Tze Way Ng (Amos)

Portals of Improbable symbiosis: The cathartic expression of thoughts for the judged ones

As I laugh and talk to you,
smiling from ear to ear,
did you know it was all a facade?
You suspend your beliefs,
while I take in all
the emotion that you bring.

Let me forget that
As I burn this note.

In the moonlight,
I catch glimpse of you.
Yet here you are again,
hundred days after.
The crackling sound of burnt paper
is all I need.

Let me forget that
As I burn this note.

The project serves as the respective headquarters of Asobi; the extroverted, rental friend, & Hikikomori Journalist; the introverted, recluse writer. Comprising of two ‘portals’ leading to a unifying point, the architecture represents the contrasting characters through; concealment/exposure, ritualised movement and varying proximity through relative height and scale of building. The project then negotiates the tension of the two with a central mediating point for catharsis through burning of thoughts written on paper. The heavy, monolithic & dense configuration elevate the experience and connection in their ritualised routine.

Assumed. Stereotyped. Judged.

Asobi, the modern Geisha.

Hikikomori, the modern hermit.

Disparate characters, unlikeliest of encounter.

Acting. Writing. Burning.

Asobi's thousand expression in sixty,

none of it belonging.

Reporting. Writing. Burning.

Hikikomori's own narrative,

spun out of control truth to be told.

Burning. Burning. Burning

That's the only common thing.

The project serves as the respective headquarters of Asobi; the extroverted, rental friend, & Hikikomori Journalist; the introverted, recluse writer. Asobi writes and rehearse scripts with external expression whilst Hikikomori writes the true narrative of what their community goes through in words.