Work(s)
岁月 suìyuè -Time ~2020
Various viewpoints “岁月 suìyuè – Time”
Cyanotype Prints on waxed paper. 16cm x 450cm (x12scrolls)
Project Title/Synopsis
岁月 suìyuè – Time
“岁月 suìyuè – Time”, is an autobiographical work on amnesia that unfolds vestiges of everyday rituals. The word 'everyday' is a multifaceted structure that informs time, rituals and regimes. I chose these two tasks as daily cleansing of my face and consumption of my daily medication are a part of my identity. The gesture of daily cleansing with cotton pads is a form of erasure. And the consumption of my medicine is a structure to everyday rituals.
I photographed the cotton pads I used on my face and the opened aluminium foil packaging of my medicine for 360 days. These images were printed onto transparencies which were then used to create cyanotypes. The cyanotypes were printed onto waxed papers with natural light.
Accumulating the traces of one-year's rituals into images and hope in the process; memory is recreated.
A close up of 岁月 suìyuè – Time
Video installation looped, showcase on a glass surface.
Project Title/Synopsis
The Calendar (2019)
The daily expungement of the filth taken from the face (absence) takes a new form on the cotton pad (presence), adducing that the essence of absence is equivalent to the essence of presence. The action of cleansing is equivalent to the act of erasure as it forms another semblance; another trace on the cotton pad. This artwork was showcased on a glass surface to further enhance the whole discourse of absence | presence. To add on, daily stamps mark the date to create a sense of rhythm; delving into 365 days of facial mark making by removing of the filth on the face.
Video installation looped, showcase on a glass surface.
Video installation looped, showcase on a glass surface.
Cyanotype Prints on waxed paper. 10cm by 10cm - a portion of "Little Fragments #2"
Project Title/Synopsis
who?
“The sun is not only a painter but a sculptor.” Florence Nightingale
Borrowing Nightingale’s environmental theory, one of her models is natural light. The effect of natural light emits serotonin in the body that impacts the circadian rhythms. Additionally, it is a stress-reducing element that helps in reducing anxiety and improving mood.
With that in mind, I was working on image-making through cyanotype printing.
The establishment of the essence of absence is evident to the essence of presence, as absence is also associated with the notion of negative and presence is associated with the positive. By addressing the absence/presence discourse, photography became the crucial key to capture the moment and subsequently for image making through cyanotype. The effects were remarkable. Comparatively, the usage of light in both photomontage and cyanotype printings were apparent, however, the different light sources marked a significant difference. The cyanotype prints were the signifier to the works of natural light.
Moreover, baking under the sun with the scanned films produce a rich blueness of cyanotype that blurred the boundaries between reality and fiction. As we all know, we can fabricate memories when our minds gradually deteriorate and/or forget certain events; i.e. the accuracy of our minds deteriorates. Hence, the bluish tinge edged in our minds emulates how our minds remember an object, a person, a name, or even to refuse to register that event.
Reversed cyanotype prints had eradicated the word emptiness, as there is no emptiness in the void and also no void in the emptiness. Although chasing after the sun was physically strenuous, by baking the prints under the sun with the scanned films; cyanotype is one of many methods to portray my perspective on collective memory. The intentional negative prints addresses Strauss's Theory as the typical classifications of light and darkness are being reversed. Moreover, the blueness of cyanotype blurred the boundaries between reality and fiction. As we all know, we can fabricate memories when our minds gradually deteriorate and or forget this certain events. The accuracy of our minds deteriorates. Henceforth, the bluish tinge edged in our minds, it emulates how our minds remember an object, a person, a name, or refuse to register that event.
Cyanotype Prints on waxed paper. 10cm by 10cm - a portion of "Little Fragments #2, #3, #4"
The Bruise ~2019 / Engram ~2019
The Bruise (2019)
Project Title/Synopsis
The Bruise
In the midst of multiple brain injuries, my mind fell into two episodes of amnesias. Thus, I yearn to address the void as the brain's encoding was missing which led to the fear of absence. Words like emptiness, space, hollowness, bareness, void, vacant and nothingness follows echoes after “absence”. The feeling brings a lot of discomfort and uneasiness and at the same time it seems absolutely elusive to address the void.
I began exploring into Karl Lashey's Engram; a hypothetical permanent change in the brain accounting for the existence of memory; a memory trace.
Therefore, my first stride was trace. It was rather literal but crucial for the outcome of the evaporated mediums that I chose. Gradually, I created a series of plates via the clear acrylic sheets, then render cyanotype and photomontage printing thereafter.
With continuous repetition of cyanotype and photomontage printing, I realised that I was caught in the loop and I conclude and called this project The Bruise.
