The Other Detour
Artists: Kar-men Cheng & Zai Tang
Admission via registration only: Registration Link (Unit no. and mobile no. will be sent out upon registration)
About
In this multimedia installation visitors are taken on a journey through the fantasies that fuel Othering. A psychoanalyst invites the forest to recount things it has witnessed, taking the points of view of different subjects, and speaking in their distinct voices. The cognitive experience of Othering often combines fear and fascination with the transgressions that the Other is imagined to perform. We paint several Othering fantasies that have powered and justified brutal, blind, incommensurate violence in the world. Dialogue is primarily communicated through wildlife sounds. The warbles, whines, growls and creaks provide a sonic mirror of the living feelings we are capable of creating, disregarding, and exploiting.
While the animals are metaphor– providing a canvas for human Othering –, their stories are informed by historical events and the legacy of colonial trauma.
/The Other Detour
11 – 26 January 2025
Daily 1-7.40pm
/Opening Gathering Registration form
11th Jan, 4:30
/Artists Tour Registration form
11th & 18th Jan, 3.30pm
/Comma Space
76 Guan Chuan Street, Singapore 160076
Will send unit no. and mobile no. upon registration
Presented by @commaartspace
Part of SAW, Supported by National Arts Council
BIOS
Kar-men Cheng
Karmen’s work examines emotions within the fluid constructions of self and outsider, and explores the political contexts that shape them. She is fascinated by the potential of conversation and roleplay to uncover unexpected connections and biases, and create new possibilities. In her process, she enjoys bringing intangible dynamics, such as intimacy and rhythm, into focus, translating them into tangible forms through different mediums and interactions. Recent projects include Singapore Strata Malls: A Retrospective for the Future (2024); Asam di Gunung, Garam di Laut at aNERD Gallery (2024); When Is Enough, Enough? The Performance of Measurement, Singapore Pavilion at the 18th Venice Architecture Biennale (2023); Singapore Mall Generation (2022); and Public Dreams, Private Myths at starch (2021).
Zai Tang
Zai Tang is an artist, composer and sound designer based in Singapore. Drawing influence from acoustic ecology, phenomenology and electronic & experimental music, his practice is built upon a belief that listening is an invaluable means of attuning to and forming deeper relationships with the worlds we inhabit.
In his solo work, he asks the question: What does it mean to listen to nature in a time of ecological crisis? In response, he experiments with transforming and visualising wildlife field recordings from habitats under threat. The resulting material is used to create immersive experiences that imagines new ways to relate to more-than-human perspectives.
Zai works across the fields of visual art, film and the performing arts. Recent presentations include Mali Bucha: Dance Offering at Freespace Dance 2024 with Kornkarn Rungsawang; Wild Soma at Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale (2024); No. 60 at Hong Kong Arts Festival (2024) with Pichet Klunchun Dance Company; Sonic Medi(t)ations at National Gallery Singapore (2023); Escape Velocity V (Solo Version) at Seoul Mediacity Pre-Biennale (2022); Talking Leaves at 59th Venice Biennale (2022) with Shubigi Rao.