Cumfort Zone . 2010

Cumfort Zone (2010)

Berita Harian 2. The Surreal, Comtemporeal, Cosmoreal

ICA Gallery 2

A chair represent the comforts that a man can get from sitting on it. This product manufactured and designed by man, by itself possess qualities that is further enhanced in accordance to the person’s taste, preference and liking. A man brings a chair back home to provide comfort whenever he needs it. The product is brought into his personal space, the sanctity of his home. He pays for the quality, workmanship and level of comfort. The price for comfort is often not cheap.

 

This a commodity of man.

 

Pornography is a means of comfort that man can get simply by watching. This business is a product manufactured and designed by man, possessing qualities that further enhances in accordance to the person’s taste, preference or liking. This product is produced by man, for man. He brings pornography back home to provide comfort whenever he needs it. The product is often brought into his personal space, the sanctity of his home. He pays for the quality, and level of comfort that the pornography can provide. The price of cumfort is often cheap.

 

This a commodity of man.

Lollipop B’Lust . 2009

Lollipop B’Lust (2009)

ditchmyroutine (deb, man, ryf) - collaborative effort.

Singapore Art Museum, SAM, Art in the sand.

ZOUK OUT 2009, Sentosa.

The siren, often a figure for the ultimate male fantasy, possesses the power in the art of seduction. In her, the male finds himself lost in sweet reveries, captivated by the boldness she carries.

Lollipop B’Lust  looks at the sirens’ call of today. Composed with elements from Greek mythology, the hybrid creature is back with a B’lust! releasing men of their repression, yet at the same time enslaving them to their weaknesses. A sweet lolly won’t harm you. Go on, have a lick...

Creation : The book of Kolff . 2009

Creation : The book of Kolff (2009)

1^st Small Sculpture Exhibition

Sculpture Square

The Sculptural work involves a black book that has a small figure at the cover. The figure is suspended via wires that seemingly is attached to the book. The driving force seems to be a tiny pulsating light that emanates from the figure’s chest. It seems that the pulsating red beacon resonates very closely to the human heart.

 

The source of life seems to be from the book. Its labeled Creation, the book Kolff. Kolff was the pioneering force behind the artificial organ transplant. Being an inventor and scientist, his creation extended and saved the lives of many. It questions the advanement of technology as we know today.

 

Technology has evolved to a stage where it uses robotics and electronics to sustain human life. The anatomy does not understand formulas but these machines compute and converse using these formulas. We overlap our organs with these technologically advanced devices with the hope that they will enhance our life.  The artificial heart will definitely function as accurate as its original anatomy but will it ever beat faster when we feel guilty, anxious or in love? Will an artificial heart feel any emotions?

We are discussing some serious matters . 2009

We are discussing some serious matters (2009)

ditchmyroutine (deb, man, ryf). collaborative effort.

Plotline Series.Institute of Contemporary Arts.

21 Apr 2009 LASALLE college of the arts, new campus..

This work examines a statement on Jung’s social theory pertaining to collective unconscious. The theory reflects the unwitting imitation of social norms. It argues that norms exist because we cling to beliefs that are imparted to us from previous generations, which will conventionally be transmitted as well to our posterity, as these norms help us operate in the society. With one hundred colorful monkeys hanging from the beams, the work was modeled on the Barrel of Monkeys game, requiring a balancing act of cooperation and individual ability to win. Yet, clinging to each other for support and, not to falter, questions if the paradigm shift in the collective unconscious is truly possible. 

Displaced . 2009

Displaced (2009)

Theme: Welcome to the New World

14 Jan 2009 SMU Arts Festival.

A set of 7 television displays that illustrates the various properties of MEDIA. Illusion, repetition, emphasize, ambiguity, power, distraction and implication.

 

The user will sit on a couch infront of the television set. By sitting on the couch, the user will activate all the television sets. Sound will be played from the internals of the couch with sounds from the television sets. The sound will increase when the user sits long enough, making him/her uncomfortable. A camera is built into the television set to capture the user’s response as soon as he/she sits and will be broadcasted via live feed elsewhere.

 

This work is to suggest that we are comfortable with the information that we are gathering from these media devices, that we do not challenge them, rather simply by absorbing, and accepting them. 