Engram (2019)
Project Title/Synopsis
Engram
The focal point in this project was memory, or perhaps the absence of memory.
"Engram" were the initial phase of experimenting.
I finger painted with ink, iodine and gentian violet to create brain impressions on acrylic sheets with the reference of my own Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. I love the traces left behind by the gentian violet, iodine and ink, as it appears corroded through evaporation. Irregardless, evaporation still leaves a mark. Additionally, the plates or brain impressions suggest a subtle violence inflicted on the individuals as each plate was a slice.
Ultimately, I shaped into a face unveiling a self portraiture of myself.
from another PERSPECTIVE ~2019
from another PERSPECTIVE
Virtual Reality (VR) showcase on Video | HTC Vive Headset | Google Tiltbrush
(To experience or view the entire video, put on VR goggles manoeuvre or the mouse's cursor.)
Project Title/Synopsis
from another PERSPECTIVE
This project was dedicated to Schizophrenia as this topic has been linked to an increase in the likelihood of substance abuse and suicide rates.
In a fast-paced society, patience and understanding runs a little thin. Thus, misconceptions have led to numerous wild assumptions, resulting in the rise of communities to ostracise and stigmatise individual with unsound minds. This causes individuals to go silent with their condition(s). Hence, mental dysfunction such as Schizophrenia likely contributes to substance abuse and suicide rates in Singapore.
Schizophrenia is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes visual and auditory hallucinations. It is a well-documented condition, yet; it is still perceived as a taboo in many societies.
I had the privilege to step into Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2011 as a year two nursing student. Amongst many patients was Patient Z; a patient diagnosed with Schizophrenia, it was indeed a bizarre experience as I did not expect to meet young adolescents like myself. We share the same age that triggers me to embark on this project. I can see the fear and confusion in his/her eyes. He/She kept on kneeling and mumbled "guan yin, guan yin" (God of Mercy) He/She became quite dazed after his/her Electroconvulsive Therapy. (Student nurses were not permitted to enter the premises where the Electroconvulsive Therapy were carried out.) As every patient information is kept confidential, we left without answers pertaining to patients' outcome.
Further independent research on Schizophrenia was carried out, perhaps my research was not as in-depth but the research hypothesise that each individuals have unique hallucinations that were non-identical to each other. The hallucinations were dependant on how the individuals were being brought up and what the individuals encounter. that contributed to their hallucinations. There is no root cause for Schizophrenia. However, there are many causative factors that include, genetics structure, brain and chemical changes, pregnancy complications, childhood traumas, and substance abuse.
Hence, anyone can be a victim to Schizophrenia at anytime. There are many patients struggling with the same diagnosis but the society shove it under the rug. Perhaps, with more dialogues and conversations pertaining to mental issues, we can gradually change the viewpoints of the society to ease up and accept the condition more openly.
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(My initial proposal was to interview the affected individuals and to create a Virtual Reality with a 360 degree camera. I want to mimic reality as close as possible with a tinge of "hallucinations" inside the video. However, due to time and resources constrains I sought to secondary reliable sources and Google Tiltbrush to paint another "reality" instead.)
Rose-ication ~2018
Assemblage
Materials: Medication Shells, Nail Varnish, Nude Stockings
Dimensions Variable
Project Title/Synopsis
Rose-ication
"And he repents in thorns that sleeps in beds of roses." Francis Quarles
This project was one of my initial experimentations using found objects to juxtapose the work on polypharmacy. The usage of personal articles such as, used medication aluminium foils, torn nude stockings and nail varnish reflect on my vestiges.
It first unveils the relationship between an individual and long term medication, it was also imperative as this project began to investigate and snowball into the concept of memory. Thorns and roses are cliches indeed; however, they were the cornerstones in succeeding projects.
The used medication aluminium foils were cold and metallic in nature and were explicitly shaped into roses as the materials insinuate the thorns. The nude stockings entwined in the shaped roses indicate individuals entangled in polypharmacy. Lastly, nail varnish is a makeup of inorganic substances similarly to medication, as it questions the viability of synthetic materials.
This project also extends the question to the quality of life; will we live better with or without medication. Whichever option is chosen, we ought to live with the consequences.
Perhaps, this minute project was a little too literal; nevertheless, practising symbolism in assemblage making was crucial to later projects.
Impressions: Whiff of Blight ~2018
Mediums: Nail Varnish on on paper
Designed a Logo for:
The Nursing Odyssey - Celebrating 130 Years ~2015
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Illustration for:
“Ethnic Consideration in Facial Plastic Surgery” ~ 2014
CONTACT
Please do not hesitate to contact me for future possible collaborations, or for any media inquiries. Email : odeliayenyunni@gmail.com