Networked Bodies features piece inspired by lockdown
Written by: Tanya Shroff
Ms Sarah Choo Jing, the creator of an art piece “Zoom, Click, Waltz”, was featured during the 9th Annual Singapore Art Week as a part of the “Networked Bodies” exhibition located in Gillman Barracks.
Zoom, Click, Waltz records Choo’s neighbours from across the street in various states of “performance” while being isolated within different window frames.
(Photo by: Nabila Malek)
Produced and inspired by Singapore’s Circuit Breaker, this piece explores human connections and what happens in the absence of these bonds. Especially in a time like Covid-19 where physical intimacy with others is stripped away and many are left longing for intimacy, this art piece proves apt and timely.
Delving deeper into the motivation behind the piece done in the midst of a nationwide pandemic, Miss Sarah Choo Jing, 31, multidisciplinary fine artist, shared her thoughts.
“I have always been fascinated with the relationships between people, and the potential narratives that occur in the every day,” said Miss Choo. “I wonder about their background, their experience, and the potential narratives I have yet to discover. I believe we all come from varying backgrounds, we’ve gone through different experiences and hence have different stories to tell. I’m curious about these narratives that are not spoken — the ones hidden beneath layers.”
Miss Choo’s fascination then developed into a project — where over the span of two months, Miss Choo painstakingly distributed hand-written letters to each neighbouring unit, hoping they would respond to her request to participate in her project in-the-making. Neighbours were asked to draw their living room’s curtains as they danced freely to the music of their choice.
If agreeable, participants would be allocated to their respective intervals to dance for half an hour.
Responses garnered varied drastically from some neighbours being passive, to others being active; with some dancing, to others not participating as promised.
With the help of willing neighbours such as couples and singles, this multimedia installation, a success!
The piece “Zoom, Click, Waltz” is now completed, consisting of pre-recorded videos of Choo’s neighbours dancing.
For more information on other works created by Miss Choo, check out her personal website (https://www.sarahchoojing.com/) where it showcases her creations over the years and the deeper meanings encapsulated within each piece.