An Invocation to the Earth (2020)

An Invocation to the Earth (2020) poster

Deep in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, a series of incantations invoke the spirits of yore, including those of the nimble, tricksy Kancil (mouse-deer) and the ferocious Buaya (crocodile). The ancient animals enact their folkloric vendetta in a furious dance of dominance, yet long-overdue vengeance is shrouded in smoke. Meanwhile, an effigy of a tree is burning, summoning a whole other host of spectres and ancestors. Conceived during the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2019, while large-scale fires were consuming the forests of Indonesia, Yeo Siew Hua’s An Invocation to the Earth confronts climate collapse through the lens of pre-colonial folktales and animistic rituals. Through spoken spells and bodily entanglements, the video conjures up the fallen environmental defenders of a region ridden with ecological threats in the hope that their spirits will be reborn once again.

Director: Yeo Siew Hua
Runtime: 16 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: Russell Adam Morton
Editing: Daniel Hui
Production: NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21)
Original Language: en
More Films by Director: Yeo Siew Hua

Frequently Asked Questions

What is An Invocation to the Earth about?
Deep in the tropical rainforest of Southeast Asia, a series of incantations invoke the spirits of yore, including those of the nimble, tricksy Kancil (mouse-deer) and the ferocious Buaya (crocodile). The ancient animals enact their folkloric vendetta in a furious dance of dominance, yet long-overdue vengeance is shrouded in smoke. Meanwhile, an effigy of a tree is burning, summoning a whole other host of spectres and ancestors. Conceived during the month of the Hungry Ghost Festival in 2019, while large-scale fires were consuming the forests of Indonesia, Yeo Siew Hua’s An Invocation to the Earth confronts climate collapse through the lens of pre-colonial folktales and animistic rituals. Through spoken spells and bodily entanglements, the video conjures up the fallen environmental defenders of a region ridden with ecological threats in the hope that their spirits will be reborn once again.
Who directed An Invocation to the Earth?
An Invocation to the Earth was directed by Yeo Siew Hua.
Who stars in An Invocation to the Earth?
An Invocation to the Earth stars Eng Kai Er, Chloe Chotrani, Zarina Muhammad, Tini Aliman, Marco Viaña, K. Rajagopal.
How long is An Invocation to the Earth?
An Invocation to the Earth has a runtime of 16m (16 minutes).