Artist Statement

“You can’t wake up, this is not a dream” is a dual screen performance art installation in the form of video and sound. As an art student, the protagonist struggles with waking up and going about her morning routine but wakes up from her dream only to realize that the morning battle routine from her ringing alarm clock, all the way to painting, and then resigning to her exhaustion was in fact just a dream. Constantly dreading to wake up daily, her mindset in reality is vividly portrayed subconsciously as her dream in this vicious cycle.

This work employs the appropriation of the White Rabbit from “Alice in the Wonderland” who is depicted to be overly worried about being late and is seen hopping between dream and reality. Similarly, the morning struggle of the protagonist is expressed through the intertwining of her dream and reality.

The projected installation of jumping scenes allows audiences to follow the protagonist from one room to another. This sequel on the dual screens mimics a live performance in a room. The realism allows viewers to encounter cinema at a different level. Drawing reference from a comedy-drama film, Conversation with Other Woman, where the film takes in dual split screen and creates a narrative with a similar visual effect.

Contemporary dance is featured here where the protagonist uses her body movements to express and convey the language, emotions and story. This is accompanied with the usage of different visual metaphors, as well as varying tones and volumes of sound.

Final Video Used for Installation