2024-Present

A Moonlit Lullaby (after “Ambilkan Bulan, Bu”)

Ambilkan Bulan Bu is a children's song that tells the yearning of a child for their mom to bring them a moon to brighten a dark, scary night. It speaks of innocent plea for protection from a nurturing figure (in the song it was represented by a mother). This song brought me into contemplation regarding the real life struggles often faced by parents as they have to continue their parental duties every day even as they come back home exhausted from work. This could, at times, lead to a sense of being "stuck" and a resentment over the unfulfilment of one's individual desires. It is a sad reality that often tangible real life struggles are being glossed over as an ordinary thing that one must endure, separate from any meaningful glory often present in the fictions and music one had consumed during their youth. However, I would like to argue that true glory is in the survival of day to day challenges, and that heroic actions can take many forms even in the most ordinary setting of a predictable urban life.

Perhaps the grandiose tale of adventure doesn't come from slaying real life dragons, but from conquering daily routine at mundane jobs in order to provide the best living condition to one's family. And perhaps the biggest salvation from monsters under the bed isn't a magical knight in armor, but a parent's gentle presence as they put their children to sleep with bedtime stories and hums of age-old lullabies.

• Media : Acrylic on canvas
• Dimension : 90 x 120 cm
• Exhibition : ARTSUBS 2025: Material Ways