yau sir meng
Home Education - Achievement
Acrylic and pen on paper, gold frame
42cm x 29.7cm each (Total 4 pieces)
2013
I am contemplating about the ideals of family education nowadays and assessing its liability.
I had chosen a representational method to paint for the certificate as to represent a parent's attentiveness while educating their children.
On another hand, I chose certificates as my form because they on a certain level , is a symbol of achievement and honor, and this piece of works intends to reflect the story behind the achievement.
Education - 'Melting'
Cube sugar, white chocolate, and video
100 cm x 45 cm x 35 cm
2013
My idea is about the problems in education and the relationship among educators, students, and the education system itself. I explored and introspected the value and beliefs in education, as well as how the guidance of educators relates to the students’ learning attitude.
In my art form, I choose to build a school out of sugar. The reason of my choice in the form of a school building is because school is where students are being educated.
The choice of material was inspired by a case of the ethic of the Dimensi 108 ‘Get Smart magic pills’ purported to aid memory and widely distributed in schools with the recommendations of headmasters from 2010 until complaints in August 2013. The pill was found to contain 95% sugar with the rest being other carbohydrates and herbs. It is through this case which prompted me to inspect the intention, value and beliefs in the education system.
Finally, my artwork was positioned outdoor, as it can melt when exposed to the natural elements and change its outward appearance.
video documentation
video documentation
教 . 育
School uniform, flower pot, soil and video
Dimension variable
2013
This piece of artwork is reflecting on the different teaching methods such as spoon feeding and force feeding, as well as the relationship between educators and students.
I applied the method of planting school uniform every day in these pieces of work. Such an illogical method mocks how the force feeding method forcibly imparting knowledge on the students.
Education-Clean
Exercise Books, washing machine, contains and printed sticker
Dimensions variable
2013
In this piece of work, I explore and develop about the intended purpose of education and the contradictions that occur between this and education nowadays.
I had chosen more than 10 reference books of different titles (such as Score A in UPSR , Sport and Score ,effective practice, Focus Super-Hot ,etc.), and had literarily ‘cleaned’ them either manually or using a washing machine.
Such a method is a representation of cleaning and decomposing these misleading and distorted educational values.
Education- Errata
Correction fluid and marker pen on exercise books
27cm x 20cm each (included frame), Total 10 pieces
2013
I sourced the pages from 'PASSPORT UPSR, 100% effective' reference book for primary students and inked out their contents using either correction fluid or marker pen, as the materials themselves holds a meaning of deleting or correcting.
Home Education - Trophy
Trophy, acrylic on acrylic board, and white wood box
47cm x 35.5cm x 14cm
2013
36 Moral Nilai Definisi
blended moral text books
Dimensions variable
2014
My ideas are about exploring the problems in modern day education, to see if the current methods and values are biased from the true purpose of it.
In my works, I was inspired by a case that happened on November 20, 2013: SPM student’s uproar over change in Moral paper format without prior notice. According to the article, the exam format had been changed from structured question to a more open-ended format. In the past 2 years, students were told that they only needed to memorize the 36 moral values and answer accordingly during the exam.
I sourced some Pendidikan Moral subject text books, physically break down the book pages using a blender and reconstructed them into the 36 moral values that students used to recite. It is symbolization as well as the process itself, of me rethinking about the teaching methods and values behind these 36 sentences on moral values.
Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025
Performance, installation (canvas, chalk, duster, and Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013- 2025)
Dimensions variable
2015
The Malaysia Education Blueprint is the education proposal for our country from 2013 until 2025.
In this piece of live performance work, I am exploring and developing the contradictions that exist between our current understanding of educational theories and the reality when it comes to actual operation. I think of this situation as something under construction, not something concluded, and thus the neutral - instead of being critical - act of presenting the contradiction between building and dismantling by repeatedly transcribing and erasing the Blueprint throughout the exhibition period.