Penang art installation urges you to release your 'unspoken' truths

The Star

6 days ago

Have you ever felt burdened by the stresses of life and the world around you? You're not alone – according to the 2023 Malaysian Youth Mental Health Index, among Malaysians aged between 15 and 30, three in 10 had moderate to severe anxiety symptoms, while one in 10 suffered from high stress.
If you feel the need to release your pent up emotions, this is your last weekend to check out Unspoken, an art installation and participatory project that shines a light on the stigma surrounding mental health taking place at Coex @ Kilang Besi, Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang.
Visitors are asked to pick a ceramic piece from the display, write or draw what's been weighing on their minds, then smash it to symbolically release their troubles.
After choosing one of the ceramic objects from the display, participants can write down or draw whatever emotions or experiences they wish to release.
Silent struggles
James Seet and Clay Loo, two ceramic artists, were tapped to oversee the project, which runs until Aug 3.
Seet, who conceptualised the project, says that Unspoken grew out of his interest in how people carry silent struggles.
'We live in a society where mental health is still a taboo subject, and many keep their pain hidden," says Seet.
'I wanted to create a safe space where those feelings could be released physically and symbolically. Smashing ceramic utensils became that act of catharsis – an invitation to break the silence, literally,' he adds.
'For me, it was also about giving back – helping people express themselves and feel heard, even in such a simple yet powerful act,' says Loo. — Handout
For Loo, when he first heard about the project, he immediately knew that he wanted to contribute to it.
'It felt like a meaningful way to engage with society. Social practice art is about creating art together with the community, and this was a chance to do exactly that. For me, it was also about giving back – helping people express themselves and feel heard, even in such a simple yet powerful act,' says Loo.
The ceramic pieces are shaped like kitchen utensils, ordinary objects representing the mundane routines of daily life. After selecting one of the pieces from the display – which could come in the form of a cup, teapot, trinket box and other objects – participants are gently guided by Loo through the process of writing down their feelings and ultimately smashing it in a private, designated area.
'Hear Me, Set Me Free' by Seet and Loo. The sculptures made from the broken ceramic pieces will be displayed in an exhibition at Coex @ Kilang Besi in November.
Seet adds that he and Loo will take the smashed ceramic pieces and put them together into new artworks co-created by those who took part in the experiment. These works will be on display in an exhibition at Coex @ Kilang Besi from Nov 1 to 16.
'Reassembling the fragments into sculptures gives those 'unspoken' voices a second life, turning brokenness into something whole and meaningful,' says Seet.
Judgement-free space
So far, the response has been a positive one – 'overwhelming and deeply moving,' according to Seet.
The installation averages around 50 participants a day each weekend and over 200 people have taken part over two weekends of the smashing sessions.
'People have shared how liberating it felt to write down something they've never told anyone, then smash it as if letting that weight go. Many have expressed gratitude for having a space where mental health isn't judged, but acknowledged with empathy," says Seet.
'Many have also said that it was surprisingly satisfying to express their emotion in this manner, similar to screaming their heart out from atop a mountain. Some even teared up after smashing their ceramic piece,' he adds.
'Many have said that it was surprisingly satisfying to express their emotion in this manner, similar to screaming their heart out from atop a mountain,' shares Seet.
If you're not in Penang, rest assured – there are plans to bring Unspoken on the road. Seet says he hopes to show the resulting sculptures in a travelling exhibition to spark conversations about mental health in different communities across Malaysia and beyond.
'The aim is to show not just the brokenness, but the beauty of coming together through shared experiences. Turning the negative into positive. We hope to bring it to various public spaces locally and abroad, so it's accessible to everyone,' he concludes.
Unspoken is showing at Coex @ Kilang Besi, Hin Bus Depot in George Town, Penang until Aug 3. Open: Friday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Free admission. Instagram: @jamesseetart.