Leung Chi Wo, Sign HDV, PAL, English subtitles, 13 min, 2008

“Sign” is a 2-part video work by Leung Chi Wo exploring the idea of non-mainstream communication and the meaning of human reality overloaded by mass media.

“Part I” is an educational video featuring deaf teacher Laisarn (Laisarn Leong) and her shadow (Belle Reily) about the idea of baby signs in Auslan (Australian Sign Language) and the demonstration of basic signs with which parents can actually learn to communicate with their children whether they be deaf or hearing-enabled. Whereas Laisarn communicates with the audience in Auslan, her shadow does it with her eyes and mind.

“Part II” is a fictional video showing a young mother in communication with her baby in Auslan. Though the scene takes place in a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere, the mother tries to convey the words that she comes across every day, which can be harsh or discomforting. The juxtaposition of loving expression and hostile meaning depicts a surrealistic scene of our schizophrenic world. The vocabulary here is chosen from The Canberra Times.

 
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