Background
"Confined" is an embodiment of the artist's childhood memories, tripping down memory lane with growing up inside a small low-cost flat with his parents. As the future of our younger generation's living space become smaller, the adaptability of our society in living inside a confined area with some have to give up his/her own privacy has become inevitable. While some if not majority will disagree, a handful of us find these tiny lifestyle convenient. This project will look in depth into the lives of the residents that currently living inside a confined space and whether they enjoy living in their current lifestyle or they have bigger plans in living comfortably.
Concept
The concept of this project is in a form of an art installation with a visuals projected onto the installation via projection mapping. The visuals tells a story about the activities that the residents do in their past time based on the interview conduct with the residents of the low cost flats. The pictures below are the list of concepts that I made before the final concept.
Figure 1 : The First Concept (Overview)
Figure 2 : The First Concept (Photo Concept of the installation without visuals.)
Figure 3 : The First Concept (Photo Concept of the installations with visuals)
Figure 4: The 2nd Concept) (Draft before proceed with the same layout but difference in numbers of the cans.)
Figure 5: The Final Concept. Stylized & Original
Artist Statement
"Confined" is a projection mapping style art installation. It features a number of sardine cans placed onto a wall to resembles an apartment. Each sardine cans represent a "house" and these houses show the lifestyle of the residents of the low cost flats. These was based on the artist interviewing the residents at multiple government flats across the country. This project is not to show the pros and cons about living in a confined space but rather tells you the perspective about the residents of these government flats.
Technical Statement
The Installation consist of seventy sardine cans in total in resemblance of a high rise apartment building and each of the cans representing a "house". These cans are being projected and the visuals consist of the daily life of the residents that lived in these flats. Because this installation only requires few technical application, the only issues that the artist faced are only minor which is to ensure the visuals mapped correctly inside the cans. Other than that, the problems that faced are minor and can easily be dealt with.
Installation
Figure 6 : The Evolution from using only 50 cans to 70 cans as a draft concept that sets the final one for the exhibition.
Story line
Each visuals in these installation have their own stories to tell. Based on my interview with the residents, they shared their living conditions, the lifestyle there and their opinions on living inside a small space. Based on different races, gender, age gap & religion, all of them out of six residents that have been interviewed, they all have their own take and stories to share.
Interview
The interview has been participate by five candidates :
1. Pak Wahid. Sri Perdana Apartment.
2. Bibik Ati. Section 7 Apartment.
3. Encik Khairuddin. Sri Perdana Apartment.
4. Mr. Muniandi. Sri Jelawat Apartment.
5. Ms. Sorani. Sri Jelawat Apartment.
Conclusion
Based on my interviews a few months prior to the exhibition, difference of mentality can be seen by interviewing residents that based on their religion and ethnicity. Some submit themselves to religion, some to their own fate, but one of the common opinions that has been shared by the residents are that life must go on and even though the house that they live in are small, at least they have a place to stay. Some of them even argued that a homeless people will say the same thing despite not having a home, but at least they have a place to sleep. This concludes that wealth is not everything for a person to have their own happiness, but how they accept life as it is.
Thank You
