On the Ground
‘On the Ground’ deals with Singapore’s political system through the lens of an opposition party volunteer.
Examining electoral maps through hand embroidery and machine knitting, the collection questions Singapore’s flawed democracy and the positions of power that are held by men.
Each look represents a member of civic society, calling for collective action, greater accountability, and the hope for more progressive women in politics.
Research and Development Pages
Risograph Zine, 8.5” x 11”
‘On the Ground’ Newsletter comprises two papers that I wrote, one for my class on Voting, Political Representation and Game Theory.
The first paper summarises political representation in Singapore, looking at both the presidential and parliamentary elections.
The second paper is a brief, anecdotal piece that explores why I believe the arts play such a crucial role in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
This poster draws from research on gerrymandering tactics used in the US, examining packing and cracking used by both political parties for racial and partisan gerrymandering.
Such examples are hard to imagine in Singapore, given our unique housing policy, but does not omit the existence of gerrymandering.
It is also much harder to use traditional methods to determine whether gerrymandering occurred, as Singapore does not have a dominant two-party system.
Ballot Paper
Risograph Print, 6” x 4”
2026 THESIS ELECTION RESULTS
Number of Electors: 96
❌ Candidates ❌
Look One: The Gahmen (16 votes — 16.67%)
Look Two: The Non-Essential (25 votes — 26.04%)
Look Three: The Kopitiam Uncle (21 votes — 21.88%)
Look Four: The Army Boy (7 votes — 7.29%)
Look Five: The Candidate (27 votes — 28.13%)
Rejected vote(s): 1
As part of my thesis showcase, I presented a ballot box alongside a stack of ballot papers and an X stamp, inviting visitors to engage with my work and cast their ballot.
Studying ballot papers, both in Singapore and elsewhere, was part of my thesis research as I examined the significance of the vote.
The ‘X’ became a motif in my project, developing through various embroidery iterations (see earlier research post).
Drawing reference from the design of Singapore’s ballot paper, I adapted it for my own project and printed on the risograph.
It was important to include the act of casting a ballot in the showcase so participants could properly engage with my work and make a choice that was meaningful to them.
Design and Construction: Toh Ling
Embroidery Assist: Wenny Xu
Knit Assist: Audrey Stubbs
Videographer: Toh Ling
Photographer: Toh Ling
Video Assist: Alicia Liu
Photo/Lighting Assist: Mattie Gillette, Nisha Tiangratankul, Iman Ali, Yi Nan Kang
Models: Ethan Sim, Johanna Pan, Toh Ling