Eisa Jocson's HAPPYLAND interrogates Disney fantasy through Filipino migrant labor and gendered performance

Eisa Jocson, a Filipino artist, produces performances that tackle themes of body politics, labor migration, and the 'happiness industry.' In her 2017 piece, Princess Studies, two performers dressed as Snow White symbolize both Disney's branding and a slum in Manila, linking Western ideals of princesses to the experiences of Filipino workers in theme parks. Jocson, who has a background in choreography and ballet, is known for works such as Death of the Pole Dancer (2011) and Macho Dancer (2013). Her project HAPPYLAND (2017–) was showcased across various Asian and European venues, including London's Koppel Project Central in the summer of 2019. Additionally, her work Your Highness critiques Disney princess tropes. In 2019, she established The Filipino Superwoman Band in Manila and took part in the Hugo Boss Art Asia Award at Shanghai's Rockbund Art Museum.