Primordial Portal

Inshallah Montero, Datu Arayan Lantong & Otto Hernandez / Ryan Barton / Philippines & United States

A live broadcasting portal into the rituals of a Philippine shaman and the dream worlds that guide him. Rooted in indigenous philosophy in Bukidnon, this portal becomes a communion with spirits, dreams, and reality.

This portal exists to make the invisible visible.
Datu Arayan is the shaman and leader of the Talaandig Manobo tribe in Bukidnon, Philippines. As his land is ravaged by extraction and militarization, the weight of spiritual guidance and cultural survival rests heavily on his shoulders.
He uses rituals to bridge messages from the dream world into our material realm to guide his community. He believes that dreams shape our reality and that their ancestors send them messages in the dream world. This installation becomes a communion between the material world and the spiritual world that Datu Arayan moves through.
The portal will have scheduled live transmissions where rituals from Datu Arayan’s village are broadcast live into the installation. We become witnesses to ceremonies, intimate or attended by elders and the wider community. The audience becomes co-present with their political reality, lending their energy to a collective prayer.
When not broadcasting live, the dreams of Datu Arayan are projected into the space, glimpses into his subconscious journey through the spirit realm. These dreams are gathered through months of journaling with Datu Arayan and realized through AI technology combined with live-action filming.
This installation binds us to a reality where spirit and matter are equally present. And at a time when Datu Arayan’s land and people face attempts of erasure, the portal is also an act of resistance, proof that what cannot be seen cannot so easily be destroyed.

Inshallah Montero

Director & Co-Creator

Biography

Inshallah Montero is a Filipino filmmaker working across fiction and documentary. Her films explore dreams, the subconscious, and humanity’s relationship with life and nature. A recipient of the Philippine National Award for Cinema and a Film Ambassador, her work has screened internationally, including at the United Nations and Singapore Art Museum. She is an Onassis AiR 2024/25 resident.

Datu Arayan Lantong

Collaborator & Co-Creator

Biography

Datu Arayan is the Shaman and Chieftain of the Talaandig Manobo tribe in Bukidnon, Philippines. He founded Kulahi Pangantucan Performing Arts, advocating for indigenous spirituality. He co-directed Baradiya, on an indigenous trans woman's journey to become a Babaylan, and was featured in Gab Mejia's The Forest Listens, Their Spirits Cry, winner at the 7th Objectifs Documentary Awards.

Otto Hernandez

Technical Director

Biography

Otto Hernandez is a Filipino creative and technical director whose work spans broadcasting, live performance, immersive environments, and cultural experiences. With over 15 years of experience, he has led major productions, esports broadcasts, festivals, and public events reaching millions of viewers. His practice combines technical innovation and artistic design to create meaningful experiences.

Ryan Barton

Producer

Biography

Ryan Barton is a media artist, creative producer, and founder of Minor Act, a transformative media NGO that empowers youth and endangered artists through participatory storytelling. His work focuses on human rights, cultural regeneration, and social justice, leading impactful initiatives with the United Nations and other international organizations across Asia.