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class="post type-text tag_writing tag_art tag_shrines tag_devotion tag_altars tag_magic tag_manifestos tag_proposals tag_resistance tag_datuk%20kongs tag_gabrielle%20bates tag_portals tag_weird%20hope%20engines"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">Shrine As Practice</h2> <div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7796789859c31667430c25a84ee3cfff/ddcabccda8fbc94f-91/s1280x1920/1fcb418bbb148705fd6c6d2f6c1694b73c1dfb2f.jpg" data-big-photo-height="919" data-big-photo-width="689"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7796789859c31667430c25a84ee3cfff/ddcabccda8fbc94f-91/s500x750/bfdca9a343e95b015805eeee11a2de7dc5dd6b63.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7796789859c31667430c25a84ee3cfff/ddcabccda8fbc94f-91/s75x75_c1/694541182c3585e9a4e3b846d98413075e15ccd2.jpg 75w, 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sizes="(max-width: 689px) 100vw, 689px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s1280x1920/4d0a5b847d193ee669fffed92d27256e10937131.jpg" data-big-photo-height="3024" data-big-photo-width="4032"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s500x750/142223a14d5ff36217f4b3f44591ad7ac7ebb943.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s75x75_c1/06ad0294bed2264284e3b7ccb3d620d4be89e394.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s100x200/8b6aa72ddc92ec57c93d9f5cf780feb4d5e6165c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s250x400/8c7d29a51c9ed6913e1cf87dfa03e6e95efa3244.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s400x600/14ef987dd7ae81c2997fcbb23ef77ef566777d12.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s500x750/142223a14d5ff36217f4b3f44591ad7ac7ebb943.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s540x810/fac7305cd446627485cb977cc2eff36b18717d97.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s640x960/20f57968ce0e15e406d2c5548fcb965fef23bb17.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s1280x1920/4d0a5b847d193ee669fffed92d27256e10937131.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/685e8931d9aed8d4cf7a521e6fa6a132/ddcabccda8fbc94f-24/s2048x3072/2537b1ee87187499eedc5e32599532d7efb624c9.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: </i><a href="https://falsemachine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i>Patrick Stuart</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/toiletworldultra/" target="_blank"><i>Scrap</i></a><i>)</i></p><h2><b>Attention As Devotion</b></h2><p>In Nottingham we visited <a href="https://www.themuseumofcuriosities.co.uk/" target="_blank">the Museum Of Curiosities</a>.</p><p>It boasts “haunted items from around the world”, gathered via its owner’s “paranormal investigations and his contacts within the world of the macabre”.</p><p>Mummies, tools from Victorian morgues, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dybbuk_box" target="_blank">dybbuk boxes</a>. Basically: goth Halloween kitsch.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s1280x1920/67c4b22f265f240a69b90c6be338ed92f5871c66.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1815" data-big-photo-width="1920"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s500x750/0d6edfc78a2e92b8b1163e95fbd70e575e037301.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s75x75_c1/a7fa152cdd406b78de9796828a7aa8cb47c45ea7.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s100x200/cc9c9cb8a224e89a64a0e119b4fdc5c0eebc203e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s250x400/4a0b4612854f5672bce8a72e70cbfa0f5928e590.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s400x600/6c6a28e78f7c3b7936aa058552f4464f71371d4d.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s500x750/0d6edfc78a2e92b8b1163e95fbd70e575e037301.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s540x810/20c23c5fcc9bc93e652dd181c50e9807427e26d9.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s640x960/045497d97e0ae504e5890b1e7524a2789d6b604d.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s1280x1920/67c4b22f265f240a69b90c6be338ed92f5871c66.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/579549c26b20e4314d921ea3100408e3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-39/s2048x3072/a46cb01139689d76ee5d8a1a36baafbed8e58a36.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Besides a shelf of “spell kits”, I took no photographs, inside. I have to admit I was unnerved. </p><p>Back home, a collection claiming to <a href="https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2020/10/631528/nst175-museums-ghostly-show-drew-600000" target="_blank">exhibit cursed items</a> would have been quite serious. Displaying a command of ilmu; an institutional mastery over spiritual entities. It would feel <i>keras</i>.</p><p>Here, in the secular UK, it is some dude’s prodigious collection of spooky memorabilia. The prop puppet from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saw_(film)" target="_blank"><i>Saw</i></a><i> </i>sits amid a classroom-photo’s worth of haunted dolls. (<a href="https://pjamesstuart.substack.com/p/march-2025-song-of-audacity" target="_blank">Patrick’s thoughts</a> on the Museum are nuanced and worth reading!)</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s1280x1920/2193d420df8ee6019efe9d21c0ce8a371b6dde92.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s500x750/a53db9c92909724a6e2116fbb5cf6461240311ec.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s75x75_c1/f6bb1fc761ebe6e1295499640005e71da1f41f63.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s100x200/7513c9bc2c96551f066e73e54f5d9447b04c54ba.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s250x400/97199354e40b99198a903971476468667c261713.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s400x600/6004268d25ae92a38d0da6279890f0631371f743.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s500x750/a53db9c92909724a6e2116fbb5cf6461240311ec.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s540x810/d6fc3e0db42ca5cdbdfc1527a1f4dd6af59d798d.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s640x960/d68c5165529f5e59187eece0a1584b626b0526da.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5f1af27ef47d0050cd98ca8d9c64cd09/ddcabccda8fbc94f-80/s1280x1920/2193d420df8ee6019efe9d21c0ce8a371b6dde92.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/themuseumofcuriosities/p/C_0KHsxMc2P/" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a><i>)</i></p><p>One doll caught my eye. Propped on a desk, red, clown-like—surrounded by a shrine of letters. Wall text explained the doll’s name was Tommy:</p><blockquote class="npf_indented"><p>“We are not going to give out any information about the effects he has on the living … if you do get affected in any way and it continues<br>you can write a letter to tommy to ask him to stop affecting you”</p></blockquote><p>With the museum’s address appended.</p><p>Tommy’s letters spilled over and were tacked onto the facing door. Some were in Arabic. Signed greetings from all over. “We believe in you Tommy!” “You are very nice.” “We all love you very much!”</p><p>Were these genuine petitions to Tommy, so he’d stop haunting them? Or an ironic, impromptu museum guestbook?</p><p>Whatever the case: people seemed sincere participants in this letter-writing ritual; in juicing Tommy up; in saying they believed his story.</p><p>In paying tickets of their attention to <b>make him realer</b>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s1280x1920/ec806fd62e2f8fc7f5c01aad1abfa410f035b7b3.jpg" data-big-photo-height="600" data-big-photo-width="1000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s500x750/eb400e37ef9ba14760ae28678864123a31a5adb0.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s75x75_c1/b2abbb9a1216db9996ad676a225f0fba4af517d4.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s100x200/6088a954fd3115a1973f2008e06fa82c8f820c7a.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s250x400/74da1e52f24103614ffc7d13116993e1ac874b89.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s400x600/f9e86c65b8a01ec2aa800eb44dd90825c0b0e462.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s500x750/eb400e37ef9ba14760ae28678864123a31a5adb0.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s540x810/1d8067f08cc254b5dc85ba1f595422cc03ee6acc.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s640x960/8577e5c9ad946c38023d8a8020831227fecfccee.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a6f7fd83fa046a570e5563dd3ec4dcaf/ddcabccda8fbc94f-de/s1280x1920/ec806fd62e2f8fc7f5c01aad1abfa410f035b7b3.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><a href="https://m.malaysiakini.com/news/737775" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a><i>)</i></p><h2><b>Devotion As Attention</b> </h2><p>In mid-March 2025, it came out that the century-old Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple—a small place of worship in downtown Kuala Lumpur; built in 1893, predating Independence—was slated to be <a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/20/welcoming-demolition-pause-century-old-hindu-temple-in-masjid-india-seeks-amicable-outcome-with-dbkl-and-landowner-jakel/170207" target="_blank">demolished</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.jakelcapital.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Jakel Group</a>, a textiles and property-development corporation, was staking their claim to the temple’s land. Jakel intends to build a shiny modern mosque, in its place.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s1280x1920/3c6b480cad8d57537e90f86300a39c27ab5e26eb.jpg" data-big-photo-height="666" data-big-photo-width="1000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s500x750/6537dff206e5a012a5b1dfe40da94a50ff01af10.