Exploring identity through form | Jahra 'Rager' Wasasala | TEDxAuckland

Summary

In this deeply reflective presentation, the speaker explores the intersection of identity, ancestry, and creative expression. Drawing on her Fijian-European heritage and the absence of her father, she reflects on navigating diasporic identity, ancestral memory, and personal conflict. Through dance, poetry, and embodied ritual, she channels internal tensions into a hybrid language that connects her body, her art, and the earth. Highlighting the sacredness of the female form and its resonance with the natural world, she emphasizes that creative practice becomes a path to self-understanding, ancestral connection, and a profound sense of belonging, culminating in a performance that embodies these themes.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker acknowledges the Tongoa of Tamaki Makaurau as the original custodians of the land, emphasizing respect and recognition of indigenous peoples.
• 💃 A woman's journey toward self-realization involves engaging with her ancestral memories and internal conflicts, blending devastation and divinity.
• ⚖️ Conflict is not always negative; it can be an ongoing internal dialogue that drives personal growth and creative exploration.
• 🌊 The speaker identifies as Fijian European and reflects on navigating a hybrid, evolving identity within their diaspora.
• 🏠 The concept of 'returning home' is deeply ingrained in Pacifica and indigenous cultures, representing a connection to land, community, and ancestral memory.
• 🗣️ Language shapes identity; the speaker grapples with English as a colonized language while exploring ancestral languages through creativity and movement.
• 🎨 Dance and movement serve as a physicalized medium to channel ideas, ancestral memory, and internal conflict into artistic expression.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes that art is a journey of exploration rather than a quest for definitive answers, focusing on process over resolution.
• 🌱 Through creating hybrid, embodied art, the speaker connects personal and collective experiences, translating ancestral and diasporic histories into performance.
• 💫 Belonging and identity are nurtured through instinct, creativity, and connection to the body, revealing a personal 'home' that transcends measurable definitions.
• 🎭 The speaker's performance, including works like 'A World with Your Wound in It' and 'Orchids,' integrates physical ritual, ancestral memory, and contemporary expression.

Q & A

What is the significance of acknowledging the Tangata Whenua in the beginning of the transcript?

Acknowledging the Tangata Whenua, the original custodians of Tamaki Makaurau, recognizes the ancestral connection to the land, establishes respect for indigenous peoples, and frames the speaker's work within a context of cultural and spiritual awareness.

How does the speaker define 'conflict' in their personal and artistic context?

The speaker describes conflict not as negative, but as an ongoing tension or question that can drive growth, self-understanding, and creative exploration. It represents both inherited and learned internal struggles.

How does the speaker’s mixed Fijian-European heritage influence their sense of identity?

The speaker navigates a complex, evolving identity shaped by their Fijian-European background, an absent father, and a multicultural upbringing, leading to questions of belonging and connection across cultural and ancestral lines.

What role does language play in the speaker's exploration of identity?

Language is central: English represents colonial legacy and displacement, while ancestral Fijian dialects connect the speaker to culture and land. Their creative practice mediates this tension, using hybrid language in poetry and dance to reclaim connection.

Why does the speaker use movement and dance in their artistic work?

Movement and dance serve as physicalized rituals to channel personal and ancestral memory, express internal conflicts, and translate intangible identity struggles into observable, performative forms.

What does the speaker mean by a 'hybrid language'?

The hybrid language combines modern artistic mediums with ancestral memory and embodied experience, creating a form of communication that bridges personal, cultural, and historical narratives.

How does the concept of 'returning home' manifest in the speaker's narrative?

Despite diasporic displacement, the speaker emphasizes an instinctive call to return to ancestral roots and land. 'Home' is understood as both a physical and spiritual connection to heritage and identity.

What is the central theme of the speaker's work 'A World With Your Wound in It'?

The work explores the relationship between the body, the earth, and collective patterns of diaspora, translating internal conflicts and ancestral memory into performative expression that reflects universal and personal experiences.

How does the speaker connect the female form to their artistic and spiritual practice?

The female form is described as sacred and tapoo, interconnected with the earth. Through artistic exploration, the speaker honors this form as a conduit for understanding ancestral wisdom and bodily knowledge.

What is the speaker’s approach to understanding and resolving internal and external conflicts?

The speaker uses embodiment, instinct, and artistic practice to map and reconcile conflict, prioritizing experiential and performative engagement over purely intellectual solutions.