Josef Ng Sing Chor[1] (Chinese: 吴承祖; pinyin: Wú Chéngzǔ; born 1972) is a Singaporean gallerist and former performance artist.
He was handed a lifetime public performance ban by the National Arts Council and fined for violating the Penal Code.
[4] During the 25 to 30 minutes performance Josef Ng dressed in a black robe and briefs around and within a semicircle of tiles each with a news clipping from The Straits Times about an anti-gay operation and a block of tofu with red dye.
Ng mentioned hair clipping as silent protest, and proceeded to turn his back to the audience and faced a wall.
"[4] During the denouement, with his back turned to the audience who were seated 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) away,[4][10] Ng partially exposed his buttocks and snipped off a clump of his pubic hair,[4] which he then placed on the central tile.
[4] The NAC also announced an indefinite moratorium on funding for forum theatre and performance art;[4] it was only lifted some ten years later, in 2004.
[15] The Parkway Parade management team had already warned 5th Passage in January 1993, after performance artist Vincent Leow publicly consumed his own urine at its premises.
Nonetheless, even after the expiry of their rent-free tenancy agreement in March 1993, the group had been allowed to continue its activities at the shopping mall.
However, while Ng's performance was unscripted, Loo had to submit a script to the Media Development Authority (MDA) in order for Cane to be approved for public viewing.
), which was held at the Singapore Art Museum and comprised 16 unique installations and performances that were altogether two hours long.