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In 2008, my sculptural installation "Pulse," was exhibited as part of "Art in a Senseless World" at the SMU Arts Festival. On the last day of the exhibition, I invited local Singaporean artists to join me in a performance, which we called "Pulse Orchestra." Although the performance was the last official event of the Arts Festival, it was also a fun and playful way to bring together other Singaporean artists, as well as a public way for us to express our own hope for a full and vital life here in Singapore.
"Pulse" is a work about pulse or rhythm of life, which essentially comes from the sound of dripping water. The water comes from bowls hanging from the ceiling that drip at various rates through intravenous lines; some fast and some slow; with the drops falling on different objects on a table. Clamping valve mechanisms control the speed of water flow. The sound is amplified through multiple small contact microphones hidden under the objects. The infusion lines become life lines of the circulatory system in the city (the table set up), with its life sustaining water supply. For this purpose, I built a drainage system, which then feeds the plants on the floor and suggests an interconnected eco system.
In "Pulse Orchestra," each artist is stationed at one of the intravenous valves. My only instruction to the participating artists was to relate to one another's performance, like musicians in an orchestra, creating, reacting and adjusting to the sounds being produced by every other artist. Slowly the artists started to open the valves, and the resulting sound built up from that of a gentle rain until it eventually became a thunderous roar. Some of the artists even started to move the intravenous tips so that water fell onto other objects on the table, adding to the mix of sounds. Eventually, the artists started to turn the valves down, and the sounds receded, until the last valve was turned off and the performance ended. What was planned to be a 10 minute performance lasted about 22 minutes. |
