NIE Head of Visual Arts, Professor John Matthews and fellow performer Joyce Ong showcased the human form by ballroom dancing and doing different actions in a 200cm by 158cm by 158cm glass tank.
While the dancing would conjure images of synchronised swimming, the performers do more than that and even try to simulate running underwater. Audiences are in for a surprise as Professor Matthews wears more than just a business suit in the performance.
The human form has traditionally been seen as an outlet of expression in European art while water is seen as something that cleanses and takes things away. A combination of the two creates a surreal experience not only for the audience but also the performers. Coupled with the sound of water that simulates waves, In A Glass of Water creates a phantasmagorical experience both which enriches and provokes
