18 OCT 2020

Tactility Studies:
Pandemic Distances


Presented as part of Objectifs' Curator Open Call exhibition immaterial bodies (2020)


IMAGE DESCRIPTION: On a grey concrete floor, there is a pathway of sorts made out of cardboard egg cartons and trays containing objects like flattened toilet rolls, foam peanuts, and woven mats. On the left, someone is standing, feet neatly together, in a tray of marbles covered with a mat of fluffy grey wool; only their lower body is visible in the frame. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A masked audience member who is wearing flowing fabric including a tudung/head covering has one hand on her heart, and her other hand on the back of a performer’s hand - but they are touching through a clear plastic sheet, rather than in direct contact with each other. Behind the plastic sheet, the performer is unmasked, and their other hand is on their heart as well, mirroring the audience’s gesture. IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A performer sits in a chair, enclosed in a diamond formed by clear plastic hanging on wheeled hospital partitions. Her movement mirrors that of an audience member who is seated in a chair opposite the performer’s enclosure. Some pebbles and plastic lay on the floor next to the audience’s chair.

Photos from Tactility Studies: Pandemic Distances (2020). Credit: Objectifs.



SYNOPSIS

When was the last time you touched someone other than people in your household, or your family?

2020 has been a peculiar year of minimised human touch, rapid digitalisation, and a pervasive air of uncertainty as the world recalibrates around an unseen virus. In these times, we protect one another by not-hugging, bumping elbows, and trying as far as possible not to breathe the same air. What then are options that do still remain for us to touch? In the durational work Tactility Studies: Pandemic Distances, we sensitise the soles of the feet, and play with gestures of self-care in public space -- in persistent hope of expanding the current choreographies of touch and connection.


IMAGE DESCRIPTION: In the foreground, assorted trays of materials lead towards a chair on one side, and a red foam mat on the other. To the left and right, two masked individuals sit, dressed in white PPE. A few adults and children are seated, or moving around on all fours, and most are looking at a performer enclosed within a diamond of clear plastic.

CO-DIRECTORS

Chong Gua Khee 
Bernice Lee

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Lam Dan Fong


DRAMATURG

Corrie Tan


PERFORMERS

Adele Goh
Bib Mockram


VISUAL/SET DESIGN

Bib Mockram


MUSIC/SOUND DESIGN

SAtheCollective


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