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Around the Tok Panjang is a series of programmes organised in collaboration by the NUS Baba House and GEN, which will run from August to December 2022. The Tok Panjang (long table in Baba Malay) is an important feature in the Straits Chinese home. The Tok Panjang has become a symbol of celebrations and more importantly, conversations in the Straits Chinese household where food preparation, family meals, ancestor offerings take place. Indeed, one can say that the everyday life happens and unfold around the table.
Making use of the provenance, spaces, and artefacts of the heritage house, this partnership will seek to unravel the gendered norms and practices in the Straits Chinese culture. By looking at the negotiations of Peranakan Women, we seek to open up conversations surrounding gendered norms and practices in the Straits Chinese culture. This will hopefully prompt reflections on roles and norms in the contemporary times.
This collaboration is brought together by university-based heritage organisation NUS Baba House and for-impact organisation GEN, aiming to bridge artistic practices and academic research to ground communities. The partnership strives to normalise and socialise conversations on gender and social identities through historical lenses. The collaboration will also be activated by discussions facilitated by a group of NUS Student volunteers as part of the post-tour conversations designed around the guided tour content, and using GEN’s Generally Speaking cards.
This programming series includes:
- Guided tours on Women and the Baba House (Aug – Dec)
- GEN’s Generally Speaking in action (Aug – Dec)
- Around the Tok Panjang Fireside Chats (13 Aug, 2pm – 3.30pm & 3 Dec, 10am-11.30am)