SPIN . 2008

SPIN (2008)

Theme: The control of art by social construct

23Feb 2008 Memory Studios Gallery

Using ordinary, identifiable object, this work resembles a windup musical box. But the theme is more political than whimsical. The idea of how ideologies are being broadcast to an almost melodious tone that we will eventually come to accept them subconsciously. 

Skype Bomb . 2007

Skype Bomb (2007)

Theme: The Negativity of Technology

VISUAL RAGE Exhibition (DEG.hons)

Institute Of the Contemporary Arts Singapore 

Technology creates bombs, to protect or to destroy?

This artwork revolves with the idea of subliminal destruction. We have technologies that enable terrorists to activate and inflict their destruction, via internet and wireless and anonymously.

 

This artwork resembles the tubes of a biohazard chemical byproduct. And it can only be activated VIA internet access, SKYPE technology. When someone calls this device via SKYPE, the artwork will respond by emitting bubbles instead of destruction. The SKYPE caller would also be able to spy on its victim via a web cam connected, and thus will have full control of the amount of bubbles emitted while remaining anonymously. The bubbles responds to the caller’s voice. Louder pitch, increases the amount of bubbles.

 

The idea that anyone in the world can connect and activate this device, through such a readily available program (SKYPE), which can be freely downloaded.

Briefcase . 2007

Briefcase (2007)

Theme: The Negativity of Technology

VISUAL RAGE Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore.

The briefcase represents the terrorist’s tools in recreating an attack. Media has provided us with the essential necessity: movies, images, information which one needs to setup a terrorist attack.

 

The briefcase responds to the visual, a movie based on the United 93 crash. While the visuals are chaotic, when the user opens the briefcase, he/she will change the mood of the visual by subverting its sound. Imagine a subtle, jazz  soundtrack playing for this movie. A direct attack on movies how its being used to manipulate its viewers by its visuals/ sound.

Is it worth it ? . 2007

Is it worth it ? (2007)

Theme: The Negativity of Technology

VISUAL RAGE Institute Of the Contemporary Arts Singapore

Using recycle products, the outcome challenges the notion of fun. Little miniature army men soldiers are transformed into Suicide martyrs. These soldiers are kept in a toy dispenser machine.

 

While the news is being reported, visuals of these suicide army men, the user will be encouraged to participate in this by trying to grab these toy soldiers from its dispenser. As soon as the user inserted his/her coin in to the dispenser, the image of the news broadcast will be changed to the user’s face via web cam. The user now becomes the central icon instead of the army men.

 

This artwork investigate the notion of at what price are we paying for the lives of each and every suicide soldiers that we take, every time we play the game. And because of our participation in playing the game, it makes US the central figure in the news rather than these suicide martyrs. 

Suicide vest . 2006

Suicide vest (2006)

Theme: The Negativity of Technology

VISUAL RAGE Institute Of the Contemporary Arts Singapore

A suicide vest that looks like the actual thing, but functions a different outcome.

 

The vest suggest a terrifying scene, and could erupt into a devastating end. This artwork illustrate how devices could be activated remotely via wireless control. The vest is equipped with dynamites look-alikes and wires. Attached to these devices are a single ordinary, everyday device, the mobile phone. By calling the mobile phone, user will then activate the vest. But there will not be any destruction, instead the dynamites will spin in a whimsical manner providing a visual spectacle. The outcome is a subversion of the destructive force. In the background also will be playing a song that is both religious yet strangely uncanny, “he’s got the whole world in his hand”.

 

This is to evidently prove that calls could be made from anywhere around the world. Ambiguous and destructive, all thanks to the advancement of technology.

Censorship . 2006

Censorship (2006)

Theme : Media sieving through the contents

Singapore Art Show National Arts Council (NAC) SG.

An interactive installation. Placed within a historical film landmark in Singapore, the Capitol theatre is one of the first cinemas to be opened in Singapore.

 

The Billboards are interactive and showcases various film clips of the 60’s. While the billboard is flipping through these images, a word is superimposed on the images to suggest that the film has been cut, chopped, censored by media authorities and in doing so, is limiting or cutting the contents of the film. This enables the censorship boards to portray what they intend the audience to see.

Sound toy . 2005

Sound toy (2005)

Theme: Creating a toy with sound theme.

