Details
CollectionStraits Chinese Collection
Object numberB2011-0003-001-0
TitleWu Zi Xiang Shou
CreatorChris Yap
DescriptionExtracted from “Conversations: Chris Yap and Foo Su Ling Chat About The Conversation”.
FSL: I’d like to end this conversation by going back to the beginning when you related that finding a direct relationship between the personal and the project helps in sustaining your passion. Can you walk us through the process and your approach towards projects?
CY: I am a firm believer in hard work. I start by finding a link to myself, in this case the personal memories invoked by visiting the Baba House and that I could be a Peranakan. It took me a while to research and sort out all the thought processes before putting my ideas on ‘film’. But it was also this ‘a while’ which gave me new things to be curious about.
Many questions were raised in the process that I have tried to present through my works. I found out that the lives are much more interesting than the physical objects that typify the culture and hence the theatre setting to present these stories. I also wanted to leap forward and think about new possibilities for the material heritage. The wooden plaque (referring to the installation Wu Zhi Xiang Shou) is something very traditional but I wanted to bring it forward to a more modern time so I installed neon lights on it; just to further its evolution, I’ll be sprinkling gold leaves or sparklers on the floor of this installation.
(Of Fingerbowls & Hankies: Chris Yap voyeurs through the Baba House, page 11).
Production date 2009 - 2009
Object categoryMiscellaneous