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s75x75_c1/aa350c968350b80884ea37143ca3d58b9af548d4.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s100x200/b95918c10422f356cc90aa99ea991dbc3ff41fa2.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s250x400/91d860fe81e76259c59c7758ff339a791620b7a3.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s400x600/4291eae53c8577c4df9715b01f5b4dc966066a8d.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s500x750/6537dff206e5a012a5b1dfe40da94a50ff01af10.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s540x810/c1d436097c3bf884faad78b870214a70610118e5.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s640x960/86fb458f9370632d27c3fa7e896cb1b4b695fc40.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/313fedd56a15941cb12c71f304b39fe2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-b2/s1280x1920/3c6b480cad8d57537e90f86300a39c27ab5e26eb.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><a href="https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/03/20/welcoming-demolition-pause-century-old-hindu-temple-in-masjid-india-seeks-amicable-outcome-with-dbkl-and-landowner-jakel/170207" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a><i>)</i></p><p><a href="https://www.malaysianow.com/opinion/2025/03/29/4-misguided-claims-surrounding-kl-temple-making-way-for-masjid-madani" target="_blank">Lawyers and activists</a> came out in <a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/737790" target="_blank">support of the temple</a>. Jakel explained they had <a href="https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/106082/jakel-denies-plans-to-demolish-temple-promises-to-build-mosque-harmoniously" target="_blank">purchased the site from City Hall</a>; it is <a href="https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2025/03/24/duo-says-sp-of-jakels-land-purchase-from-dbkl-will-clear-the-air-on-status-of-hindu-temple" target="_blank">unclear how City Hall had ownership of the site</a> in the first place.</p><p>Eventually <a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/738445" target="_blank">things were “resolved”</a>—the local Hindu community agreed to have their temple moved to a nearby site; Jakel will build their mosque, as planned.</p><p>A frustrating resolution, in a Malaysia riven by ethnic and religious <a href="https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2025/03/28/sudden-increase-of-places-marked-as-kuil-haram-on-google-maps/" target="_blank">supremacy</a>. In a different time, in a better Malaysia, the temple need not have moved.</p><p>Yet:</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s1280x1920/f48c16b8c185df540a4ba7979087f3ee5d2039c6.jpg" data-big-photo-height="669" data-big-photo-width="850"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s500x750/e14f75aa81aefb55912a5fa5d211aa28ad10db59.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s75x75_c1/f7384356b5135cdda07096a56c2054be325fe44a.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s100x200/5745ac38e42f6869817cc8e8cffdb6f528c83bde.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s250x400/515670d7674515ecdbf480425e7bed45347aadab.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s400x600/e9f566abe72b2aba009b82c54ef07c637ae91383.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s500x750/e14f75aa81aefb55912a5fa5d211aa28ad10db59.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s540x810/7919e819371f77540edb95ce5a02faa8a011603d.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s640x960/eaad3f301d73c253f963b0fd9b27cbe3ca1b56c2.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/55c6d8574b2e35e612c6db1adf225e40/ddcabccda8fbc94f-a0/s1280x1920/f48c16b8c185df540a4ba7979087f3ee5d2039c6.jpg 850w" sizes="(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(“People sleep in tents, ministers sleep in mansions.” Image </i><a href="https://lostgens.org/kampung-berembang-project-kampung-seni-2006/" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a><i>)</i></p><p>The truth is that situations like these are pretty common. Kuala Lumpur’s face is ever a-blur: old <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jules.ong1/posts/pfbid02s7qWxDAxr3nJ3HVaKqPtaxfXJ5ZW438UaEcyRDGjFhP5aXzqsG87ureo5BUCU4HNl" target="_blank">communities</a> and <a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/03/23/historic-ashram-in-jeopardy-again" target="_blank">edifices</a> making way, often against their will, for towers and glass; malls, condos, mixed developments with rooftop pools.</p><p>Under the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torrens_title" target="_blank">Torrens system</a>, City Hall gets to decide who owns what land. And City Hall has always been developer-friendly, if not developer-<i>bought</i>.</p><p>How many low-cost flats and semi-rural kampungs and “squatter” communities fall before the diggers of the wealthy? How many of their disappearances go uncommented on, or are waved away in the name of “progress”?</p><p>The Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple became a national story is <i>precisely </i>because it is a temple.</p><p>Devotion is attention.</p><p>And while religion often devolves into fascism or communalism, <b>it is nice to have a god on your side, if you are up against Mammon</b>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s1280x1920/c15dbba337eedb1a56dde3b279456bea2f970c5a.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1066" data-big-photo-width="1600"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s500x750/9a34a045cf635cba6cd6d92500aeedd25597c6b2.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s75x75_c1/e66373deb4ff595f028ae5fcb77aec21c592f4be.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s100x200/5fea25b6e9f2486977aad6f29c6aae0a73611d45.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s250x400/c285298ba45f025d3d2b9f486b2456e042ae2db1.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s400x600/a5e689443e5af7c56dde2497fd703220bfbfac79.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s500x750/9a34a045cf635cba6cd6d92500aeedd25597c6b2.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s540x810/334906e09607689f5ad6f28ef458671be77078f6.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s640x960/ff44c60f06f4393f017f3ff3611bc9ebb901fe7e.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s1280x1920/c15dbba337eedb1a56dde3b279456bea2f970c5a.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b247dd0469823f6a1e005637de15edfc/ddcabccda8fbc94f-20/s2048x3072/655c102d6315e895e6e653f90f74456bf0715747.jpg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: John Smalley)</i></p><h2><b>Shrine As Practice</b></h2><p>I’ve been thinking about shrines a lot, lately.</p><p><b>Shrines as play</b>. I built a shrine to <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating" target="_blank">a crocodile god</a>, in a gallery show about TTRPGs.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s1280x1920/86aef0177eed34290ad8ac432a87c8e3030c786a.jpg" data-big-photo-height="800" data-big-photo-width="1200"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s500x750/f2a4939fd44ea406dc5d502498615f8daaef55e1.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s75x75_c1/8b2c7ed2ef8a9034f176bd0d1425eaaf51f41361.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s100x200/3e5d17b1450dfe23818efa690806e1b720ba86d5.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s250x400/4fc926a07fccf5c36fdcafe8c8359aa06ef741c0.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s400x600/ccdc89bb465fe8b9e4b49f78993d21cbbe84adb7.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s500x750/f2a4939fd44ea406dc5d502498615f8daaef55e1.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s540x810/8519fc68d6cf2a4f861c4553655abd43af48c451.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s640x960/e368e750b04d0efe686608788a4b1fd7bd8023fe.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c080ba1c4fef80ef7c2b0ecd110b6fe3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-4a/s1280x1920/86aef0177eed34290ad8ac432a87c8e3030c786a.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: Grace Wong)</i></p><p><b>Shrines as memory</b>. Sharon’s <a href="https://smokesignals.sharonchin.com/portal-two-rings-of-fire/" target="_blank"><i>Portal</i></a> work is a performance piece, fire ceremony, and photo posters permanently installed at a Port Dickson beach to remember two beloved mangrove trees.</p><p><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/759075868440248320/monument-vs-shrine" target="_blank"><b>Shrines as resistance.</b></a></p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s1280x1920/b573a2621a0740ccfafe340438a0a46afefbaf6c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="440" data-big-photo-width="712"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s500x750/08b187e16d462e1fca9a0d3813442cfaa2eeae7e.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s75x75_c1/e9a774fc16e62a8447a9d54ddf02ab3f1f239eba.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s100x200/4ae2e5166b49d6ab749aa11f1e7f5ec33ccfed78.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s250x400/1c7b593faeac5a8edce938ad57d4ae5a00961b60.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s400x600/875883fa8cc0ee4efa49e9825f77f156d8260b1b.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s500x750/08b187e16d462e1fca9a0d3813442cfaa2eeae7e.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s540x810/2a738727ca38b43034a7247a5ecfe516d60e135a.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s640x960/e20dcb5cf7fe5ce82c8cf872605b51ccdde2e35a.