USA Projects

                                        EJE LEPO/ BLOOD DONATION 

Blood donation was invented to save the lives of those in need. In my work blood donation is a metaphor for education, which grants people the opportunity and access to knowledge and power, and can therefore lead to the revitalization of a community.

For this project I was invited to Myanmar to take part in international multimedia festival during November 23, 24-25 2012. I have conducted the first part of this performance in South Africa. The second part, performed in Myanmar, will focus on education, the importance of learning, the search for knowledge and the power that education provides to an individual. I use Blood as a metaphor in this project of performance and installation. When I say blood as metaphor, I refer to the power that blood gives to the body. Educated persons have the power to influence other people, their community, their country and make the world a better place to live. Many youths from third world countries dream of travelling to developed countries in order to better their living conditions, and search for opportunities. However, if they had access to good education within their own countries, they would not risk their lives travelling to foreign countries without proper travel documentation, and feel obliged to take any job they find there. With education they would have the opportunity to manage their own economy, produce good leaders, strengthen their country’s security, and have access to the knowledge that would promote change and lead to jobs creation.

My project will involve installation sculptures with the use of weaving threads, scotch tape/cello tape to take form and shape of books and a temporary classroom/school sculpture which will have no door to get out and traps me inside. I will be looking for ways to get out by trying to extend my hand out for help. It will be sculpted in the public space that ordinary people/audiences can have access to, an area in which they don’t have to be thinking, or searching for fees to enter. But before I perform in the installation I will first perform around the town, city, market place, park, and mall as an opportunity to advertise and share pamphlets, and to invite and direct people to the venue of the main performance. The funds in request will be for the materials used, travelling from USA to Myanmar, fees/applications, food, local transportation, documentation, travelling/health insurance, assistants, and visa fees/application.

 This project is important to me in particular because I grew up in an environment that lacked so many of the things that the people of Myanmar also lack. I believe with education people can move from grass to grace, from nothing to someone, from inferior to superior and save others. This project and dream can only be made possible with advocacy, insight and education through free public performance. I believe this is best way to inject and speak the truth to people. They will see this performance as funny and comedic, they will laugh their hearts out and this is the moment of truth. It’s the right time and place to make a difference in their lives. With your help this project could be made possible, join me in making this happen and your name will always be tied to this moment. Thank you for your time and support!