«Floating Roots» describes the lives of the Asian and Queer 1.5 and 2nd generation immigrants. Many of them are children of guest workers who came to Germany in the 1960s until the 1980s.

The soundscore of the performance weaves together interview excerpts of 17 people who speak from an autobiographical perspective about marginalization, isolation and discrimination: intimate stories of racism, homophobia, legal difficulties, conflicts caused by language and cultural gaps within the family, the feeling of not belonging, expectations of being a “model minority” … fill the performance space. Six of the interviewees, who are not professional performers, appear onstage, along with two Deaf performers who are also Asian with an immigration background.

The entire performance is translated into International Sign Language (ISL).

Inky Lee (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist and a writer living in Berlin. Their work creates space for the embodied experiences of marginalized individuals and communities to be acknowledged, mourned for and celebrated. In their work, Inky looks for ways to be direct and tender at once.
inkyunglee.me

The Korea Verband is a non-profit organization that emerged from the democracy and solidarity movement for Korea in 1990. It is dedicated to fostering understanding of Korean history, culture, and contemporary developments on the Korean peninsula. Engaging in educational initiatives, it illuminates the complexities of Korea’s past and present.
koreaverband.de

Hyemi Jo (she/her) comes from South Korea and is deaf. She works as an artist, activist, and web designer in Berlin. She is engaged in political activities that enhance the visibility and strengthen the voices of the Deaf community. She finds Berlin a very diverse city where, for example, BIPOC and Queer people from various backgrounds live together. She really enjoys the intersectionality that Berlin embodies.

Tulipe (she/dey) is a creative person who works in a male-dominated environment and lives in Dresden. She is queer and has been living poly for several years. Dey is interested in art, culinary and political topics, especially queer topics. By participating in «Floating Roots», she wants to share her life story. Dey expresses her experiences and feelings in the form of poems and paintings.

Jiayi Wu (they/them) grew up in China and moved to Berlin in 2023. They are deaf and queer. They are currently learning German sign language (DGS) and German language. They enjoy playing football and taking photos.

[Source: tanzfabrik-berlin.de]

TFB Nr. 1880