The Myth of Gong and Drum display, which kept locals and visitors to the Shelley Beach foreshore near Welshpool captivated as part of a Canning World Arts Exchange Festival event, is now available online.
The event, held in early February, provided an opportunity for community members to experience the UNESCO Vietnamese Ede Gong Culture first hand, along with Canning’s Community Choir, Perth’s Link Dancers, Sydney’s Talkoz drummers and New York’s Douglas Dunn and Dancers.
A Canning Council spokesman said the Gong culture, which was also referred to as the brass drum culture of Vietnam, was believed to date back to the ancient civilisation of Dong Son.
Scanning the pages of history, the unique way instrumentalists played the drums, which are 25-80cm wide, is what distinguishes them from other cultures, he said, and the many different rhythms and arrangements reflected the theme of individual ceremonies. These include harvest celebrations, mourning rites and blessing of the rice.
The World Arts Exchange Festival brought together 10 Ede Ethnic Group members who are the last remaining keepers of the Myths and Sacred Songs of the Gong culture to collaborate and share with modern artists their belief that nonhuman entities, such as drums, possess a spiritual essence.
Taking the display of artworks online has involved the audio translation of the meaning of each tower, which is now accessible by clicking on the image of individual pieces displayed on Council’s website.
Location
15/64-66 Kent St
Cannington, WA 6107
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Hours
Mon: 8:00 - 4:00
Tue: 8:00 - 4:00
Wed: 8:00 - 4:00
Thu: 8:00 - 4:00
Fri: 8:00 - 4:00
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed