Divine Pursuit (2021), performed in Koganecho, Japan, is a two-hour performance by Sarah Lin Fang Yi that explores the area’s historic ties to sex work, once home to wooden brothels. Inspired by a shared dream of a woman on fire—experienced by Lin and another artist at the same residency estate—and conversations with local artists about Koganecho’s past, the work honors the women who lived there.
Lin, embodying Sisyphus, pushed a 50kg ball of ceramic clay in a circle for 100 laps, symbolizing the endless struggles of sex workers. A live video feed projected onto the wall captured her labor, while sound design by Taiwanese sound composer Jia Jiun Wu filled the space with haunting resonance.
Twelve seated guests, representing the points of time on a wheel, each held a lily, symbolizing purity and remembrance, as they witnessed the ritual. Through this meditative act, Lin contemplates the plight of women and bodies in sex work, giving thanks and fostering reflection on their resilience and history. The performance transforms Koganecho’s legacy into a space of honor and dialogue, reflecting Lin’s commitment to community narratives.
Duration: 2hrs
