Homi Bhabha [3 ]

Homi Bhabha talks about the interstitial space, on how the difference is articulated. It is always imagined that Europe is the centre. The idea of in between-ness and hybridity. Culture which interact, transgress and transform each other, thus destabilizing the idea of binary opposites.

The question of what is East and what is West is a paradox. This is so as we are acknowledging the term east and west and trying to combine the difference. This is called hybrid. The idea of the original culture may not even exist. This is link to the act of translation in which we translate our understanding of the guest culture to our work.

Artist are agents who generate knowledge and ideas in the act of receiving and producing things. They unconsciously or consciously would be speaking about the West and the East at the same time. In Kai’s work, the combination of medium between installation work/performance art (Western ideas) and themes/ideas/subject (local context) matter of the artist Kai's subject matter is a hybrid. His works have Singaporean elements in them due to the fact that he is based in Singapore.

Kai sees installation art or performance art as a progression from sculpture or painting. Through the use of performance, he is able to capture the audience to be more sensitive and aware to his art making process. In a way, installation art also does not restrict the viewer to just one image but many multiple images.The categorization of the symbols in Kai's work as being 'Singaporean' is problematic. It reaffirms the given meaning to these objects. There exists a conflict between his understanding and the historical narrative - or preconceived idea. This is unavoidable as experiences, heritage and culture influenced the way the artist defines his work. I feel that as Kai is born, educated and working in Singapore, his work is very much influence by the cultural context of Singapore. Singapore is itself very much a hybrid of different cultures and Western ideas put together. Due to this, the source of origin of any particular culture may never be known. His ritualistic acts (Anthology Blues), altar, incense and playing of chants could actually a combination of different cultural practices.