Au Hoi Lam
This is an exhibition for Au Hoi Lam to remembrance of her late after as well as anyone who misses their father. Osage Open helps her to make an imaginative 'ocean' and the installation of her late father's bed and the song My Father slowly unfolds the theme of 'yearning'
"My Father, a song adapted from My Bonnie, is converted into imageries, symbols and sounds. The components of my father's bed allow me to speak to him. All of these linger in the exhibition space the 'ocean' where 365 days of yearning is embedded in. This exhibition is also dedicated to all the fathers and anyone who misses their father." Au said.
These squares with a word inside is the song of "My Father Is Over The Ocean" . The title of these artwork is named "There is a Song (Twelve Words Twelve Months Twelve Exercise)"
I have counted that in the song. There are only 12 words in the song. Sometime the words are repeated. From the title, I know that she used a year to practice the song and spent a month for a word. What she did is to remember her father to be a filial girl.
Below are different part of the bed. She separated the bed into different pieces. On each piece, she wrote questions on them that she wanted to ask her father (or herself). For example, how tall is Dad? What size of shoes does Dad wear? How big are Dad's hand? When did Dad and Mum meet?
She used those components of the bed to make them as an artwork because when her father died on the bed. She lied on the bed to see and feel what her father did. She saw the last scene her father saw when he was at home. She thought looking from her father's eyes, the world was never the same.
As I seen the question on each piece of wood, I feel regret that I also do not know much about my father.
I know that he works hard for the family. However, since he spends lots of time on working, I did not have time talk with him. We did not share our happiness and sadness. What I want to say, I just want to talk with my mum and sisters. But start from now, I would like to build up a good relationship with my father. I don't want to have any regret.
Below is "Dad, What Shade of Blue and did You See Today". She used different blue colour to color the note paper with a specific pattern and the lyrics of the song. Maybe, she thought that one of the color is the one which her father always saw.
Later, I walk in the room in the exhibition. Two speakers played the song that was sung by Au Ho Lam. The song really showed the strong sense of sadness and looked forward to see her father again. I wanted to cry at that time but I felt a little bit scared at that because there was only me in there. The atmosphere was so lonely and quiet that I could not bare.
Finally, I went out with a big cloud over my head.
Am I a filial girl to my parents? What do I feel if my parents die but I do not stay with them? Should I spend more time with them start now?
To conclude, we have to treasure what we have now.