Hua Catherine Dong and her performance partner wear lab coats, bowing to each other, opening their mouths and letting their saliva dropping into buckets

Chun Hua Catherine Dong drops her saliva into a bucket

Chun Hua Catherine Dong and her performance partner wear lab coats and drop their saliva to buckets

Chun Hua Catherine Dong and her performance partner wear lab coats and drop their saliva to buckets

for video, please visit the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr5vGa5OmP4

“Seven Idiomatic Pieces” is a performance series that explores mistranslations and metaphrase in language by reenacting seven English idioms. Although idioms might not make sense for many non-English speakers, I found out that they are like ready-made scripts that can be performed. For instance, the idiom, “the apple of my eye,” consists of two elements: apple and eye. However, what interests me most is how to use the two elements that seemingly have no connections to each other to make a performance in order to convey meanings or emotions. “Seven Idiomatic Pieces” focuses on the surface of the language and translates idioms into performative actions and gestures.

performed by Tran Chovic, photo and video by Shannon Harris