First commission inspired by

On a black stage with a black curtain, a kind of living space has been set up under a spotlight. There's a pointy tent in the middle made from a sheet hung over a string suspended from the ceiling. The same string loops down on the right with a series of cards pegged onto it. There's a bed inside the tent - a mattress on the floor with covers of bright green, teal and blue.

In front of the tent are more soft furnishings - a pale rug in the centre with pillows on the right and a bean bag on the left, with a pair of women's sandals lying nearby.

Behind the bean bag is a hat stand with hats and coats hanging on its hooks, and a coffee table with a potted plant and some food on it, and leaning against one of the table legs is a sign.

On the right, beside the pillows, is a pea-green suitcase lying open with a jumble of clothes inside it. Behind that is a writing table with a desk lamp glowing on it, some books and stationery items, and a red jacket hung on the chair that's tucked under the table.

A block of white text appears onscreen, in the top left. It reads:

To have a place to lay your head is a special thing.

Even if no one knew you and you knew no one.
For 8 hours a day,
You belonged.

I have been collecting books.
From secondhand bookstores, book exchange corners
To the cardboard boxes outside the school library.
I would bring them home and lay them nicely.
Like a book on a shelf in a store -
Now they belonged.

But each night
And come morning
I realise all over again
That to have a place to lay your head is a special thing,
But it doesn't mean I belong.

Zooming in on the tent, we go right inside it and look up at the light-bulb glowing inside its peak.

Fade to black.

On a black stage, a kind of living space has been set up under a spotlight, and on the left-hand side of it a decorative sign is resting on the leg of a coffee table. In pale-blue stencil lettering, beneath a picture of a bird on a twig, it reads, "Live simply, dream big, be grateful, give love, laugh lots."

On the coffee table is a plate of half-eaten toast with avocado on one of the slices and the knife used to spread it resting on the edge of the plate. There's also a jar of some kind of pale spread, hollowed out avocado skins, a mug, a potted plant and a pencil case beside a pen that's resting on a list of some kind.

A block of white text appears onscreen in the centre at the top. It reads:

Green things on toast!
Great beans with toast!

Kaya or Avo?
Kopi or Coffee?

The text is replaced with more, which reads:

Hey, how are you going? Could I have smashed avo on toast please.
Auntie ah, kaya set A.
With ice latte with soy milk. Here's my reusable coffee cup.
Kopi O Siew Dai da pao Peng!

Fade to black.

On a black stage with a black curtain, a kind of living space has been set up under a spotlight. There's a pointy tent in the middle made from a sheet hung over a string suspended from the ceiling. The same string loops down on the right with a series of cards pegged onto it. There's a bed inside the tent - a mattress on the floor with covers of bright green, teal and blue.

In front of the tent are more soft furnishings - a pale mat in the centre with pillows on the right and a bean bag on the left, with a pair of women's sandals lying nearby.

Behind the bean bag is a hat stand with hats and coats hanging on its hooks, and a coffee table with a potted plant and some food on it, and leaning against one of the table legs is a sign.

On the right, beside the pillows, is a pea-green suitcase lying open with a jumble of clothes inside it. Behind that is a writing table with a desk lamp glowing on it, some books and stationery items, and a red jacket hung on the chair that's tucked under the table.

Zooming in on the suitcase, we see that it contains some warm clothes, a tiny doll, a packet of biscuits, a cow costume and a folding umbrella.

A block of white text appears onscreen, in the top left corner. It reads:

Shortly after arriving in Melbourne,
I noticed that the umbrella is not an umbrella at all.

It is instead a hoodie,
A brisk walk,
A briefcase./p>

Fade to black.

On a black stage with a black curtain, a kind of living space has been set up under a spotlight. There's a pointy tent in the middle made from a sheet hung over a string suspended from the ceiling. The same string loops down on the right with a series of cards pegged onto it. There's a bed inside the tent - a mattress on the floor with covers of bright green, teal and blue.

In front of the tent are more soft furnishings - a pale mat in the centre with pillows on the right and a bean bag on the left, with a pair of women's sandals lying nearby.

Behind the bean bag is a hat stand with hats and coats hanging on its hooks, and a coffee table with a potted plant and some food on it, and leaning against one of the table legs is a sign.

On the right, beside the pillows, is a pea-green suitcase lying open with a jumble of clothes inside it. Behind that is a writing table with a desk lamp glowing on it, some books and stationery items, and a red jacket hung on the chair that's tucked under the table.

Zooming in on the desk, we see that in its centre, in the glow of the desk lamp, is an open notebook containing a handwritten budget, with a pencil resting on top, and at the back a small pot of balm resting on a pile of books.

A block of white text appears onscreen, in the centre. It reads:

The day Baby tiger was born
Mama tiger, Papa tiger, Aunt tiger, another Aunt tiger and Grandma tiger
All leaned in and peered at the little gift that just arrived.

It's replaced by more text:

"Smells like baby,"
Grandma chuckled and rubbed little cub with her face.

Years went by and little cub was not little any more.
She grew in wisdom and stature
And discovered her little gift in
"THE SOMERSAULT".

More text:

Now, you must understand that in Paw Paw Villa,
Mama tiger, Papa tiger, Aunt tiger, another Aunt tiger and Grandma tiger
Did not do "THE SOMERSAULT".

It is a good gift bestowed, but also very unfamiliar to Paw Paw Villa.

The next block of text reads:

Home was too small to do the somersaults.
So Baby tiger ran beyond Paw Paw Villa,
And discovered the skies just over yonder.
She knew instantly, that yonder was where she must go.

More text:

Grandma insisted Tiger Balm come along with her.

"But I don't like the smell!"
"But I have no use for it!"
Now it smelt like
Grandma and her care.

Her concern in a bottle of white ointment.

Fade to black.

On a black stage with a black curtain, a kind of living space has been set up under a spotlight. There's a pointy tent in the middle made from a sheet hung over a string suspended from the ceiling. The same string loops down on the right with a series of cards pegged onto it. There's a bed inside the tent - a mattress on the floor with covers of bright green, teal and blue.

In front of the tent are more soft furnishings - a pale mat in the centre with pillows on the right and a bean bag on the left, with a pair of women's sandals lying nearby.

Behind the bean bag is a hat stand with hats and coats hanging on its hooks, and a coffee table with a potted plant and some food on it, and leaning against one of the table legs is a sign.

On the right, beside the pillows, is a pea-green suitcase lying open with a jumble of clothes inside it. Behind that is a writing table with a desk lamp glowing on it, some books and stationery items, and a red jacket hung on the chair that's tucked under the table.

The row of cards hanging on the string on the right of the tent casts a shadow on the black curtain at the back. Zooming in, we see that there are photos of smiling friends, family and even a student graduation pegged between the greeting cards, and also a handwritten letter.

A block of white text appears onscreen in the bottom right corner. It reads:

What impulse was it I do not know.

If I ran out of ink,
You'd see where I had to pause and change a pen.

I could call, I could video call easily...

Another block of text replaces the first. It reads:

If I cried while writing it,
The paper would crease a little at the part.

But some words are better said this way.

So I paid for my stamps.
The first handwritten letter in 10 years
A proof that you are there
And I am here.

Fade to black.