'Hypochondria'

Hypochondria 2006

http://monicaong.com/art/hypo.shtml

Malaysian New Media artist Monica Ong’s intention with her art is to “investigate social hierarchies and cultural silences in the context of public health” (Ong). Hypochondria 2006 is one of her investigations into the mental health of her uncle and the story of how it affects the care-giving close knit family.

Ong grabs the viewers attention with the ghostly photograph of her uncle mounted on a simple wooden box and hung quietly on a wall. The image is unworldly and engenders an uncomfortable curiosity. Without written instructions, Ong draws the viewer into voluntary interaction with the stethoscope hanging next to the photo. To hear the story the viewer must place the stethoscope into their ears and listen to the audio box as if they are the doctor experiencing the helplessness of the afflicted man and his family and the sadness of the healer’s inability to cure.

The chilling recording of her uncle’s hushed and frightened conversation with Ong’s father and her quiet voice with her overview of his story creates a grievous painful account of the drama within the family. Although initially I felt the recording was far too long and monotonous I think she uses the lengthy piece to illustrate the ongoing, never-ending anguish of mental illness.

Hypochondria is gallery-hung at Rhizome but is available online at her own website as well as Twitter and Facebook. She uses the social networks to present her social commentary, which I thought was interesting although you must friend Ong to view her works on Facebook.


Facebook.com http://www.facebook.com/monicaong

Ong, Monica. [Internet] About me. Available at
http://monicaong.com/about/index.shtml

Rhizome.com [Internet] Monica Ong Available at http://www.rhizome.org/profile.php?1025211

Twitter.com, [Internet] Monica Ong. Available at
http://twitter.com/mongmedia