The Gaze

Dan Lain-lain

Presented at The Human Exhibit: Sex & Gender 2019, The Gaze is a performance art that delves deep into the intricate concept of the gaze. With a bold intention to expose the invasive nature of this gaze, the project challenges the prevailing hierarchy that objectifies individuals and asserts superiority. Through this compelling exploration, the inherent dynamics of reciprocity within the act of gazing are revealed, prompting profound contemplation.

Driven by the desire to highlight the injustice of objectifying women and the LGBTQ community, The Gaze fearlessly confronts the intrusive yet imperialist nature of the gaze itself. It dismantles the notion of a one-sided power dynamic, where the gazer imposes their superiority over the subjects, reducing them to mere objects of scrutiny. This project aims to dismantle this hierarchy, exposing the vulnerability and the resilience of those under the gaze.

In an unsuspecting twist, the performance art unifies the gazed, forging a collective front to revoke the authority of the gazer. By uniting those who have been subjected to objectification, the performance challenges the status quo, creating a transformative experience that empowers the gazed and confronts the oppressive nature of the gaze. In this space of unity, a perpetual oscillation of power transfer occurs, defying the notion of a single dominant gazer.

In an instant of assuming the position of the gazer, an astonishing shift takes place. The gazer becomes the gazed, their once confident stance crumbling under the weight of collective scrutiny. This profound transformation magnifies the cyclical nature of power dynamics, reminding us of the inherent vulnerability and malleability within the act of gazing.

Performance Art

The Human Exhibit:
Sex & Gender
Jul 2019

Petaling Jaya,
Selangor

Co-Directed by:
- Ian Skatu
- Dhinesha Karthigesu

Collaborators:
- Vanessa Wu
- Meninder Kaur
- Roy Pua

Photos by:
- I'M Entertainment