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4c435abf1ad52e035fb9492b23fcec6/ddcabccda8fbc94f-83/s1280x1920/b573a2621a0740ccfafe340438a0a46afefbaf6c.jpg 712w" sizes="(max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><a href="https://soscili.my/datuk-gong-dewa-melayu-yang-disembah-kat-nusantara/" target="_blank"><i>source</i></a><i>)</i></p><h2><b>Gods From Dreams</b></h2><p>In the popular Malay cosmology, geographical features both natural (trees, termite mounds, mountains) and man-made (mansions, highways, museums) are often inhabited by <a href="https://prpm.dbp.gov.my/cari1?keyword=penunggu" target="_blank">penunggu</a>—literally: “waiting entities”; in other words: “guardians”. </p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Na_Tuk_Kong" target="_blank">Datuk kongs</a>, earth deities worshipped by Chinese communities here, whose shrines dot the landscape throughout the Archipelago, are a kind of penunggu.</p><p>Worship of a datuk kong usually begins with a dream. The deity appears to a local in a vision, and commands them to build a shrine.</p><p>In 2018, after a spate of homophobia and transphobia in the news, Sharon dreamt of a sea goddess coming out of the sea, wearing the rainbow colours of the queer flag.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s1280x1920/41e04081eb45d36a9f6a26248402742aedf7b320.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1024" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s500x750/d4c1222097007a1d2901a432e77a95fb0cda773c.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s75x75_c1/9417b8f6f21eef641f3dea9b4788725411edf9e3.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s100x200/d6e4530e53a23fd51ca3e17256f37e04adaffe3d.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s250x400/dd9738e995829db97b5289576d7f2f776c5b2e9c.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s400x600/0d1880c19b7a734bcdc46c4697e1568c4fd18858.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s500x750/d4c1222097007a1d2901a432e77a95fb0cda773c.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s540x810/1aac37cd048b77584bd1923df4bcce0d64254c34.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s640x960/a3998cffd4f570febba12446b8fb489851789be5.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c309ea9dc6e7fa97e2fe0e2643c64703/ddcabccda8fbc94f-fb/s1280x1920/41e04081eb45d36a9f6a26248402742aedf7b320.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Art: </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/shiekoreto/" target="_blank"><i>Shika</i></a><i>)</i></p><p>In obedience to Sharon’s dream I wrote her datuk into a <a href="https://www.queerlapis.com/red-orange-yellow-green-blue-purple/" target="_blank">short story</a>.</p><p>If the same dream came to us today, maybe we’d be more confident in our convictions, and <b>build a shrine to this queer goddess in our town, for real</b>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s1280x1920/a0d2b25f64ee150c4a358c35b7f40f6dff56b3db.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1085" data-big-photo-width="1134"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s500x750/f5e59c5f5ae9398f1bdd4e125960e325ed9668f1.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s75x75_c1/309a049430ebbc29d66087527cb21927128fc1ea.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s100x200/7bdf033bcf2b529b35cbbadd3edb29f4204908fb.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s250x400/56cf1e81e711957ceb98aead4b6805e098b4183d.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s400x600/cfcfab75ba80612df74383b74c7f4dd853584984.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s500x750/f5e59c5f5ae9398f1bdd4e125960e325ed9668f1.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s540x810/539bd4275b56974e8a4d9243252b627e401ff679.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s640x960/c9ec74865eaf1c0101dfda75b0453fd5a6034ed9.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d22afbe640da5efa9f4c780cc706cad3/ddcabccda8fbc94f-d9/s1280x1920/a0d2b25f64ee150c4a358c35b7f40f6dff56b3db.jpg 1134w" sizes="(max-width: 1134px) 100vw, 1134px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(“Tree Shrining”, </i><a href="https://gabriellebates.com/about/the-sleep-walkers/tree-shrining/" target="_blank"><i>Gabrielle Bates</i></a><i>)</i></p><h2><b>Gods From Art</b></h2><p>I was once told that Australian governments are obliged to consult Indigenous communities before approving any development plans.</p><p>And since the most features in the landscape are imbued with <a href="https://magabala.com.au/products/dark-emu?" target="_blank">history</a>, with stories, with ecological and cultural meaning, development always happened slower than developers liked.</p><p>Honestly? This is how it should be anywhere.</p><p>Much of Australian artist Gabrielle Bates’s work is about challenging gentrification and community-shattering urban change. This is explicitly a magical practice: <a href="https://www.academia.edu/39603250/BATES_Gabrielle_Thesis_complete_Public" target="_blank">“Artist-as-Witch”</a>.</p><p>Beginining 2016, her practice of <a href="https://gabriellebates.com/about/the-sleep-walkers/tree-shrining/" target="_blank">tree shrining</a>, the artistic and ritual investiture of trees with divine and magical significance, has been performed around Sydney.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s1280x1920/2cc34589da67402df6efc15210950d50cad49e4e.jpg" data-big-photo-height="642" data-big-photo-width="960"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s500x750/5b3f82130b1e9a885ab3738573382157344be4f3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s75x75_c1/b0f6952bc71fb6a5e81654ad7f7aab6f4c41fbae.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s100x200/4ced1dffea27b03a2649e87aa7216cf7f667c50b.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s250x400/c44408aebb11a4535c6ee39bbca71bd6d0ea5c5e.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s400x600/e56cec0ce44df6ff476c8784cb7ea05cb5261218.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s500x750/5b3f82130b1e9a885ab3738573382157344be4f3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s540x810/abb99add7226a37dea9ee501e147c96609d5c00d.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s640x960/a02909dc105239dc534458747cfd7e0d732ed1f7.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9f9f5455e13ee854fa689879208cea9a/ddcabccda8fbc94f-e7/s1280x1920/2cc34589da67402df6efc15210950d50cad49e4e.jpg 960w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: </i><a href="https://smokesignals.sharonchin.com/" target="_blank"><i>Sharon Chin</i></a><i>)</i></p><p>It was also <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSharonChin/posts/2022730461089984" target="_blank">enacted in Kuala Lumpur</a>, as a way to reify an otherwise dour and conventional protest action, to save the <a href="https://www.tamanrimbakiara.net/" target="_blank">Taman Rimba Kiara</a> forest park.</p><p><b>Turning trees into small gods</b>—does that protect them? I don’t know. I think it gives them attention. An opportunity for devotion.</p><p><a href="https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2024/07/18/residents-welcome-cabinets-decision-on-taman-rimba-kiara" target="_blank">Taman Rimba Kiara survived</a>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s1280x1920/2c7ffaddb03857d23ade07ec416640a00b461453.jpg" data-big-photo-height="811" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s500x750/53a9a49b2e9c85da2794eaf05f2d7fa3e3405033.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s75x75_c1/2d2c2b1552bbb1ecdced7d92660a7bc1cfa1cfb7.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s100x200/14a2840ae1e31bf7271d7dea2c93797cb734aef1.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s250x400/f49e8c895073a52ff541ca7d5fcb65d76e6ad578.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s400x600/2232b8a11e010c3876c321fd44fdec133f8b89c7.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s500x750/53a9a49b2e9c85da2794eaf05f2d7fa3e3405033.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s540x810/317ef8cf9d2c3b5f80ebc79fecdbcee88ab32104.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s640x960/c5f8c0b264eec3fc474d2e54b83b7547a75d9100.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ac385636cb61ee6878c863ec8207441b/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ca/s1280x1920/2c7ffaddb03857d23ade07ec416640a00b461453.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/intron_depot/" target="_blank"><i>Jamie Sutcliffe</i></a><i>)</i></p><h2><b>Shrine As Strategy</b></h2><p>On Saturday 22 March 2025, at Bonington Gallery, as part of <a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank"><i><b>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</b></i></a>, I was on a panel with <a href="https://loottheroom.itch.io/" target="_blank">Chris Bisette</a> and <a href="https://laurieoconnel.itch.io/" target="_blank">Laurie O'Connel</a> and <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Blandy</a>.</p><p>We are tabletop roleplaying game-designers. “Game Design For Planetary Survival” was the subject we were meant to discuss.</p><p>I was very nervous about speaking, and panicked, and forgot what I wanted to say. (I spent my time waffling on about my hometown, mostly.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s1280x1920/d3e665b80f3b2342926914acc4505262ae408251.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s500x750/d4b79e202fec3b51769457f94774d87cd2402aa4.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s75x75_c1/8e2bbd3b85e213ba59d3cb3953456f31aa26a871.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s100x200/b64bb87140e4f2af8557c3f978e118ceafed5c38.