Heng has been a central figure in Singaporean performance art as well as in feminist discourse in Singapore since the 1980s. Her body of ‘walking works’ began in 1999 with Let’s Walk.
She created Let’s Walk in response to a range of worrying trends that continue to echo to this day. In 1997, Asia was hit hard by a financial crisis. Many people lost their jobs and businesses, but women seemed to be the first to be retrenched. Curiously and disturbingly, the beauty business did especially well at this time, as women were pressured to look better than their natural best. In Heng’s own words, “A lot of Singaporean women were ‘upgrading’ themselves, going to beauty salons, having plastic surgery, and so on, to keep their jobs. A woman’s looks are still worth more than her abilities.”
Let’s Walk was first presented outside the campus of LASALLE – SIA College of Arts at Goodman Road on 9 December 1999 as part of the exhibition Ambulations at the campus’ Earl Lu Gallery. Five female audience-participants joined Amanda in the walk. The performance has since travelled to Spain, Indonesia, Japan, Sweden and France.
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Based on information from the Let’s Talk About Text, Baby and Singapore Art & Gallery Guide websites.
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