Identity In different parts of the world, the historical, political, and cultural process of colonialism and structural racism has meant death, atrocious violence, invisibilisation, and the violation of rights for indigenous populations.
Sustained over time, this process generated the phenomenon of "identity denial", and due to shame or to avoid discrimination, many families stopped transmitting their indigenous heritage.
In Argentina, more than half of the population has indigenous ancestry.
However, according to a study by the UBA (University of Buenos Aires), only 2.9% recognize themselves as descendants.
In Western, a theatre director and playwright, creates his past in real time. Whatever he writes will be projected onto a white space—a virgin territory to be inhabited or conquered.
During Chapter I (which varies with each performance), the author investigates how that particular performance came about. How the audience came together, for that occasion in that venue. He reflects on theatre production systems and the limits of theatrical language, while questioning the origin of fiction and, by extension, his own origin as a creator. That text gives life to a cowboy—a symbolic figure that forces the author to confront several latent conflicts. Above all, it brings him face-to-face with a part of his history that his family had kept from him: his Native American ancestry.
In Chapter II, the entire associative field previously unfolded converges into a narrative that is wildly queer, violent, and horrifying—a tale that will reveal a new origin to both the author and the audience.
Chapter III, currently in development, will deal with the aftermath of this project.
On stage Pablo Ragoni, Martín Flores Cárdenas
Set Design Ruslan Alastair Silva
Lighting Design Matías Sendón
Costume Design Lara Sol Gaudini
Original Score and Sound design Diego Vainer
Chapter III theme Ramiro Vergara
Video Design Pablo Camaití
Percussion Coach Luciano Scalera
Choreographic Consultant Marina Otero
Research Collaboration Diana Lenton
Artistic Asisstant Marcos Krivocapich
Artistic and Choreographic Assistant Bernardita Epelbaum
Booking and Touring t4 y Eliana Staiff
Text and Direction Martín Flores Cárdenas