This morning

Trying quite very hard to shake off the flu, listening to Yoyo Ma's cello playing the dulcet tones of Morriccone's repertoire, trying to finish up on a term paper which is turning into a grand old ranty tanty piece (I most likely come off like a deranged washerwoman thumping hard on her washing board), waiting for a call.

Just waiting.

Off tomorrow to Hongkers to see friends and not do anything. Yes, that will be the aim. To stay away from art and people. Rest for the soul perhaps

The dearth of text and writings over the last fortnight resulted mainly from the ending of two projects and being sick for the last week or so. Flu will always be my Achilles heel... two days of staring up at the ceiling and feeling my grey matter have been packed in nothing but cotton wool; another three days of trying to make it through before going to seek consultation with the medical professional for the third time this week to get the prescription right. (The first did not understand the extent of my sickness and prescribed me with something I would have given myself on a slightly off day, the second gave me stronger meds but thought it would be better to leave out the antibiotics - boy was he wrong; the third finally caved in and gave me stronger medication and the anti biotic)

Amidst my agony and nasal voice, I did manage to catch a bit of the Biennale at City Hall and South Beach encampment. Hopefully I will be well enough to catch the other sites later on. Of the two sites, I have to say that South Beach seemed to work best - a derelict building but yet the works selected for the space seemed consistent with the theme and edgy enough to allow the audience to be flexible in their interpretation of "wonder" - granted it wasn't such a wonder-ful theme after all.

Bound For Glory: Wong Hoy Cheong

"Of the ambitions and desires of empires, nations, cities and individuals, Bound for Glory articulates the pursuit of recognition, presented through five works by the Malaysian contemporary artist Wong Hoy Cheong. Revealed in the works are reflections on aspirations for fame and glory sought through notoriety, geographical and imagined occupation, and nationalistic fervor; as well as the dilemmas and conflicts that a rapacious appetite for a place in history, influence and honour entails. Artworks presented in the exhibition include: Re:Looking (2002-3), Chronicles of Crime (2006), Suburbia:Bukit Beruntung, Subang Jaya (2006), Anthem (2006) and Aman Sulukule, Canim Sulukule / Oh Sulukule, Darling Sulukule (2007).

Coming from Georgetown, Penang, the internationally-recognised artist’s practice is inter-disciplinary, involving areas such as drawing, installation, theatre, performance and video. Recent exhibitions he has been invited to present his work at include the Taipei Biennale (2008) and Istanbul Biennale (2007). A publication, Shifts: Wong Hoy Cheong 2002 – 2007, documenting the artist’s work since 2002, is produced in conjunction with the exhibition."

Date: 11 September - 23 November 2008
Location: NUS Museum