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DOCUMENT


DOCUMENT is a series of collaborative workshops and conversations that seeks to reconsider the notion of document. Bringing together the practice of three artists, three writers, and three historians, whose work has involved the use of historical archives, DOCUMENT attempts to critically reexamine conventional practices of history and offer alternate modes of writing about the past. It seeks to create a space of making, a way of writing, that cuts across the disciplinary boundaries of history, creative writing, and art.

There are four stages to DOCUMENT: 

Stage I (January 2021- June 2021)
In this stage, the 3 artists, 3 writers, and 3 historians gather and correspond online to introduce their work and begin collaborating. Results of these conversations and presentations will be documented and shared via a website launched to the public by July 2021.

Stage II (July 2021-December 2022)
Second stage is designed to facilitate the ongoing collaboration between the 9 artists, writers, and historians. Continued online meetings will occur bimonthly for a period of one year to facilitate and organize the collaborations. In September 2022, participants will gather online for intensive workshops and presentations. Participants will present works in progress, receive feedback from the group, and finalize the collaborative writing and artworks in preparation for the book proposal.  

Stage III (January 2023 – December 2023)
To mount an exhibition of artworks, visual texts and creative documents to share the artworks, writings and other contents related to the anthology at an art museum, gallery or alternative art space. This will include roundtable talks to discuss the collective work while reflecting upon this collaborative project. Publication preparations will continue working with the publisher and editorial staff to prepare for the final stage of the project.

Stage IV (January 2024 – December 2025)
Fourth and final stage is dedicated to the publication of the anthology with new collaborative works by all members. This involves an editing phase, final feedback on the work by organizers and submission of the book contents with all permissions, copyediting and proofing done so the book will be available to the public by the end of 2025.


"There is this idea of staging."
"I wonder how much of that is true interest or if it’s because you work with archives."
"It looks so tenuous, the way it is set-up."
"I feel detached, like what you said. He’s the one with his eyes closed."
"I think of the incredible labour it takes to stage the military as totally secure but also benign towards people it’s not at war with."
"I am interested in how artists look at how stories are being recalled."
"I’m trying to document people’s lives that have gone undocumented in textual form."
"The name of the plant becomes a document."
"It seems like the Malays are the focal element in the Garden’s history."