RED COATS + INDIANS

ARTIST STATEMENT

Based on the Hollywood themed and children’s game “Cowboys + Indians” Semu takes what at first glance appears to be a simple game of role play and examines its darker motives and insidious agenda of inserting colonial dominance through style, glamour and the innocence of children.

A second narrative is at play through the costumes of the Red Coats referencing the colonial period of Captain Cook as the British colonies of the Common Wealth who are currently celebrating 250 years of Captain James Cook’s glorious discovery and charting of the ‘new world’ ? A fictitious narrative of operatic proportions, globally and historically.

In this pantomime we reenact the tragic Death of Captain Cook and reverse the clichéd narrative where the savage Indians rise up and saves the day by winning the game and protecting their lands, their culture and their sovereignty for the future of their people. In this body of work Semu continues to work with indigenous peoples and communities around the world by employing indigenous actors, dancers, performers and fellow creatives to collaborate on photographic artistic projects exposing them to new experiences both professionally and personally.

Semu acknowledges the Indigenous Taiwanese and Formosans tribes and the Ethnic groups of Taiwan and is honoured and grateful for their contribution and participation.