On 11 March 2011, Yasuo Takamatsu receives a message from his wife during the sounding of a tsunami alarm: "𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦". Since that very day, Mr Takamatsu dives in the sea every week in search of her. His journey was later documented in Wesley Leon Aroozoo's novel 'I Want to Go Home'. Mr Takamatsu's story provides a glimpse into the strength of human resilience and how love manifests itself in times of crisis. 

The Arts House & local multi-disciplinary art group Mural Lingo presents an immersive multi-sensory installation that responds to I Want to Go Home. This includes a commissioned mural art painting that integrates multimedia such as small-scale projection, soundscape and video art. 

This phy-gital programme is part of the Light to Night Festival 2021. 

PROGRAMMES

open books: I Want to Go Home 

Visual Arts | Free | 22 Jan – 28 Feb 2021

In conjunction with Light to Night 2021, open books  returns to The Arts House with an experiential art installation that takes inspiration from Wesley Leon Aroozoo's I Want to Go Home. Co-curated and designed by Mural Lingo and The Arts House, the immersive multi-sensory installation invites you to encounter the strength of a man's love and resilience to be reunited with his loved one. Through open books: I Want to Go Home, multidisciplinary artists bring the literary work to life and convey the importance of love, hope, and determination in allowing us to overcome times of crisis. 

open books: In Conversation with Wesley Leon Aroozoo (Sg) and Miki Hawkinson (Aus) 

Talk (Online) | Free | 30 Jan 2021 | 3pm - 4.30pm 

Featuring Wesley Leon Aroozoo (SG) & Miki Hawkinson (AUS) 

Moderator: Mohamad Shaifulbahri (SG) 

2021 marks the 10th year since the Great East Japan Earthquake, and that is also how long Mr Takamatsu's search for his wife has been. I Want to Go Home tells the story of Mr Takamatsu's recovery process after experiencing loss and his sheer determination to reunite with his loved one. The novel provided a glimpse into the strength of human resilience and how love may manifest itself in times of crisis. Join us in a conversation with the author and translator of I Want to Go Home on their journey uncovering and documenting Mr Takamatsu's story. In this online session, Wesley and Miki will share recollections of their week-long trip to Onagawa and their thoughts and reflections on being part of telling the story.  

open books: Dreams, The Last Message & Afterlife - an audio experience 

Online | Free | 22 Jan – 28 Feb 2021

By Artwave Studio  

I Want To Go Home tells the story of Mr Yasuo Takamatsu, who lost his wife to the tsunami during the Great East Japan earthquake. Since that fateful day, he has been diving in the sea every week searching for her, and his story is of hope, recovery and loss. Through this audio experience, immerse yourself in the moving story of Mr Takamatsu's love for his wife through his words and thoughts as well as Wesley's profound reflection on his journey uncovering the story.  

Produced and designed by Artwave Studio, the text featured in these recordings are excerpts from the following chapters of I Want To Go Home by Wesley Leon Aroozoo - Dreams, The Last Message and Afterlife