Speech Bubbles
- Please blow a balloon and write down what is beautiful about your world. one that takes the place of another; functions as substitute
Speech bubbles is a durational installation performance that involves
the audience as participating creators of the art installation. Participants
are encouraged to inflate and write down on balloons what is beautiful about
their world. These ‘speech bubbles’ will be strung into a lexis of hope,
affirmation and love. Through this infusion of personal positive energy, the
performance seeks to give a jolt of ‘positivity’ that this world badly needs.
Speech Bubbles
16-17 Jul 2010
Roving Artists
The Substation, Singapore
Documentation
by Fajrina Razak
Speech Bubbles artist prints, edition of 2
Peace
People who disagree with what I believe in
Small is beautiful
Art
Children of the Universe
Chocolate
<3
Not giving up
The Unified Field
Sexual chakra, my womanhood, my vagina
Speech Bubbles, with World AIDS Day
1st Dec 2010
HIV: Show me the love
Chan Hampe Gallery, Singapore
Performance art documentation, interactive installation
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Background on “Speech Bubbles”
Last performed 16-17 July 2010 as part of Roving
Artists, The Substation for Singapore's Night Festival
“Speech bubbles” was a durational performance that involves the audience as participating creators of the art installation.
Participants are encouraged to inflate and write down on balloons what is
beautiful about their world. These ‘speech bubbles’ will be strung into a lexis
of hope, affirmation and love. Through this infusion of personal positive
energy, the performance seeks to give a jolt of ‘positivity’ that this world
badly needs.
The ‘balloons’ used were condoms sponsored by Action
For Aids (AFA). The audience’s initial response to the peculiar choice varied
from bashful smiles from the ladies, intrigued couples who never thought of the
use of condom as a balloon, male participants trying to blow the condom as big
as possible (in contrast, ladies who took note not to be too proficient at that
as well) and also a common concern: the thought of getting lubricants on their
mouths. It is also interesting to note that the message behind the performance
managed to attract both sexes to participate without any significant difference
in the numbers between male and female participants.
The overall response was very positive and I received
more than 100 speech balloons for the two night durational performance. When
the ‘lexis of hope’ was hung on the second level of The Substation’s façade,
the art installation flew gently in the wind, leaving an organic shadow
imprint, in contrast to the transparent condom balloons. Many were captivated
by the organic beauty of the installation- the negativity usually associated
with condoms as a symbol of sexual activity, usually left without discussion in our
conservative Asian society, promiscuity versus abstinence, as well as the
gender bias of the use of condoms when it should be a means of protection for
both sexual partners- giving and receiving.
Marla Bendini (2010)
**
