IHOT SINLAY CIHEK
A visionary Indigenous theater artist and writer from Hualien, Taiwan. Rooted in her tribal heritage, her work explores themes of identity, gender, and cultural transformation. Through performance, writing, and other artistic mediums, she challenges conventional narratives and offers fresh perspectives on Indigenous women’s experiences. A recipient of numerous prestigious awards, her unique artistic style blends traditional Pangcah storytelling with contemporary performance techniques, and is recognized for the innovative approach and powerful social commentary.
Theatrical Works
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[Yasala Yasala], [Interdisciplinary Stage], [Taipei, Taiwan]— [2025]
Concept and direction, performer
A spoken-word response of Sayun Nomin's poems. Utilizes experimental sound to reclaim oral tradition and protest political tension, exploring identity and cultural memory through "Re-Fieldworking."
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[Misikol], [Black Box Theater, National Taiwan Science Education Center], [Taipei, Taiwan] — [2025]
Concept, direction, director of photography and animaiton
An immersive theater performance interweaving 8k projections, envisioning a future where Indigenous cultures face disappearance. Through fragmented memoryscapes and the precarious body, the work stages polyphonic encounters with loss, technology, and identity.
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[Rayrayrayray], [KIRI Indigenous Cultural and Creative Park], [Taoyuan, Taiwan] — [2025]
Concept and direction, performer
A post-human performance rooted in Pangcah sikawasay (shamanic tradition), interlacing AI-generated voice and electronic sound. Embodying a contemporary shaman, the artist navigates myth and machine to resist forgetting and rethread cultural memory in a time of disintegration.
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[Doomsday Wonderland: Oasis], [Evolution Theater], [Shanghai, China] — [2024]
Director
A visually stunning, immersive theatrical production adapted from a beloved Chinese novel, centered on female narratives and achieved both artistic and commercial success.
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[The Knife], [Datong Theater], [Hualien, Taiwan] — [2023]
Concept and direction, performer
A poignant and comedic solo performance that delves into the complexities of Indigenous female identity, juxtaposing ancient traditions with the realities of modern life.
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[How Romantic: A Guide to Modern Pangcah Life], [PLAYground Theater], [Taipei, Taiwan] — [2022]
Concept and direction, performer
A comedic solo performance that satirizes the challenges faced by a contemporary Indigenous woman returning to her tribe to revitalize cultural traditions.
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[A Girl From Falangaw], [ChongHwa Hall], [Taitung, Taiwan] — [2021]
Concept and direction, performer
A historical drama exploring the interracial friendship of two women during Taiwan's White Terror period.
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[Tiyamacan Coming Down To Earth], [Ridge Theater], [Taipei, Taiwan] — [2021]
Concept and direction, performer
A whimsical comedy that blends mythology and contemporary reality, as a young woman's encounter with her ancestral heritage leads to a series of humorous misunderstandings and unexpected revelations.
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[Mythologies And A Joke], [Pulima Performance Gathering], [Taipei, Taiwan] — [2020]
Concept and direction, performer
A humorous and introspective journey as two Indigenous women, through a self-created ritual in their urban dwelling, question the relevance of ancient myths and redefine their roles as contemporary women.
Literary Works
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[Taiwan Straight Talk], [Play (Englsih)]—[2025]
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[Saw Show Mine HongHong], [Prose] — [2023]
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[Mythology Next Door], [Poetry] — [2022]
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[Malasang／Mapatay], [Prose] — [2020]
Awards and Honors
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[Pulima Art Award], [Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation] — [2023]
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[Finalist of Taishin Arts Award], [Taishin Bank Foundation for Art and Culture] — [2023]
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[Taiwan Literature Golden Award], [Ministry of Culture Taiwan] — [2023]
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[Taiwan Indigenous Literature Award], [Indigenous Peoples Cultural Foundation] — [2022]