The 2D animation short “What I See” beautifully questions the irony of perception, the pretentiousness of the art world, and the capriciousness of the public.
Directed by Sarah Lim Xi-Yin, the film follows Ian Jing, a blind art student learning a module on Realism from Mrs Hui, who insists that students “draw exactly what they see.” Jing does as he is told his drawings get murkier as his eyesight worsens, but he gains popularity. Critics and audiences praise his “deep” and “meaningful” work, providing meanings that never existed.
After Jing eventually gets glasses and begins to draw tidily, his public comes back to haunt him. Critics criticize him as “selling out” and judge his new artwork to be unoriginal. “Hey guys, I am just drawing what I see,” Jing pleads but respect of the public is lost.
As the class moves from Realism to Abstract, Jing finally regains his voice this time, for himself, not for validation.
The story successfully communicates three truths: how easily perception exaggerates flattery, how the world of art survives on indeterminacy and hypermeaning, and how dangerous it is for artists to depend on social approval.
A few minutes shy of six, “What I See” stands out through its technical perfection and emotional impact. Lim and her production crew Bobby Jackson, Calleen Koh, Sarah Cheok, and Wong Qing are deserving of accolades for capturing the process of poor vision so realistically.
“Because I’m nearsighted, this is what I see,” wrote viewer @KNightcord_25. Lim herself got it just right: “It’s about the subjectivity of art, the space between intention and interpretation, and the futility of trying to please all.”.
