IN Lewis Carroll's Through The Looking Glass, the White Queen proclaims that she once believed in six impossible things, all before breakfast. Well, J C Sum and "Magic Babe" Ning - arguably Singapore's hottest magicians - have not only believed in impossible things, they've actually done them.

Beginning with 2007's The Impossible Teleportation, wherein Sum was teleported to the top of a building, the duo have performed one "mega illusion" per year since, including The Impossible Journey - teleporting three people across the Singapore River; The Impossible Record - performing 15 grand illusions, including one where Ning was beheaded, in five minutes; and The Impossible 4D Prediction, where they predicted in advance the winning lottery numbers they made a week before.

They've even appeared on TV show The Noose.

The 2009 Merlin Award winners - the magician's equivalent of the Oscars - are ready to baffle audiences once again. In The Mind Heist, Sum and Ning will attempt to set a world record by being the first illusionists in the world to capture the thoughts of 100 random people in one sitting. It will also be the first mega illusion to be streamed live on the Internet.

We got the two to take a breather from their busy prep to talk about all things magical - and then some.

Would you say The Mind Heist is more difficult than teleporting people across water?

Ning: Yes, the biggest challenge is trying to decipher the thoughts of 100 strangers and then "systematically" attempting to determine each individual's exact thoughts in a tight specified duration of 60 minutes. To keep things fresh and interesting, JC and I will ask different participants to think of various subjects; each topic having thousands of the wildest possibilities. For example, if we ask someone to simply think of any type of food in the world, well, there's obviously an extremely large pool of possibilities out there.

JC: It is a completely different type of difficulty. One is the manifestation of a visual illusion; the other is the capturing of a psychological perception.



Do you guys feel you always have to up the ante with whatever you do?

Ning: Expectations are naturally higher with every mega illusion or major show that we do ... but pressure only comes from us. To constantly challenge and push ourselves to the next level. Our intentions have always been to help elevate the magic arts, inspire possibilities and make our country proud.

JC: We are generally two or three steps ahead of what we are currently doing. We have a few secret brainstorming and magic designing techniques that help us develop new innovative illusions and concepts.



What does the word 'magic' mean to you?

JC: Magic, to me, goes beyond just a moment but is the portal to an optimistic outlook on life, knowing that anything is possible.

Ning: Magic means the world to me, but I think what's important is really what magic means to people. If you don't believe in magic, you will never find it. Period.



You've been doing this for a while. What's the biggest lesson you've learnt?

JC: Always listen to the audience and evolve with the world. One's art can only impact an audience if it is relevant to them.

Ning: Anything is possible. Just because it's never been done before, it only means it hasn't been achieved yet. So be fearless and never allow detractors to pull you down.



Do your friends still ask you to do party tricks?

Ning: (Laughs) Yes, I do perform for them all the time! Nothing is stronger than casually freaking out someone's mind in an informal setting.



Is there an ultimate magic trick you'd like to do?

Ning: World peace! (Does beauty queen wave)



What else is up for 2012?

Ning: JC and I will be travelling a lot. We did the New Year's Eve show for (top French TV show) Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde (and) the TV producers loved us, so we've been asked back. In February, we will be in Kuwait and Malaysia. Later in the year, we will be in the US and Europe, and we've also been booked for a two-week run at Genting. You will also see us hosting and performing in a 3D TV show commissioned by the Media Development Authority of Singapore that will be launched this year.



Please tell us a little magician's secret.

JC: Magic happens in the minds of the audience. Misdirect the mind and you misdirect the eyes and then perception becomes reality.



The Mind Heist happens tomorrow, 3pm, at Sinema Old School (11B Mount Sophia).