Me / We — Pera + Flora + Fauna, Venice Biennale 2022

Introduction

Me/We — a collaborative performance co-curated by Amir Zainorin and Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin for PORT’s Pera + Flora + Fauna at the 2022 Venice Biennale — explored the intersections of indigenous identity and environmental connectivity. Inspired by Muhammad Ali’s succinct yet profound poem “me/we”, the performance reframed individuality as communal spirit, urging a shift from “I” to “We.” By bridging art, ecology, and cultural accountability, the project amplified indigenous perspectives and invited audiences to reflect on belonging, kinship, and collective stewardship.

Rewriting Indigenous Narratives

On a transformative day in April 2022, the Archivi della Misericordia in Cannaregio, Venice, became the stage for Pera + Flora + Fauna — a performative event that addressed the dehumanization and re-humanization of indigenous communities worldwide. As part of PORT’s exhibition series, the project sought to reframe narratives that have too often been written from outside, foregrounding indigenous knowledge, resilience, and ecological wisdom.

Main Message

The event underscored the urgency of collective unity, the preservation of indigenous cultures, and the inseparable bond between humanity and nature. It called for a move away from the individualistic “me” toward the communal “we” — a shift that re-centers community, reciprocity, and responsibility.

Event Highlights

• Performances inspired by Muhammad Ali’s “me/we” poem.
• Celebration of indigenous identity through ritual, gesture, and embodiment.
• Exploration of environmental conservation as both cultural and communal duty.

Curatorial Insight

Commissioned by Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin, General Manager of PORT, and co-curated by Amir Zainorin, Pera + Flora + Fauna examined the impact of dominant cultural narratives from industrialized nations on indigenous communities and ecosystems. Central to the curatorial inquiry were two questions:

Can aesthetic contemplation contribute to preserving nature and indigenous traditions?

Do indigenous communities have the agency to redefine histories long told by non-indigenous voices?

Impact and Reflection

Pera + Flora + Fauna created a platform for indigenous voices to reclaim their histories, disrupt dominant discourses, and articulate new ways of seeing the relationship between humanity and nature. The performances illuminated the complexities of cultural autonomy, environmental rights, and diasporic belonging, while also fostering dialogue on how art can catalyze solidarity and renewal.