๐ผ โ.ห ๐ ๐ ๐กโ.ห ๐ผ
Once Alive
๐ผ โ.ห ๐ ๐ ๐กโ.ห ๐ผ
Growing up in Singapore, visits to the Singapore Zoo sparked my fascination with wildlife. As I grew older, I became increasingly aware of the complexities of captivity—animals transported far from their native habitats, performances created for entertainment, and the ethical tensions surrounding zoos. At the same time, the evolution of many zoos toward conservation and sanctuary models revealed the complicated role they play in protecting species displaced by human-driven environmental destruction.
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This installation explores the distance between humans and captive animals. Using cardboard and papier-mâché animal sculptures overlaid with photographs taken at zoos and sanctuaries, I recreate the experience of observing animals that are visible yet unreachable. Artificial elements—including water tanks, feeding bowls, and fabricated habitats—highlight the human intervention behind these constructed environments. Through these sculptural and photographic works, the project invites viewers to reflect on how our relationships with animals are mediated through spaces designed by humans, where intimacy and separation exist simultaneously.
