An Uncommon History of the Common Fence: A Prologue | Jason Wee

The Padang Sessions

"An Uncommon History of the Common Fence" is a research project that suggests that the common fence—often used as a protective safety urban device or as a boundary marker demarcating permissible and non-permissible movement—has had an uncommon history within the biography of Singapore.

The fence is so commonplace within the urban environment that it recedes from active vision. In fact, the common fence has been a participant in key events in the history of Singapore: as a witness to history, as a site of its making and as its casualty. In these ways, the fence, as an urban design element, has enacted key dimensions of citizenship within this city.

To account for these various dimensions, the research in "An Uncommon History" is manifested as equal parts design and photographic history, sculptural and installation objects, as well as text and speech. Singaporean artist and writer Jason Wee explores the common fence as a participant in key events in the history of Singapore.

“A Prologue” was part of a larger programme titled: “An Uncommon History of the Common Fence: A Prologue + Reading Spiral”.

This talk took place at National Gallery Singapore on 16 Oct 2022, as part of ‘October Gathering’.