Vivian Guyrá
Vivian Guyrá, born and raised in Brazil, is a movement artist deeply committed to integrating performance with ethnic and environmental justice. Their work is deeply rooted in their life experiences as an Indigenous artist who developed their craft in an urban context.
As an indigenous person in an urban context, Vivian believes that the social environment that raised them is intrinsically linked to the development of their artistic work. Their life experiences, channelled through their body, permeate every piece they produce. Their education was a collective endeavour, and so is their work. Despite a physical distance from their ancestral roots, they have connected with many others who share similar experiences. This connection, though often unspoken, has always been present in their work.
Their artistic practice aims to bring resources and attention to indigenous communities, empowering those marginalised by social and environmental racism. In 2019, they encountered TekoHaw Marakana, a multi-ethnic community (Aldeia). The land conflicts, exploitation, and indigenous murders during Bolsonaro's government were more than mere rhetoric. In 2020, during the Acampamento Terra Livre, where indigenous groups from over 100 ethnicities protested in the capital, they created their first choreographic work, TERRA DEMARCADA, to raise funds for this cause. This piece was performed on the streets and in public theatres with the support of public institutions in collaboration with young performers.
In 2022, they began developing Tenne Maa, inspired by that year's Acampamento Terra Livre. After moving to London, they continued their research on how indigenous dance in Brazil can serve as a tool for environmental conservation. Here, they found individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds who volunteered to join them in performing this work at the Lilian Baylis Studio at Sadler’s Wells.
Their time in the UK allowed them to collaborate with renowned artists such as Akram Khan, Marina Abramovic Institute, Holly Blakey, Seeta Patel, and Saul Nash.
