Every Step Counts arises from a seemingly simple and everyday act ¬– in this case, walking – imbued with a renewed sense of purpose and awareness, of what such a gesture can do. Here, Amanda Heng’s work grapples too with the realities of an aging body and stamina. Every Step Counts encapsulates several strands that have coursed through Heng’s decades-long practice: of performance and live art in ‘real time’; capturing time-based works and presenting documentation as a visual experience installed in ‘real space’ and the participatory engagement of others as a ‘real participant’ in the artistic process. Time arches back and the historical context can be found in Amanda’s iconic work, “Let’s Walk”, first performed in 1999, at the Substation, Singapore, and then subsequently in various parts of the world.Commissioned by SB2019, the work also reflects Heng’s long-standing interest in how such an act can bring wider groups of people together and that the participation of others – who walk with her – is key to activating the work. For SB2019, she collaborated with nine participants through workshops, and nine walks were done: each specific to that participant’s issues or concerns. Amanda Heng (b. 1951, Singapore) stands as one of Singapore’s pioneering contemporary artists, notably in the field of performance and live art. She was conferred the prestigious Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts in 2010. Heng is also one of the founding members of two Singapore art collectives: The Artists Village and WITA (Women in the Arts). Heng has exhibited in several local and international exhibitions, and her Let’s Walk was chosen as a conceptual anchor for the Singapore Fringe Festival in 2018. She lives and works in Singapore
