An exploration of the dichotomy between solitude and interdependence, tracing the journey from a desire for isolation to a recognition of the profound need for human connection. Through observation of tides, the artist uses the natural phenomenon to symbolize the ebb and flow of relationships, highlighting the interconnectedness of individuals within the larger fabric of society. As the tides shift, so too do our perceptions of independence and reliance, ultimately revealing the intrinsic bond that binds people together.
In Loving Memory is a poignant exploration of how we send off the dead in today’s contemporary landscape.
Living in a land-scarce Singapore, there is a growing tension between the living and the dead. The project survey locations in Singapore which names are associated with burial grounds to unveil lost narratives and utilitarian practices of handling the dead in a land-scarce country. Contemplating the losses in religious and cultural practices as a compromise, these abstractions are manifested with the employment of alternative photographic processes; the adapted techniques seek to demonstrate the various interruption of burial sites through the photographic medium to reveal the disfigured landmarks. By exploring contemporary ideas and imagery with historic and manipulated traditional processes, the body of work addresses the ideas of time, memory, and space.
As sentimentality is framed as an indulgence and we gradually become desensitised, In Loving Memory questions if grief should be treated with convenience.
‘Beneath The Heartstrings’ derived from the fact that deep within every mankind there’s an innate ability to be sensitive. However, only about 15-20% of the human population are highly sensitive. They are born with Highly Sensitive Personality (HSP), a personality tied to high sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) trait. Due to this unique trait, they often undergo different experiences as compared to others who are in the same scenario and hence, get misunderstood very easily. Thus, ‘Beneath The Heartstrings’ is a project that sheds light on the trait in hopes that people will be more understanding of HSPs (highly sensitive people) by letting them experience what HSPs experience. Done through illustrations to dive deep into HSPs inner world, experimental motion work to showcase a part of what we experience internally in abstract form, and a toolkit filled with cards to educate and help individuals understand HSP better.
Hell’s Bride is an experimental stop-motion animation that hopes to hand to you an abstract history behind the little-known Chinese custom called Ghost Wedding or 冥婚 [mínghūn]. With the marriage of paper props, sinister puppets and a beautiful bride, the stage for an uncanny wedding is set.
The overarching question that guided the creation of Hell’s Bride was, “How do I explain my understanding of Chinese ghost weddings to somebody who has no clue about Chinese culture?” At the heart of it all, my project reflects my abstract understanding and relationship with Chinese culture. As a Chinese who lives in a predominantly Chinese society that has been heavily influenced by Western culture and language, it is a first step towards rediscovering traditional Chinese customs and even parts of the language that has been lost to me and others who live in Singapore.
This project is an experimental film using a combination of 3D software and physical models.Paper was the medium used to translate the 3D computer models into physical models. It also explores the relationship between a tree and a girl. At the same time, understanding that in order to create something, sacrifices have to be made, thus with the felling of the tree in the film, and the tree trunks turned to paper, a cycle is created. Also, paper itself can be a finicky medium to work with and therefore, being able to create with it becomes meaningful in itself as it’s no longer just a piece of paper, rather, it becomes a work of art.