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s250x400/1246cbb15ecfa6aa12c668ec87f84565fb5e0876.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s400x600/dc7eca1cff5c3f4773657a5400a1f1aa0b332f4f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s500x750/d4b79e202fec3b51769457f94774d87cd2402aa4.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s540x810/43cf02ca88e0204d5ffb3c5c1096230dfa7de1b3.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s640x960/0d9b30746127746083879881c842a18babcc70a5.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/95d632247128a3b9e068ccbd43c56b26/ddcabccda8fbc94f-02/s1280x1920/d3e665b80f3b2342926914acc4505262ae408251.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>I wanted to say this:</p><p>You cannot have “planetary survival” without a relationship to place. </p><p>Late capitalism has become really good at keeping us “un-placed”—digital ghosts drifting frictionless through the world at the speed of a map app’s “x hrs away” estimate.</p><p>“Globalised” (meaning: rootless) beings are easier to atomise into units, commodities.</p><p>How can we claim to have a handle on any sort of material reality if we skip over the material realities where our actual bodies live?</p><p>Placedness, rootness, localness. Gradual relationships to your immediate neighbourhood, your specific landscape: the trees on your street, flowering in season; the history of the bus you take daily; the habits of animals in your municipal waterway.</p><p>As game makers and players we are pretty good at imagining stuff. We play with secret histories, strange magics, odd gods, alternate futures. We are already good at creating shrines to such things, at our tables.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s1280x1920/59587b8c9daa8e1cb55f51782a0d5d1eeb78a2ac.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s500x750/ec1187ae14d9868dbb63f6dc79a689cdd9190757.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s75x75_c1/5b8c0ddf341f0111b130ca03fa09f1855b5fcdb8.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s100x200/7ac97a3154a9311d8fea16da821ab82af18baa78.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s250x400/eb57bff8190d578511bbd9e7653be438901ae92a.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s400x600/3c524b80969da636f4b2fe887c43b0be116dbc28.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s500x750/ec1187ae14d9868dbb63f6dc79a689cdd9190757.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s540x810/c6afb9c74c702bb94b7b2e88e0725b22696a3ecb.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s640x960/2322eae1f500dfcdc5caab1fa601920ec9bf801f.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a9b891a1c83acb8088c46b5394fac0c2/ddcabccda8fbc94f-ad/s1280x1920/59587b8c9daa8e1cb55f51782a0d5d1eeb78a2ac.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: </i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DHlorKvIeJL/?img_index=6" target="_blank"><i>Bonington Gallery</i></a><i>)</i></p><p><b>Why not make shrines, IRL?</b></p><p>What is the genius loci of your landscape? What memorial can you build at the entrance to your neighbourhood? What spirit lives in your favourite tree? What is an appropriate votive offering for the fish-god gestating in the canal; the engine-god in the car you drive to work?</p><p>We are very good at immersion, at playing as if things were real.</p><p>So make it real. Speak to your trees, aloud. Let your neighbours see. Leave candles at the memorial you made on your roundabout. Build an altar to birds. Cast spells at a protest rally.</p><p>Because attention is devotion, and devotion is attention. If that dark god Mammon, whose name is Capitalism, has seized speedy, frictionless materialism—<b>playful, small-scale, deliberate animism is radical.</b></p><p>Have relationships with the gods of your life, your community, your stories. Be devoted to these things. Build shrines to them. Focus on them. <b>Make them real. Make your place real.</b></p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/writing">#writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/art">#art</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/shrines">#shrines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/devotion">#devotion</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/altars">#altars</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/magic">#magic</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/manifestos">#manifestos</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/proposals">#proposals</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/resistance">#resistance</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/datuk%20kongs">#datuk kongs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/gabrielle%20bates">#gabrielle bates</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/portals">#portals</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/weird%20hope%20engines">#weird hope engines</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice" title="Sat. April 5, 2025 @ 1:39 pm"><span class="icon"></span>5 days ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice#notes"><span class="icon"></span>15</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-779963959746920448" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhI-HR6Ke00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhI-HR6Ke00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779963959746920448/shrine-as-practice" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-779409938947653632" class="post type-text tag_real%20life tag_ttrpgs tag_fantasies tag_shrines tag_art tag_exhibitions tag_weird%20hope%20engines tag_a%20crocodile%20eating tag_process%20notes tag_pain tag_installations tag_rituals"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">A CROCODILE, EATING</h2> <div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s1280x1920/7290d37d8622249db502366ab2457e45c2a42c18.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2048" data-big-photo-width="1536"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s500x750/7addb2c91c3a58766584f145b67e1cc32dd8f31e.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s75x75_c1/3614e76ad25f1fb140d6f48f0ef852e103e7563e.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s100x200/31617f9d47a77f44757dafe74a17c2ee48d3aee7.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s250x400/31eb038cad1a9707a142ba3953b87f864dc2de63.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s400x600/e588650ea2f55cfffd69e8e7d4ea7a6ac66d7912.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s500x750/7addb2c91c3a58766584f145b67e1cc32dd8f31e.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s540x810/47f25377ee9d67b547633367f802585346c5b29f.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s640x960/af2f3d96f4d83318516c52e3f0be37ca2cdcd931.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s1280x1920/7290d37d8622249db502366ab2457e45c2a42c18.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c787a9191f0a998a85d3dc6c1bcf4a0a/663eb7820a8a3459-43/s2048x3072/86d445451d285341b4a377e12be0d28d6b6e0c20.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo by </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/iglootree_art/" target="_blank">Shuyi</a></i><i>)</i></p><p><b><i>A CROCODILE, EATING</i></b> is an installation work, ritual performance, and shrine.</p><p>It is part of <b><a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank"><i>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</i></a></b>, a contemporary visual art exhibition about tabletop roleplaying games, running at Bonington Gallery, Nottingham, UK from now until 10 May 2025.</p><p>If you ask me to build a world, I will build a crocodile.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s1280x1920/5c7cfe3c979655f844bff7c20831300922fbd9c2.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2560" data-big-photo-width="1920"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s500x750/a359ea9d3445ec908b82a7368d198442a8860e99.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s75x75_c1/82998c0247e64b711757f333a2717241849d8768.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s100x200/757fbd28b369ad4cd34f5c9ca3465fc9bd25ff5c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s250x400/f487a53ec1775d31b5db5f67652dcca12ca998eb.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s400x600/f6353f3fe9bf26fd72b0061dcd04c419ed28f2cf.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s500x750/a359ea9d3445ec908b82a7368d198442a8860e99.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s540x810/d96c622fe2fb48a34ecb076827f98c1fe0625f46.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s640x960/2412d2540bfc9c297a44380beca33d33fd9bed78.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s1280x1920/5c7cfe3c979655f844bff7c20831300922fbd9c2.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4b5cdf86533a3b63be7e52b57810fd50/663eb7820a8a3459-8d/s2048x3072/108b1c9f7ba6bf5271da9e164a9198161ba80323.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>On linoleum flooring, stones are arranged into the shape of a saltwater crocodile. Embedded in the stones, on the crocodile’s back, are bowls, jars and platters of all kinds.</p><p>At the snout of the crocodile, on a rickety stool. At regular intervals, this printer noisily begins to print on coloured paper—stories about generational pain, family trauma, personal curses.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s1280x1920/3ba68d45331fe34d52157284f416be3c60d4a3b2.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2180" data-big-photo-width="1766"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s500x750/3e4dfd03dc0968f9e3cec1abea869491dad5e734.