In(ter)dependent Studies
1 Sept to 5 Oct. Various locations.
In(ter)dependent studies 2019 is a community/ experiential/ experimental project inviting individuals to study together from 1 Sept to 5 Oct.
In(ter)dependent studies started as a collaborative experiment, inviting people to study independently, but somewhat together, and contributing to the process and experience for each other. The intention was to reflect upon ideas about independence, personal development and “studying”, and the purposes and purposelessness of such endeavours. It questions, for instance, the meaning when such pursuits are associated with structure, institutions, the statuses of “independent” and “students”, and studying as an occupation.
The project culminated in a session of presentation of findings on 4 Oct 2019.
This initiative began with an invitation to take part, as a collaborator or otherwise “independent student”. A collaborator in this initiative will undertake a largely non-obligatory, self-monitored, and self-motivated studying endeavour over a month. The subject and curriculum, and learning goals, is up to individual personal planning and discretion. A collaborator may choose to interact or engage with each other, as much or as little, for example, to work on further project collaborations. In other words, collaborators decided their own research area and commitment level.
The “outcome” of the programme is the process itself and thus, open-ended, as dependent on the collaborators’ interactions and actions and “inactions”. This was reflected in the way the invitation and the programme details were consistently revised based on various input. See the latest version here, and the past versions here.
The term, “independent student”, refers to the “independent studies” courses offered by educational institutions, whereby students undertake a course of study with little or no direct supervision, and also to other statuses such as “independent artists”, “independent researcher”, or “independent curators”, that also commonly refers to freelancers.
By the end of the project, collaborators include: Kozue, ahdini izzatika, Jessie Lim, Lynx Ng, Nelson, Koh Jun Wee, Dea Ratna, Yan Ni, Kim Hyesu, Don Wong, Saiful Abu Bakar, Isaac Ng, Jillian, Ratna, Ashley Chin, Christina Lee, Celeste Teng, Rocky H, Winifred, Joey.Spl, Tan Wen, and three others who prefer not to be named on the web.
Studying here and there
The month-long process of In(ter)dependent Studies 2019
General physical locations were suggested, with the sessions in the first week taking place at an art gallery (NTU CCA exhibition), the second week at the National Library, the third week at private spaces, and finally at wherever. Participants were free to suggest otherwise, and to propose various exhibitions to visit together. Attendance and participation, whether physically or remotely, or if at all, is entirely at the individual’s discretion. Typically there would be some informal discussion towards the end of the study session.
Here are some photographs from the study and activity sessions.
Studying at one of our homes
discussion at mac's
Site recce at National Library Study Lounge
after studies desert!
exhibition at library
Visiting exhibition at LASALLE
outing to takashi murakami exhibition
discussion over drinks
Site recce at Singapore Federation of Art Societies
outing/visit to gentlemen's press
On 4 Oct 2019, the project culminated in a
Findings presentation
In(ter)dependent Studies is Still active!
As proposed by collaborator, Nelson, In(ter)dependent Studies continued to exist beyond the stipulated period, as a loose group or collaborative over Whatsapp, exchanging sporadically on projects and ideas. Members have since met up several times to study together and also to share on personal projects.
Since then, the group has evolved with previous members dropping out and new members joining.
Credits
In(ter)dependent Studies 2019 was initiated by Lee Ju-Lyn.
For more information and documentation, visit here.
For permissions and things, contact Ju-Lyn at meekfreak@gmail.com.