(in depth into) RESTING GROUND

Resting Ground

A week has passed since my presentation of 'Resting Ground' on the 5th floor at School of the Arts, Singapore. It's been an eye-opening experience as this is a new challenge and experience for me to curate from the beginning to the performance at the end. Through this, I will reflect upon this process through a Q&A.

Who and what were your inspirations in the beginning of this project?

I delved into dance choreographers such as Stephen Koplowitz, Anna Halprin and practically any book I could read related to site specific dance. Towards the later half in the process where I started discovering about audience engagement and participation, I referred back to my previous dissertation, during my final year at Rambert where I researched about techniques or rules for a successful audience engagement through the research of Punchdrunk and Vera Tussing Projects. So all of these inspirations came together, piece by piece to slowly curate 'Resting Ground'.

Why the title 'Resting Ground'? There seems to be a sense of solitude and almost, mourning if I might say.

The title was mostly inspired by the Angsana Tree that once sheltered the steps of SOTA. For me, it was a memorable element of SOTA that was both accessible to the public and students. The public would sit on the steps, engage in conversation, take naps, do their own things whilst finding respite underneath the tree. When the tree was finally chopped down in January, it felt like an integral part was uprooted due to 'time'. Time in the case of decay, rain, wind etc. The SOTA building is a structure where the people who comes and goes are fluid and will change overtime, but the structure remains the same - 11 storeys, same staircases, same concrete tiles, same rooftop garden etc. Finding respite was also a nostalgic feeling that I resonated with deeply during my time in SOTA, and hence 'Resting Ground'. So the piece is not exactly about the Angsana Tree nor the structure of SOTA, but it's about re-tracing my footsteps during my time as a student in SOTA, whilst loosely inspired by the inspirations mentioned previously.

What did your creation process consist of?

It consisted of extensive research, experimentation in the studios as well as feedback from the students and staff. Sometimes I would get into the studio and play around with ideas that were floating in my head about the project. Sometimes, it is also a brain fart. As I am an audio-visual person, I work best with a set piece of audio that fits nicely into the project I am working on. In this case, I found the audio 'Embryo' by composer Vincenzo Lamagna the best fit for 'Resting Ground'. It had that minimal, atmospheric tone I was looking for, which also allowed the audience to listen and focus on what they were watching. It stimulated different imageries which was a part of my intention. I also discussed different ways of approaching the site with the students, drawing upon their memories of their SOTA times since they are currently living in it.

What were some of your challenges that you've faced during the course of the creation?

Some of the challenges that I've faced surfaced right at the beginning before I even embarked on the project, mostly revolving around the medium and theme of my project. Questions and worries such as "what am I going to show?", "what is the mode of presentation?" etc. clouded my brain. In the end, I accepted this invitation as a way of challenging myself in presenting something that I have not done before. Additionally, this was the first time that I was managing by myself so therefore I felt the pressure of delivering up to expectations. The biggest challenge I faced was the mode & method in engaging the audience without forcing. Initially, I thought of having an audio where the audience, in this case, the students, could download and listen to on their phones and play along with it. Like an instructional manual, you do as you're told should you wish to participate in it. However, the night before the performance, an idea struck me like a lightbulb and I decided to print out slips of papers with movement instructions such as "stand up", "walk to another square", "stand on a tile" etc. That way, the students were able to take a slip of paper, read out the instruction, and put it back. The idea worked like a charm, and some students even actually tried it on themselves and joined in the fun which to me, was a huge achievement even if it meant deviating slightly from the original plan.

What was your biggest takeaway from 'Resting Ground'?

The biggest takeaway I have taken from this experience of creating 'Resting Ground' is that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ideas. Over complication isn't necessary at times, and something as simple as a jar/box of instructions could work out beautifully. There is a tendency to do too much and present something complicated and over-the-top, but if you are able to strip down the ideas to the core and present it in a way that is genuine to the idea yet effective to its intention, then the audience will more likely resonate better, and connect more deeply with your performance.

Photo credits to Charlie Chua and Sung Yushin