Chung Nguyen
This collection of (virtual) dream bodies is composed of text, photographs of doodles, and/or ambient sounds that capture the content, feeling or essence of different dreams.
The process of recording and collecting the materials happened during the night. I then contemplated on and arranged these collected materials during the daytime. I felt that this was an interesting space to work in because it seemed like the waking state and sleeping state dissolved into one.
In module #8, which was led by Luke George, during a small group discussion, I proposed participatory sessions of dreaming via Zoom to other peers. After discussing and collecting ideas, we developed a score – instructions on how to participate in the sessions. One of the interesting points is that sessions were implemented at night and in early morning based on Singapore time zone. What would occur in our dreams when we collectively experience the same thing before bed? How would it induce or affect our dreams? Another point is that the use of collected information / materials of participants throughout sessions was discussed and consented. How would we communicate when sharing about dreaming? How much would we concern about displaying our ‘dream privacy’?
Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Chung Nguyen’s (b.1990) practice explores the interface between dance, performance art, and somatics. Chung graduated from Vietnam Dance Academy in 2009. Between 2009 and 2016, Chung has worked with Arabesque Dance Company (Vietnam), T.H.E Dance Company (Singapore), and Cinevox Junior Company (Switzerland), and was awarded a prize at the Korea International Modern Dance Competition (2013). An independent artist since 2017, Chung has completed artist residencies such as Deep in the Mountains (Korea), Southeast Asia Chorelab (Malaysia), International Choreographers Residency – American Dance Festival (USA), and the Southeast Asia Choreographers Network.
