“Formosa” is an evening-length spoken word choreo-solo-show that examines cultural identity, beauty, globalization, and plastic surgery via the history of Barbie doll manufacturing in Taiwan. The project’s genesis sparked last year when I found myself inexplicably drawn to a book on the history of Barbie from her debut in the U.S. in 1959. Weeks later, while performing at the North American Taiwanese Women’s Association Conference in St. Louis, I learned that Barbie dolls were actually manufactured for twenty years (1967-1987) in Taishan, Taiwan, close to where my family relocated after fleeing the Communist Revolution in China.

For years, I’ve wanted to do a project that explored beauty myths and Western gaze in Taiwan. When I learned about the Mattel corporation’s history in Taishan, I recognized that this was the concept and calling that I’ve been looking for with the added content of how global economy affects local bodies through work, media, and self-perception. This project as been an exciting catalyst to further my extensive experience on the spoken word stage to a new theatrical form that is contemporary, historical, physical, and funny, using the physical vocabulary to highlight the mutability of the Asian female body while maintaining the energy, spontaneity, and intimacy of spoken word.

The project has been supported via a Fund for Creative Communities grant from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and two works-in-progress presentations: New York Live Arts Studio Series (01/19/12-01/20/12), Museum of Chinese in America with New York University A/P/A Institute (03/15/12).

Writer/Performer: Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai. Director: Jesse Jou. Choreographer: Jessica Chen. Dramaturg: Amissa Miller. Producer: Chie Morita.

To view video from the New York Live Arts work-in-progress on 1/19/12, click below: