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Silence Is Not a Dream performance (2020)” displayed in white serif font centered on a solid black background.

SILENCE IS NOT A DREAM

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How silent are we when we are silent?


SILENCE IS NOT A DREAM, explores the complex relationship between inner conflict, silence and human connection. In an immersive performance combining visual art, sound and movement, Jay Chia Henareh invites the audience on a journey from external silence into extreme inner turmoil, culminating in a state of mental paralysis.

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The piece unfolds through whispers, electronic chaos and sudden stillness. Challenging perceptions of silence as mere peace. It transforms silence into a language of vulnerability and profound self-reflection.

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Silence Is Not a Dream premiered during Jay Chia Henareh's time at the Amsterdam Theatre School and Contemporary Music Academy, marking his debut in creating experiential, multi-sensory performances, that question existence and the unseen struggles beneath quietness.

Concept, Music, Visuals and Performance by: Jay Chia Henareh
A barefoot male performance artist stands alone in a darkened theater under a green spotlight, head bowed and hands at his sides, beside a rippling curtain onto which a large, distorted monochrome face is projected—an evocative scene from the “Silence Is Not a Dream” immersive performance.
A barefoot male performance artist stands alone in a darkened theater under a green spotlight, head bowed and hands at his sides, beside a rippling curtain onto which a large, distorted monochrome face is projected—an evocative scene from the “Silence Is Not a Dream” immersive performance.
A barefoot male performance artist bound in thick rope stands alone under a green spotlight on a dark stage, head bowed and hands tied, evoking tension and vulnerability in the immersive theater piece.
A barefoot male performance artist bound in rope stands under a green spotlight in a dark theater, beside a rippling curtain projected with a distorted monochrome face, capturing the haunting atmosphere of the “Silence Is Not a Dream” immersive performance.
“I have always used silence to avoid being seen and to hide myself. I always thought I didn't have the words to express my inner world, so I have always kept my distance by remaining silent. But was I truly silent?”
- Jay Chia Henareh
© 2025 Jay Chia Henareh. All rights reserved. | Web design by Jay Chia Henareh
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