Isaac Chong Wai explores the interplay of history, memory, and human experience, transforming intangible elements into concrete, often performative moments. A standout piece in his practice is One Sound of Histories (2015), which blends personal and collective narratives: in 2015, participants lined up at Weimarplatz in Weimar and shared aloud their life stories simultaneously, their arrangement in space resembling public sculptures. The performance wove together the present and past of the location, creating a resonant historical moment. Weimarplatz, originally constructed by the National Socialists in 1936 as the Gauforum, has undergone numerous refurbishments, including name changes and conversion into a shopping mall. Chong’s work reimagines this space by creating moments of intimacy and urging passersby to reconsider their connections with history, memory, and one another. One Sound of Histories seeks to transform spaces of trauma into venues of remembrance and reflection by amplifying unheard voices and reshaping our understanding of historical and personal narratives. 

Work in the exhibition: One Sound Of Histories (2015), 1-channel-video, 15' 43''. Courtesy of the artist, Blindspot Gallery, and Zilberman, Istanbul / Berlin / Miami