Blue Light, Sleep Deprived is an art exhibition with the aim to spark deep conversation and action on prolonged nocturnal screen time and sleep deprivation.
The art exhibition created by Tan Kien Eng is set to open on 27th July to 31st July, 2024, at Level M, Menara Ken TTDI from 10am to 5pm.
Aside from creating awareness and action, the exhibition also aims to raise donations from part of the art auction proceeds for Hospis Malaysia, Humankind, for mental health and WAO, Women’s Aid Organisation.
The exhibition will also feature live sketches of visitors, by retired artists from the creative industry. Sleep deprivation is becoming the norm in Malaysia.
According to a report in the Asian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 9 in 10 Malaysians experience some level of insomnia and have one or more sleep problems.
The consequences of which include a surge in mental and physical health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, impairing judgement, cognition and memory loss.
What is the consequences?
Over time, the lack of good sleep can lead to degenerative diseases and triggering various chronic conditions which include type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, depression and immunity-related illnesses.
Sleep deprivation has far reaching economic consequences, costing the country billions of ringgit in lost productivity and costly human error.
According to Ivy Josiah, Past President and Executive Director WAO, Women’s Aid Organisation, ‘Kien Eng’s “Blue Light. Sleep Deprived “ resonates with me, I daresay I suffer from FOMO, fear of missing out with the latest trends and news keeps me glued to my screens.
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“That is why I now leave my phone and laptop far away from my bed, still within earshot in case of an emergency call but not at arm’s length, when I can reach out to my phone and watch reels! The advice to avoid electronics before bed is crucial.”
Modern devices addiction
According to Kien, there are many causes of sleep deprivation. This exhibition highlights a rising phenomena in nocturnal screen time in recent years, an increase in the fear of missing out and addiction to the use of digital media platforms interrupting our circadian system, impacting our sleep and our wellbeing.
Blue light represents modern devices such as smartphones, tablet screens, computer monitors, TVs.
Kien
The exhibition features 11 paintings, 3 ceramic sculptures and 3 installations of life size human shaped pillows.
About the artist: Tan Kien Eng
- Born 1963. Kien was listed in Tatler Asia’s Most Influential people in 2021. In 2017, he was voted Top 100 influencer by Creative Pool UK, a study on top creative from around the world.
- Kien claimed the Campaign Asia-Pacific’s gold award for Southeast Asia Creative Agency head of the year 2012.
- He sits on the advisory board for CADS.ai the centre of applied data science. He provides industry advisory to various institutions of higher learning.
- 1986, graduated from Malaysia Institute of Arts.
- His career in creativity spans over 35 years as Executive Creative Director and CEO of American, French and Japanese multinational advertising and media agencies.
- Over the years, Kien has created multiple awareness campaigns for Women’s Aid Organisation and WWF.
- Kien has judged in local, regional, and international creative award shows such as AdFest, D&AD, Cannes Advertising Festival.
- He has won over 300 creative awards including four Cannes gold awards.
