title: Hungry White Ghost
approximate duration: 1 hour (was asked to stop)
space: Canteen A, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
date: 31 August 2011, Wednesday, 12.00pm
photo documentation by Marla Bendini
Artist Statement
The ironic title of the performance anticipates a smokescreen of distractions in line with the incoherent image of the white woman begging for food.
The intended issue is the exploration of compassion within students, whilst they are busy building their future and enjoying a world full of possibilities.
Beggars are not born as such, they become so for a myriad of reasons.
Their presence is never welcomed, perhaps because they are a harsh reminder of the possibility of failure and its consequences.
In 45 minutes and besides the curious crowd, only two people donated respectively money and a sandwich and engaged in meaningful, non-judgmental conversation.
From the artist’s point of view, it was a lesson in humility and on the detrimental effect of the inappropriate use of religious imagery, even despite any intention to offend.
Finally, an anonymous complaint caused the interruption of the durational performance and the removal of all subsequent performances to another site and for this unfavourable effect, the artist wishes to apologise to the organiser and the fellow performers.
