PROJECT 1

In this Project 1, which is the descriptive installation, we were challenged to translate a story from a novel name "NO DRAM OF MERCY"  by Sybil Kathigasu into a decriptive installation. The part i chose from the novel is the scene was after Sybil Kathigasu captured by the japanese. She was soon interrogated by the japanese and was tortured to reveal the information she had. She wa subjected to a lot of torture methods, including water cure, burn using the hot iron rod, remove the finger nails and etc. And all this carried by the japanese inside the cell.

          At the begining of the project, I seach for the picture of the cell block back in 90s century, and I capture the feeling from the cell block, which are dark and hard to breath. Then, I try study the detail of the torture methods listed in the novel, and try to imagine the feeling and the situation of Sybil Kathigasu when being torture by the japanese in the cell. Hence, I also consider the wound that would be on Sybil Kathigasu.

          After the research, i try to translate my reasrch into a model. Firstly, i used the shell to represent Sybil Kathigasu, wire gauge as japanese, and pearl as the secret or information of MPAJA. I put the pearl inside the shell and wrapped the wire gauge around it, represent the situation when Sybil tortured by the japanese while still keeping the secrets of the MPAJA. At the second time, i changed the shell to a glass bottle and pearl into a paper roll. This time I am using a concept of a chinese proverb "keeping the secrets like a bottle". I put the paper roll inside the bottle, and then place the bottle among four column and wrapping by the wire gauge, representing the same meaning as the last mock-up model.

          Lastly, Icombined my idea from the mock-up model and the research into one. This time, I used steel as my main material in the model. I craft the incomplete body, which means that Sybil Kathigasu was tortured really bad, and eventually lost the ability to walk by herself. The model was painted in black colour according to the situation when Sybil is detaining in the cell block. I applied the rhytm principle into my model, i get the idea when japanese torture Sybil repeatly to reveal the information that she had.The model represent a timeline, the foot is the beginning. From the beginning, the foot is fixed on the base, which meant Sybil was captured by the japanese. After that, the wire net represent the cell block and the steel wire represent the torture applied on Sybil, she was tortured repeatly with different kind of methods, which show the properties of rhytm. Lastly, the steel net only come before the knees, represent the coming of liberation, but at the same time, the steel wire still extend even during the liberation time had came, this represent that Sybil still torturing by the previous torture japanese applied on her. Some will ask why there is only a hand, this is because I wanted to show the incompleteness of Sybil Kathigasu, and also represent that Sybil hold and keeping the secrets of MPAJA until the liberation has come. 

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