GERMAPHOBIA

Charcoal on sugar paper, 2020

size 84.1 x 59.4 cm

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    Germaphobia is the fear of germs. In this case, “germs” refers broadly to any microorganism that causes disease — for instance, bacteria, viruses, or parasites. We all have fears, but phobias tend to be viewed as unreasonable or excessive compared to standard fears. The distress and anxiety caused by a germ phobia are out of proportion to the damage that germs are likely to cause. Someone who has germaphobia might go to extreme lengths to avoid contamination. 

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     After spending a lot of time shutting myself out from the world for almost 4 months. It is getting harder and harder to get back to the world I used to live in. Everywhere seems like a cause of death, every thing outside my safe zone seems like it has the potential to kill me. If I weren't able to wash my hands or sterilise it with alcohol, my hands have somehow turned into life-threatening objects. It is the gateway for all those germs and viruses to came into the body system and it is inevitable.

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      Personally, I really like this piece a lot. As I tried to see the world through the eyes of hypochondria, I can visualised my work into its extreme state. It is not just drawing of germs on the hand anymore. The hand itself has transform into an abject organ, inviting germs and viruses into the body. Bacteria, viruses and parasites is not something that I can see with my eyes so it did make sense that I also can't see them in the artwork as well. But it is there, somewhere, flowing into the body without me knowing.