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s75x75_c1/b3e26c6b08b2b35aab70fdd53ff2673969e36404.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s100x200/20eb8ed65e8dc444fcb64bc583d336a9db9a9e3e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s250x400/62ceebe3ee9c43dac325bd1fa35f0d8fe7595606.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s400x600/bf261958d08082c126a1ba4d0ff8d9b152d33315.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s500x750/3e4dfd03dc0968f9e3cec1abea869491dad5e734.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s540x810/73fda11e90ee173276ac8dad6153ded2f64b487a.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s640x960/c84a172366398f94f273f027da247cf243c9843b.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s1280x1920/3ba68d45331fe34d52157284f416be3c60d4a3b2.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e6f570ac72fcc66d3c1ef244f0f1736e/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s2048x3072/a580837e16c2cac0be1dfdacf539b5512a4a6878.jpg 1766w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>A printed notice reads:</p><blockquote class="npf_indented"><p>The crocodile is kind. They love us. They eat our pain. Help them eat.<br>1. Take a sheet, read its prayer aloud. Help the crocodile understand.<br>2. Tear up the sheet. Help the crocodile chew; they have no more teeth.<br>3. Place the shreds of your sheet in a jar. Help the crocodile swallow.<br>4. If the jars overflow, wedge your shreds between the stones. The crocodile must swallow.<br>5. Thank the crocodile aloud. They are too full to reply.<br>The crocodile is kind. They love us. We have so much pain. They must eat.</p></blockquote><p>This crocodile has many origin stories:</p><p>+</p><p><b>1. </b><b><i><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/295976/lorn-song-of-the-bachelor" target="_blank">Lorn Song Of The Bachelor</a></i></b><b>.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s1280x1920/64ff70eb20617237e68ff87452ef17b2326451cd.png" data-big-photo-height="1010" data-big-photo-width="730"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s500x750/c56e6b3e78c746d9d85ec158c06f0d20383a0327.png" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s75x75_c1/b5b5bcd0588d8d499e68ce388ecdc2226a209ae5.png 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s100x200/96c5abace1a83e5ab0b49e96d10d9f1765caff30.png 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s250x400/0ece3175de7b50b1e0bf7cc1ffdf79e624fcd8c4.png 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s400x600/cd068eca7c7e4d2aac86b4db558f6edd69ed0907.png 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s500x750/c56e6b3e78c746d9d85ec158c06f0d20383a0327.png 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s540x810/aad072154db2af484018493009694598538c50e0.png 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s640x960/9a90c0d62b8ebb7f6fcb80bccdb011423d9a222d.png 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/15ff5b2e745c2ad74e333257e01dfe7e/663eb7820a8a3459-ad/s1280x1920/64ff70eb20617237e68ff87452ef17b2326451cd.png 730w" sizes="(max-width: 730px) 100vw, 730px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Specifically its cover. A loving and reverent tableau by <a href="https://www.nadhirnor.com/" target="_blank">Nadhir Nor</a>, who presents the titular crocodile of the adventure as a sumptuous feast—each organ served on its own platter; spiced, wreathed in perfume; the meat arranged as both lingam and yoni, filled with flowers and water.</p><p>+</p><p><b>2. Modern magic.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s1280x1920/61c24341fe03d52cb1987dd8bb0b635be79ae533.png" data-big-photo-height="622" data-big-photo-width="526"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s500x750/a925a776bbb5fdc2c59d2c8f553fcc2a5f395ee2.png" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s75x75_c1/8ded80f03508858634d8b120dd41eeb40b8dcfae.png 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s100x200/4c65e4cb17041a61b41e93b631a28ab01d406445.png 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s250x400/d2622642f8994574a12dbcf07e5da0e84372aa0b.png 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s400x600/ced8dc75cd4f818809e115abe49b4a6789a03e5e.png 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s500x750/a925a776bbb5fdc2c59d2c8f553fcc2a5f395ee2.png 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b99b38147d902bd343b821dfc77fab83/663eb7820a8a3459-05/s540x810/dddb4591cbd28d4260fc879dd9e70fa1873faf14.png 526w" sizes="(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s1280x1920/d9903589ad309c04eea9a64a991376c72b5c6f98.png" data-big-photo-height="844" data-big-photo-width="1101"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s500x750/6d9b1593424e742a6205581b6c2faa0f65787e56.png" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s75x75_c1/7c135cb8c8ff6504890f7978298e8c017e6f436d.png 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s100x200/d7b27463ae46535f6816b59cd3245c02cbc65a9c.png 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s250x400/b3238f4c735b8f1ef4e4b00129b583f3c96aa06c.png 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s400x600/2e3fa3bf443f20b7a595d9cff82dc5f544116bc6.png 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s500x750/6d9b1593424e742a6205581b6c2faa0f65787e56.png 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s540x810/41d55d5353db8e9d90b478529bf91c91cbfc1852.png 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s640x960/2c0476b597f78ab58868887187de6bf4bc8da1b2.png 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c6fbcdf9a9feeb658d4f63a06eb1ed50/663eb7820a8a3459-de/s1280x1920/d9903589ad309c04eea9a64a991376c72b5c6f98.png 1101w" sizes="(max-width: 1101px) 100vw, 1101px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Excerpts from my proposal doc for</i> A CROCODILE, EATING<i>)</i></p><p>Southeast Asian magical practice, when depicted in anthropological or art contexts, is often rendered in a particular aesthetic language, designed to read as authentic:</p><p>Black-and-white photographs. A woman in traditional clothes. Verdigrised bowls and platters and incense holders. Fresh-cut flowers. Muted, archaic, like a temple complex unearthed by archaeologists.</p><p>But magic as it is practiced today isn’t like that. Curses are between feuding neighbours, in low-cost housing. They are cast in a flat, by a gig worker, with victims’ faces printed by an inkjet printer with clogged nozzles.</p><p>Temples are painted in bright pink, lined with linoleum, beautified with artificial flowers, lit with white fluorescent tubes—affordable, long-lasting, bright.</p><p>Which bits of a ritual are essential, and which bits can you abridge? Can you cast a blessing over WhatsApp?</p><p>True magic and belief care more about being practical, than reading as authentic.</p><p>+</p><p><b>3. The tomb at Pengkalan Kempas.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s1280x1920/1663e17aa9e0a4e55cf654a284a4d65690a670a8.jpg" data-big-photo-height="500" data-big-photo-width="750"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s500x750/66684688c64cb8412f180299bb1a73b47cb0ef96.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s75x75_c1/11ea33045781f4d242af25fb86bda979b9b45ace.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s100x200/4e8b0894da6cf61a26d2471a78297ce8b7020420.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s250x400/46034ea4c979be9a959a2c8c14ce1b6146362f17.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s400x600/1c6bbf3475c1a3f92d0c3115e82070b11f3bd5ea.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s500x750/66684688c64cb8412f180299bb1a73b47cb0ef96.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s540x810/807a8235932304fa9727cd46f97d9f8b3ea36d87.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s640x960/c0ffdd9f7a5803fcf6c3de88fc43a9f23d5df049.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54a16432d0348875fb5fcbc1a8810668/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s1280x1920/1663e17aa9e0a4e55cf654a284a4d65690a670a8.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><i><a href="https://agarakutidaklupa.blogspot.com/2019/12/negeri-sembilan-kompleks-sejarah.html" target="_blank">source</a></i><i>)</i></p><p>The tomb of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pengkalan_Kempas_Historical_Complex" target="_blank">Syeikh Ahmad Majnun</a>, a 15th-Century saint, was used to swear oaths. At the foot of the tomb is a pillar, with a hole. You would place your hand in this hole, and speak your oath. If you spoke lies, the hole would close on your hand and crush it.</p><p>As shipping a whole oathstone to Nottingham wasn’t practical, <b><i>A CROCODILE, EATING</i></b> is built from Cornish pebbles, bought from a garden-supply store.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s1280x1920/78a486114c3eae43efa7bca80b478a87869d8575.jpg" data-big-photo-height="4000" data-big-photo-width="3000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s500x750/ca47e8f00066ee71026d98f66a6e932cf64ada0a.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s75x75_c1/91972a2b0aba41313eb97eee7072265fe989046f.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s100x200/3c1943e751b0331b7df61a2ca5d5dd863103d9d6.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s250x400/16a871942ccedc66487009b5b1434e7912b83496.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s400x600/f1a15ff53061b2b88046b1cd520e754fa3b70144.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s500x750/ca47e8f00066ee71026d98f66a6e932cf64ada0a.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s540x810/7ed11fd1b0bfbc22594086d6b317fee742b3c6ba.