Surrogate (2010 - present)

Surrogate

- one that takes the place of another; functions as substitute

Surrogate is a series of performance pieces that explores the relationship between art and its subjects, spearheaded with a focus on spontaneity in the interaction between performer(s), space and time. The artist and audience will be referred to as surrogates and are integrated into the performance via different mediums in each performance. The mediums range from objects, fixtures and furniture to dialogue and immaterial connections. The ephemeral ‘surrogacy’ borne is processed and translated into the title, writings and images by the artist.

Surrogate N°8: shemaleyum
12 Apr 2012
Rowell Road, Singapore

On 18th February, I stripped naked in the Sergels torg, central public square in Stockholm, Sweden. The temperature was approximately minus 5 degrees Celsius. The performance lasted for 11 minutes.

On 12th April, you can enjoy ice pops along Rowell Road* in tropical Singapore; S$30 for local flavour and S$50 for non-local.

*Rowell Road is a known area in Singapore where transsexual sex workers can be found. They are usually kept away from the public eye behind the gates of shophouses operating as brothels, closely guarded by pimps who stands at the doorway or on the streets. A sexual encounter with a local transsexual sex worker would cost S$30 and S$50 with a non-local, from the region, usually from Malaysia, Thailand or the Philippines. Many of them are involved in the sex trade because of the difficulties in employment and put themselves on the perils of sexually-transmitted diseases every night. There are social workers who work with this marginalised community in terms of counselling, support and STD-testing, prevention and management.

Surrogate N°7: ( )
Supermarket 2012 – Stockholm Independent Art Fair
18 Feb 2012
Sergels torg, Stockholm, Sweden

Documentation by Valentine Brutaru

On 18th February, I stripped naked in the Sergels torg, central public square in Stockholm, Sweden. The temperature was approximately minus 5 degrees Celsius. The performance lasted for 11 minutes.

( ) was performed in front of Gert Marcus's steel sculpture, Di-Eder (1998).

Surrogate N°6: Different ways to perform performance art
S.P.A.M at The Substation
17 Dec 2011
The Substation, Singapore

Documentation by Audi Liew

Using works from Macau International Performance Art Festival (MIPAF)2011, I presented on the different ways of performing performance art observed to Singapore's performance art community at the Self.Performance.Art.Meetings.

Surrogate N°5: Exuvia
MIPAF 2011- Currents: from Singapore, in Macau
26 Nov 2011
Ox Warehouse, Macau

Documentation by Reef

Surrogate N°4: Twenty mattresses & twenty eiderdowns
Future of Imagination 7, collaboration with Ezzam Rahman
18 Nov 2011
Goodman Arts Centre, Singapore

Documentation by Lydia Wong

The object installation was a metal bunk bed with a hammock suspended between the two decks. In this collaboration with Ezzam Rahman, we shot my elastic hair band at the surrogates and tied them down to the object using their shoelaces.