Art Direction/ Motion Design
“Bunraku theatre and puppetry were central to the visual approach for Dead Knot,” says visual artist Phua Juan Yong, reflecting on his research for the project (excerpt from Nowness Asia).
Caught in a personal conundrum between his existence and creative purpose, Singaporean songwriter Isa Ong turned inward, embarking on a soul-searching journey through Claude Glass, his solo musical project. His aim: to reconcile internal battles and find peace.
The music video for Dead Knot, from his latest EP Isekai, illustrates the symbiotic yet strained relationship between puppet and puppeteer — a co-dependent dynamic that mirrors the internal friction Isa experiences. “This ongoing, problematic tension feeds off itself,” he says, describing it as a “twisted, broken dance” driven by conflicting desires, expectations, and purpose.