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s640x960/bb780de281febb975571254ad3e75cbb81c08c7b.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s1280x1920/78a486114c3eae43efa7bca80b478a87869d8575.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/714561b3b1228b93166938ca2d344cbe/663eb7820a8a3459-df/s2048x3072/57a3c3f4338c65c377fb33e9a6e108f97fe74e9f.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Whatever works, you know? Again: magic is practical.</p><p>+</p><p><b>4. Hang Tuah’s footprint.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s1280x1920/19e597e2b48821023ae6583a0a89541e289408f7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1711" data-big-photo-width="1280"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s500x750/62140efbcc45311a41d0155516047b44513cf005.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s75x75_c1/6cdf69b0073d6ede18eeb66eb34208a781be7e99.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s100x200/7ae5568e735f26717468b3095d4b84cf9ee0d4c4.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s250x400/47288b4e465988d35a9fef1c44016651c1a4d939.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s400x600/063062e2a444563f57f0c6e9614dd037b8f64e48.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s500x750/62140efbcc45311a41d0155516047b44513cf005.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s540x810/82e5e6811d1b0954755c7216700cd6ae758fc2a0.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s640x960/3aed29d39ca242380317243cb2fc5374897dee04.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ad20f7cbef99d501f091e79a7a2577ee/663eb7820a8a3459-78/s1280x1920/19e597e2b48821023ae6583a0a89541e289408f7.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>This shrine marked the spot where the Malay demigod Hang Tuah once stepped, thereby indenting the rock with his footprint.</p><p>It was used by <a href="https://www.bharian.com.my/bhplus-old/2015/10/85549/bekas-tapak-kaki-hang-tuah-tarikan-di-tanjung-tuan" target="_blank">locals</a>: to ask for children, to ask for love, to ask for fortune. People would leave live chickens as offerings. (Nearby villagers would take these chickens home, to eat.)</p><p><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/719072613208588288/hang-tuahs-footprint" target="_blank">Religious authorities destroyed the shrine some time in early 2023</a>, on the basis that it promoted idolatry.</p><p>When I build a shrine I am always rebuilding the Hang Tuah shrine. </p><p>+</p><p><b>5. Shrines as art.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s1280x1920/1b0e286132e5a14f6d41015de168630aed4d8ea0.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s500x750/1c9adb3c4a52226cbde0650002a24b2a542e07e9.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s75x75_c1/e948a50aa68afff968b6c7e58dd3095a18ee5650.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s100x200/3066f2d2a32861bbf94c00b81eb4d145a8d72346.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s250x400/199434061230ead26b2d5181cad5757ac91cb33b.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s400x600/5707084873a65a662ddc9088a48e034b2d1d5b71.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s500x750/1c9adb3c4a52226cbde0650002a24b2a542e07e9.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s540x810/735bd31add6bff90d694d0408d9a42d309a175d8.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s640x960/bf8a8739635cc680834e7155adca50aa99774d9f.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/39d3b2cd8e2bf0f1e0d5854d57bed7b5/663eb7820a8a3459-bd/s1280x1920/1b0e286132e5a14f6d41015de168630aed4d8ea0.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s1280x1920/8301e3518299ebfd31c47c0dd0aa9ed336a480d7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s500x750/ce938d64c392c7f22233902d41782b91adabded4.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s75x75_c1/4882bc48ec1b0293f0b6d39f0ec22cfb2df88c40.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s100x200/49694c7d18c396e7fa94437324eb4b73f7e56b14.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s250x400/f8737cee74b5a44e0d33687efeb3c02cb8c89c4a.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s400x600/7ba72ae00cfdad123933358a55bb9cf1cf6033b9.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s500x750/ce938d64c392c7f22233902d41782b91adabded4.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s540x810/958e901e1baaa557c5b708e17ce8fe9bde10e32a.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s640x960/511107b82b516b90dd2f95926a07cf7d0c2c8047.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a7d5871adee4cb40296ab24c37e230db/663eb7820a8a3459-22/s1280x1920/8301e3518299ebfd31c47c0dd0aa9ed336a480d7.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Image </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/narrowmarrow/p/DCbbaNwzSTa/?img_index=1" target="_blank">source</a></i><i>)</i></p><p>Both <a href="https://smokesignals.sharonchin.com/" target="_blank">Sharon</a> and I have been thinking about shrines, lately.</p><p>We have come to see them as <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/759075868440248320/monument-vs-shrine" target="_blank">an artistic and political counterargument</a> to national institutions, official religions, corporate IPs, platform monopolies—the exclusive franchises of power, money, and the state.</p><blockquote class="npf_indented"><p>Despite nationalism’s efforts to centralise and clone a national identity, still we mutate, still we bootleg, still we graffiti, becoming once again ourselves.<br>And—particular to post-colonial societies—in doing so we casually <i>continue the work of liberation</i>, sneaking the idea of freedom away from our own architects and elites and prime ministers, who would seek to seize its meaning for their own purposes.<br>The churches or mosques or temples to demos that the federal government builds are ours to transform. To take from. To ignore.<br>“No need. We’ve got our own shrines at home.”</p></blockquote><p>Along with <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Blandy</a>, we made <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/exhibitionsandscreenings/2024/4/11/shrineshare" target="_blank">ShrineShare</a>, an exhibition-in-a-folder of personal shrines by sixteen artists from around the world.</p><p><b><i>A CROCODILE, EATING</i></b> is me sharing mine.</p><p>+</p><p><b>6. Games as shrines.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s1280x1920/0144b778828faa60386ed9eb8b52a1a9ab462830.png" data-big-photo-height="1220" data-big-photo-width="1066"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s500x750/6c0a10871d01cfc89975c6ed7a2f32159ea90ce6.png" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s75x75_c1/e85e1e9bd1bd4fa11b3c69a95fe965ee1eb33720.png 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s100x200/13122732041051266c56196b079438e02676925b.png 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s250x400/6c3714043f860e0af413ba5917877b58e6048b31.png 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s400x600/eb341b428d2b81846b35b3ba4898075aefc832c7.png 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s500x750/6c0a10871d01cfc89975c6ed7a2f32159ea90ce6.png 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s540x810/359f0dc1288c55d4e37e9704ba9f04bfe017d992.png 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s640x960/08b7fb3a24cf7db3c2ac76e2deef90cfaab436dc.png 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb351b4d59e8b3592100119c5d93c08d/663eb7820a8a3459-ec/s1280x1920/0144b778828faa60386ed9eb8b52a1a9ab462830.png 1066w" sizes="(max-width: 1066px) 100vw, 1066px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(My home group, with custom T-shirts our GM <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amondeyoursaviour/" target="_blank">Amanda</a> made. Mine says: “Impostor Syndrome? Not In This Economy”)</i></p><p>Tabletop roleplaying games resist dogma. As much you might like to appeal to RAW or Jeremy Crawford, play always and inevitably mutates to fit the mood and metre of your own table.</p><p>The rules system you use might furnish a set of cultural mores, an architectural vernacular—</p><p>But it is you and your players who actually make the game: your habits, your house-rules; your preferred procedures of handling particular situations; your in-jokes and callbacks and thematic fixations.</p><p>In play, a TTRPG is a shrine dedicated to your home game, a set of unique rites—always unique, always local, always small-scale.</p><p>+</p><p><b>7. TTRPGs in galleries.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b2dff310a958197ddaac8047ef57da/663eb7820a8a3459-67/s1280x1920/380669ecfdf1c9254aff07e953ea5ef98cef8a6c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="4000" data-big-photo-width="3000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b2dff310a958197ddaac8047ef57da/663eb7820a8a3459-67/s500x750/c8143b2c121b31a8615b0494f8e7439166a858b5.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b2dff310a958197ddaac8047ef57da/663eb7820a8a3459-67/s75x75_c1/e781a8ef6646045a2a800636a7b4c143db9c77ee.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b2dff310a958197ddaac8047ef57da/663eb7820a8a3459-67/s100x200/072e1a590640b60fecb30efbe848dad2e447a50c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a8b2dff310a958197ddaac8047ef57da/663eb7820a8a3459-67/s250x400/e537a88ba4c16a5e3e8fa2990b254ccabc5e9bdf.jpg 250w, 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data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s1280x1920/dc133886cfbf18bc7d33a4a6cac8f2af58f3d3e7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="4000" data-big-photo-width="3000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s500x750/a979b1b492046acaf7c9fa2cf574e1a7e1a579c4.