Exile is a project born from several humanitarian initiatives we launched with refugees in Paris. The first was in the "bubble," a space created in 2016 to welcome male refugees. Several skateboarding and circus workshops were held, mainly for young men aged 16 to 24. A large proportion of this audience came from the Central African Republic. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.

​

We began creating a show that told the stories of the people we met. Not only their stories of exile, but also the complexity of exile, borders, cultural boundaries, and how to overcome them.

​

While most of the people we worked with at the center have moved to other cities in France, the first residency was the one that told Thupten’s story. After fleeing his native Tibet in 2007, Thupten Gyasto spent several years in India before emigrating to Paris. He studied traditional Tibetan medicine, closely following his cousin, Dr. Nida Chenagtsang, for over a decade. His story could be that of many others. Therefore, the importance of viewing this piece as a global story became clear, as it is a story that could be anyone’s.

​

Exile thus centered around a poem about a blackbird. With the metaphor of the blackbird representing unity.

​​

WORKSHOPS

​

Traditional Tibetan medicine is a Himalayan healing science dating back over 2,000 years. In the native language, it is called Sowa Rigpa. It has retained its authenticity to this day thanks to its pure lineage of transmission. Thupten also studied as a monk in Tibet before going into exile. A fully qualified masseur, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, he is passionate about passing on his knowledge and healing techniques. Kate is a trapeze artist trained in Paris with Zoé Maistre whose technique focuses on sensory movement and meditation. Sensory introspection uses perception as a means to access the body and mind. It engages the exteroceptive and interoceptive senses in a progressive and cumulative manner, which leads the practitioner's attention to become more panoramic, allowing for softening of cognitive control and developing an openness to the present moment, as well as a sense of peace and a different interpretation of reality.