By amplifying the ambiance sound and observing the surrounding sound, only then would we appreciate it. This device amplifies the surrounding sound.

 

When we sit in the train station or on the bus, we see many people keeping themselves entertained with their MP3, radios and music. But this technological lifestyle is taking away our social construct, by making us complacent and unappreciative of our surrounding.

What we fail to realize is that our surroundings itself compose a musical orchestra. We need to isolate ourselves from the technological distractions, and observe carefully the beautiful sounds around us.

 

Listen. 

Nature Bots . 2005

Nature Bots (2005)

Theme: Creating artificial life that responds to natural life, nature.

2 of a series of 7 naturebots that are created to be placed within nature to respond to its environment. The works are made from found objects, and they use sound and wind to activate them.

 

The ladybug will interact with the sound birds make and flicker the lights on their back. This is to cause a certain intrigue and curiosity with animals and insects.

The sunflower is placed within a thicket. Sound and wind are used to activate the spinning effect of the flower. To observe if insects would react to this artificial life.

 

By using found objects, these works are recycled and placed in a very natural habitat. Although they may appear very obtrusive, they respond well to nature, just like its natural counterparts, the insects and animals.

The idea is to plant something unnatural and see how it interacts with the surroundings, using its random activations and responses natural elements, the wind and the sound.

* Sunnysunflower was featured in an exhibition in Vietnam.

DNA GENOME Domes . 2006

DNA GENOME Domes (2006)

Theme: Understanding how DNA works.

Singapore Science Centre. 

The Domes are representational of DNAs in our body. Lights flicker and sound will be emitted, activated by passersby.

 

The domes are placed at random places. Motion sensors are positioned around the area to detect movements of passerby. DNA is the biological make-up of a human being, and its important that its these feature that will activate the work. A motion sensor will trigger one or several domes at different places. Just like DNA, we have no control over the selection of the genes.

 

To illustrate that the motion activates the dome, the domes will flicker with lights to show that its active and the same time generate sounds that are very robotic. This is to simulate the idea of a robotic DNA.

iFUTURE robots . 2006

iFUTURE robots. (2006)

Theme: Using LEGO MINDSTORM to create an artificial intelligence. Artist Robot / Philosopher Robot

Singapore Science Centre. 

2 robots with different functions, created from the same processing brain, LEGO MINDSTORM.

 

The philosopher robot is made up of familiar kitchen utensils. The jaw of the robot moves up and down to mimic speech as it verbalize its philosophical ideologies. The eyes are small speakers that emit the robotic sound. While the head is made up of tiny LEDs that light up to represent brain activity. When users are detected, via motion sensors, the Philosopher robot will then speak random phrases and quotes.

 

The Artist robot is created to demonstrate the ability of random movements that can create artworks. When the robot detects a clap, it will point its marker to the floor to produce lines on the floor. When it detects another clap, it will raise its arm and lifts the marker pen off the floor, producing an anomaly of designs. This is to show also that although they are not creative, but the random lines that are produced are quite artistic and unique.

NeuroNetwork . 2006

NeuroNetwork.(2006)

Theme: An electrical neuronetwork

Lasalle College of the Arts. Open house

A central Neuro-network comprising of wires and hardware.

 

This work interacts with the space, playing back information and sound it gathers. Users are encouraged to leave messages and record along these wires, and when the person leaves, the next person would hear the message left by the previous user. The sounds and messages would play randomly throughout.

 

The work examines the idea of information overload, and it also illustrates how our brain functions, gathering all these information and sectioning and compartmentalizing one after the other, in order to make sense of it all.

English Finest . 2006

English Finest. Collaboration with Fredrick Sarkozy (2006)

Theme: Not everything, quite as it seems

Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore. Singapore Biennale 2006

When a Child’s toy is not innocent anymore.

 

This work identifies the common child’s toy and transforms it into a weapon. The work does not educate children about the usage of common alphabets, but rather introduces danger and harm into these alphabets. For instances, B is for BOMB instead of Ball. This makes the children expose to these negative information at a young age.

 

Each alphabet illustrates its negative counterparts. Not only with the pronunciation of the word / alphabet, but also for example, the sounds that a bomb, terrorist, or missiles make.