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s75x75_c1/6571c472d3063de85e93575576b1e09d4e211dc7.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s100x200/9a8878d90a1e176092352cb84fa5fb36f871a872.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s250x400/4483095738cff89acc07aff546ddfe6a46021926.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s400x600/7a09ccbdbb3399ff8a76d09f2cf7bd62af98fffd.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s500x750/a979b1b492046acaf7c9fa2cf574e1a7e1a579c4.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s540x810/2faf0354b7fadb8221d90f3e5d176caf23ef08e6.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s640x960/c1e53273ba56c749a0b7a00b8d9536819ba580bd.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s1280x1920/dc133886cfbf18bc7d33a4a6cac8f2af58f3d3e7.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/54cbb186f9c3f796aa4fa309a300ac93/663eb7820a8a3459-76/s2048x3072/802ba4d2b77a2cd88979ab7874264e3c00446bd7.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Works by </i><a href="https://linktr.ee/scrapworld" target="_blank"><i>Scrap World</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://amandalee.itch.io/" target="_blank"><i>Amanda Lee Franck</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://loottheroom.itch.io/" target="_blank"><i>Chris Bisette</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://twelvepinspress.com/" target="_blank"><i>Laurie O'Connel</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>David Blandy</i></a><i>)</i></p><p>How do you present a roleplaying game in an art gallery?</p><p>I am no visual artist. I have no paintings or sculptures I can present, to transport visitors into a different world.</p><p>As a writer I mainly think in texts, narratives. I could have presented something narrative for <b><i>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</i></b>: invited audiences to sit and play through an adventure; given them rules and characters and a scenario to play through.</p><p>Would’ve been unsatisfactory, though. While imaginative and experiential, such a work would not really have been <i>visual</i>. And TTRPGs take <i>time</i>—“sit down, participate for half-an-hour” time—which is a lot to ask, even of the most eager gallery visitor.</p><p>“Games as shrines” gave me a solution. </p><p>I’d make a shrine in the gallery. You’d play the shrine by performing some simple ritual actions. The shrine is tangible, made of stone and accompanied by a diffuser putting benzoin oil into the air. Its associated meanings and practices evoke a world, a cosmology.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s1280x1920/6964bdae9bcd65d64fdad1d83e25415d6fdaf1a4.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2560" data-big-photo-width="1920"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s500x750/b31bfece7bb57a4f34adbfa1a14b919c47ddae88.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s75x75_c1/0dd5a1def943765ea11150b4e3c0b5f1130b2989.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s100x200/735b2208d1fc7b9aecca7e3151cea42f1bdd386b.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s250x400/6aebe4a61d84b9f424242eb8e5d0a7b2728eae57.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s400x600/ecc1901f90ea4547bbd96f98cf0cbc69e8a5ed6b.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s500x750/b31bfece7bb57a4f34adbfa1a14b919c47ddae88.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s540x810/f9bd96cd4f74a2ee7d5f846bcac967358a5e2ff0.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s640x960/93995862334b653dd989ef5016ea814c972edb6d.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s1280x1920/6964bdae9bcd65d64fdad1d83e25415d6fdaf1a4.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4d98de8c5e7b0f28b1d95bd69b658e75/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s2048x3072/20829a6b12a9b6d5c845c08a5797232b7b2d7bc4.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>You pray to the crocodile. The prayers are real and in earnest. You feed the crocodile. The crocodile changes with every prayer; as the exhibition continues the crocodile grows and is furred in colour.</p><p>+</p><p><b>8. Pain.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b855ddf81cf97cd61e7eef551cd4aa1/663eb7820a8a3459-cc/s1280x1920/f405d15d3c9ed6b58f15191378eedf4d70eb9002.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="960"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b855ddf81cf97cd61e7eef551cd4aa1/663eb7820a8a3459-cc/s500x750/27e9309401ed5918d3177e2a4a236abad79ef7b6.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b855ddf81cf97cd61e7eef551cd4aa1/663eb7820a8a3459-cc/s75x75_c1/a9d18bc9e3275b22d351ae9c7137d7fdea2df833.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b855ddf81cf97cd61e7eef551cd4aa1/663eb7820a8a3459-cc/s100x200/b779a139625d95b6af73d6a9c69ced813faa13b7.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3b855ddf81cf97cd61e7eef551cd4aa1/663eb7820a8a3459-cc/s250x400/eb82bc071f9a760a222f5e6e6178ec3a4ced8a9f.jpg 250w, 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data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s1280x1920/802e33520ce4da0e339aaf5ecdf3c36feb53f54d.jpg" data-big-photo-height="810" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s500x750/11a7c67cc1238890918428624cd950a0e7987703.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s75x75_c1/36c31ad0a19e1446faee2c27784c678a88b5b922.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s100x200/1fec753c12cf85d5cf3852213f0d455e5f85121f.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s250x400/92a31a83c9aaa241f6443f6812080ebc23ec738d.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s400x600/4fadea8d1dc14220bb0691b9d96ae0e0265d68d4.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s500x750/11a7c67cc1238890918428624cd950a0e7987703.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s540x810/7d21f73ce8d0c147e0c7d37c75bbf947d2dda767.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s640x960/5171f06cdb94a27979bf75fb5a5e05dc3759675b.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/663eb7820a8a3459-59/s1280x1920/802e33520ce4da0e339aaf5ecdf3c36feb53f54d.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s1280x1920/c70f87b2f64be0bc3b3dfa40ec0e2d1fcb3036ca.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2048" data-big-photo-width="1536"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s500x750/1fa62e50938dd66a9a2f795396cb92d3b7203c82.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s75x75_c1/22f1d5c50447661570811fdf800e24a2dfc559f5.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s100x200/0fbf84e1bee2928de5690f6a66d3aa0670260492.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s250x400/35237d2de53f4e251848364cbe4122248fb91271.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s400x600/311531c60669b8e13091532fe616dba623a208c7.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s500x750/1fa62e50938dd66a9a2f795396cb92d3b7203c82.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s540x810/b5ff2476c06f683d64935af19fab5b1330836840.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s640x960/cd5b21cfdd70d413ed5ce32e6c3eb1d0f2cab6f9.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s1280x1920/c70f87b2f64be0bc3b3dfa40ec0e2d1fcb3036ca.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/663eb7820a8a3459-7e/s2048x3072/ab63b21d92e249597a328706ab969836f14693bc.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>None of the prayers you offer to <i><b>A CROCODILE, EATING</b></i> are fictional. All of them—stories of family loss; fraught relationships with parents, with homes; abuse, cultural misogyny, ethnic tension, toxic masculinity—are true.</p><p>Some of them come from my own life. At least half come from my friends, who shared with me their stories via <i><b>THE CAT IS KIND</b></i>, a prototype shrine I made a week before leaving for Nottingham.</p><p>You would ritually offer “a story that aches” to this cat-shaped piggy-bank, and the cat would eat that ache for you.</p><p>+</p><p><b>9. Port Dickson.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s1280x1920/c5f4d0424098f6f837ab87beb3236d0ac3ab7c4c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="683" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s500x750/792f82692c0ee134e83ee02dcba3588f18e393e8.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s75x75_c1/50f5159d8f4e823c2670bdf87c577c5884389fb1.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s100x200/29fc38873f4509a3b5928510c111a247fb841df5.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s250x400/66b8a5ca28b29e45df3ce43acabecefe81eed60f.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s400x600/4a3f404bf0a47a4febfe5c3fa8e3bebf198210fe.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s500x750/792f82692c0ee134e83ee02dcba3588f18e393e8.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s540x810/af0fb2f0ec8dde763681d967de767b7a4741cddd.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s640x960/ca9b4701b84495bbf4e01d7bf39d283aa87cb253.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2e0e2671ee0788adde5a7ca95ad46ae1/663eb7820a8a3459-e2/s1280x1920/c5f4d0424098f6f837ab87beb3236d0ac3ab7c4c.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s1280x1920/fe20f9c53fbd07d54a166632cafcd34fadde8669.jpg" data-big-photo-height="683" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s500x750/1c0c527d6622c4b6ec1debd0f8507262df0a7ef7.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s75x75_c1/4bd0f6b4aa10ab76c0a9bedec41074dd5d5cc6d4.