Amanda Heng

Amanda Heng is a pioneering contemporary artist, one of the first in Singapore to explore feminist issues in her work and to use performance art to express her ideas. She is well-known locally and internationally for her multi-disciplinary approach to creating art and using it as a tool to bring about social awareness and change. She was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts in 2010.
Amanda rose to prominence in the 1990s with her performances and installation works that drew attention to aspects of the lives of women. She was a proponent of performance art when few in Singapore understood it, using everyday activities – walking or drinking coffee or peeling bean sprouts – to get people to reflect on issues such as gender inequality, family relationships, and communication in the contemporary world.

One of her best-known works, which has been staged in several other countries, is Let’s Walk. The performance sees members of the public joining Amanda in walking backwards, using handheld mirrors to guide themselves while holding high-heeled shoes in their mouths. First staged in 1999 as a commentary on the Asian financial crisis of 1997 that saw women being the first to lose their jobs as companies tightened operations, Let’s Walk draws attention to the challenges women face as they navigate gender roles.