Events

Eng Kai Er: Compressible sentiments

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Date & Time

Sat 20 Oct 2018, 3:00pm - 3:40pm
Wed 31 Oct 2018, 1:00pm - 1:40pm 
Wed 7 Nov 2018, 3:00pm - 3:40pm
Sat 17 Nov 2018, 3:00pm - 3:40pm
Thu 17 Jan 2019, 7:00pm - 7:40pm

Location

Gallery 1
Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore
LASALLE, 1 McNally Street

Admission

Free

Type

Performance

Hollywood blockbuster Jurassic World – the fourth film in the Jurassic Park franchise-was released in 2015. Hundreds of people bought the costume modelled on the film's notorious T-Rex character. This inflatable outfit, to quote Rubie's Costume Company President Marc Beige, 'adds instant prehistoric comedy to anyone who wears it'. Wearers can only waddle, swaying the creature's huge head from side to side.

The T-Rex costume inspired wearers to record themselves doing hilarious stunts and to post the videos online. Films of these stunts-gymnastic somersaults, ice skating, scaling assault courses-went viral, attracting millions of views. More sinister versions 'attacked' the costume as if it were human. In one video, a nearby accomplice 'beheads' the T-Rex, slamming the boot of a car onto its head.

In Compressible sentiments, artist Eng Kai Er merges the physical characteristics of the T-Rex costume with its online identity. Imagining the costume as a mammal with human feelings, she takes us through its experiences-as dinosaur, meme, and as a target of abuse, 'mistreated' by its wearers.

In the late 2000s, Eng Kai Er (born Singapore 1984) set aside a scientific career to pursue her passion for contemporary dance. Her provocative performances blur the roles of choreographer, performer and audience member. She often appears as a semi-fictional character, 'interrupting' events. Eng has performed in DIY spaces, MRT train carriages, on the streets, in art galleries and in theatres around the world. In 2017, she founded Make It Share It, an innovative community-run 'meeting, working and playing space' for artists.

Compressible sentiments is part of the group exhibition Dissolving margins, on view in Gallery 1 from 20 October 2018 to 22 January 2019.

Cover image: Eng Kai Er, rehearsal of Compressible sentiments, 2018. Photography: Sufian Samsiyar