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s100x200/d157d6fc327d28cdbf7e29dcd8e934d8b2d14cbf.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s250x400/b95af889f3098b517a7a59b18ee6730101266b23.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s400x600/d8fcda0480058ae7270d43ab97204234d79c7c1b.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s500x750/1c0c527d6622c4b6ec1debd0f8507262df0a7ef7.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s540x810/a3edad258709675cc36c572dfd790c524e2c8a6a.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s640x960/08296023ded7e834ae517d08ac8c03fb444123e7.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/5110dc210adecb5f041fcc2c7a93f35b/663eb7820a8a3459-4f/s1280x1920/fe20f9c53fbd07d54a166632cafcd34fadde8669.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Everything I make is ultimately about Port Dickson, the small Malaysian town in which I live.</p><p>Port Dickson is defined by its relationships to places across the sea. It is a town of petrochemical industry; exporting diesel and jet fuel abroad.</p><p>In return, from the First World, we received unwanted textiles by the container-load, in huge bundles—there are many “bundle” shops in my town, thrift stores essentially, where locals sort through the piles of discarded factory uniforms and fast fashion for still-usable garments to sell second-hand.</p><p>(Fun fact: all of the coats I wore in the UK I bought from the bundle!)</p><p>We fuel your civilisation, process your trash.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s1280x1920/6769716f8dff5e5dbc6dbc2b2499556cf2583c89.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2560" data-big-photo-width="1920"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s500x750/5b5109cd104f94623c3b54ef2b4c523dac57553b.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s75x75_c1/92094959d3cb6d260c597d67be58c05447afb600.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s100x200/2c8b203c18ca49e5ff2a475c05994197c03acc8e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s250x400/f3b1ac76350416af19f3821f447c2e5cea6c77f6.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s400x600/dbef5d0e62bc8e59dbbbe3a50a0f4718dba0c126.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s500x750/5b5109cd104f94623c3b54ef2b4c523dac57553b.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s540x810/50c409f9f55eed58cde11c1deadec3b7f57eb4a1.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s640x960/32258e76a39cdd33b6b13dfd766724bd39a939fb.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s1280x1920/6769716f8dff5e5dbc6dbc2b2499556cf2583c89.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2bd1a84abef44b2467c1fc7c7dd089f2/663eb7820a8a3459-11/s2048x3072/5398f6f30e2ebc4de256f7b0fe0c6f918cf91c6c.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>For <i><b>A CROCODILE, EATING</b></i> to embody my context it has to communicate the flavour of this relationship:</p><p>The shrine’s rites do not allow gallery visitors to say their own prayers. You are only ever feeding the crocodile burdens imported from somewhere else.</p><p>The sense of an exhausted land, continually asked to take on more weight from without—growing more exhausted and strange, changing.</p><p>+</p><p><b>10. Sincerity.</b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s1280x1920/794cd37937b810c05e7c3654307d8b3e12dc4307.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2560" data-big-photo-width="1920"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s500x750/4c5f82c5eaa0f7924a7da41e010e672a29e89842.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s75x75_c1/831e2df1ce1b57fde363caeaae0a86a4d601808e.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s100x200/ca741ed5475dfca43b4f91515f3480e2a10a94cf.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s250x400/47d1d2b5d171357395de8dc8cacbb55a8169e649.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s400x600/566ec52051f83643a2e3dab14193343cdf90f832.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s500x750/4c5f82c5eaa0f7924a7da41e010e672a29e89842.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s540x810/dee0cd9f9c3e352d717132c7c3efc43708331b62.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s640x960/627f747d7a41d52b924a7d144c74e833af870c7d.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s1280x1920/794cd37937b810c05e7c3654307d8b3e12dc4307.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/84ec6992fd6839e1d3678bb513712664/663eb7820a8a3459-ba/s2048x3072/4495826978143f389923867d0699965dfe0896a4.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>For this shrine to work it had to be real.</p><p>I took my shoes off whenever I stepped onto the linoleum. I prayed as I built the crocodile, stone by stone. Every time I entered and left the gallery space I faced my small, tired crocodile god, and I bowed to them, and believed.</p><p>I hope my belief makes the shrine real, and you feel this, if and when you visit, yourself.</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s1280x1920/1b6e5d90c865287e03584bbaef8d64a5b2a22c91.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1350" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s500x750/af5c235d029972c244d21e6fad7fbbba06791647.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s75x75_c1/2035343ea7bcc47d7661dbfb29fb9923429ac00d.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s100x200/b05f5edb0ca1673a2b568478c3cfef90973203b6.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s250x400/2e02e21fd24a4234e2e77577e7c32bf4b9085199.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s400x600/42818af7c2e477f393e6f900c64936aab387577d.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s500x750/af5c235d029972c244d21e6fad7fbbba06791647.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s540x810/a012f61850739d5a78774868444a960a1c94485f.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s640x960/d6fb616e81b8e7a477741cc8b32c441ff580f4df.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4eb19fffe3caa164b003c192cb0b607/663eb7820a8a3459-db/s1280x1920/1b6e5d90c865287e03584bbaef8d64a5b2a22c91.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank"><i><b>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</b></i></a>, curated by <a href="https://substack.com/@dyingearthcatalogue" target="_blank">Dying Earth Catalogue</a> (who are <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Blandy</a>, <a href="https://rebeccaedwards.xyz/" target="_blank">Rebecca Edwards</a>, and <a href="https://linktr.ee/jamierobertsutcliffe?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=851accc7-5ce8-4805-9c61-9d6396135a27" target="_blank">Jamie Sutcliffe</a>), featuring works by:</p><ul><li><a href="https://angelawashko.com/home.html" target="_blank">Angela Washko</a></li><li><a href="https://linktr.ee/andrewwalterillustration" target="_blank">Andrew Walter</a></li><li><a href="https://amandalee.itch.io/" target="_blank">Amanda Lee Franck</a></li><li><a href="https://loottheroom.itch.io/" target="_blank">Chris Bisette</a></li><li><a href="https://twelvepinspress.com/" target="_blank">Laurie O'Connel</a></li><li><a href="https://linktr.ee/scrapworld" target="_blank">Scrap World</a></li><li><a href="https://www.onelittletree.com/" target="_blank">Shuyi Zhang</a></li><li><a href="https://tomkkemp.com/" target="_blank">Tom K Kemp</a> + <a href="https://falsemachine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Patrick Stuart</a></li><li>Zedeck Siew</li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/_alightfantastic_/" target="_blank">Adam Sinclair</a> + <a href="https://www.lottivcloss.com/" target="_blank">Lotti Closs</a></li></ul><p>At <a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Bonington Gallery</a>, Nottingham, until 10 May 2025.</p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/fantasies">#fantasies</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/shrines">#shrines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/art">#art</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/exhibitions">#exhibitions</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/weird%20hope%20engines">#weird hope engines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/a%20crocodile%20eating">#a crocodile eating</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/process%20notes">#process notes</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/pain">#pain</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/installations">#installations</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/rituals">#rituals</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating" title="Sun. March 30, 2025 @ 10:54 am"><span class="icon"></span>1 week ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating#notes"><span class="icon"></span>177</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-779409938947653632" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhH1JN1Oa00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhH1JN1Oa00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/779409938947653632/a-crocodile-eating" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-777919376095576064" class="post type-text tag_spells tag_magic tag_writing tag_ttrpgs tag_lessons tag_monks tag_fantasies"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h1><b>JUDGEMENT IS A BLADE</b></h1><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s1280x1920/d668aa1c31a45555ecf5dbcfc12588914108c2df.jpg" data-big-photo-height="712" data-big-photo-width="1068"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s500x750/15b4b76238c4ca402badc97b0a03cefe66ddaaa4.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s75x75_c1/393516563453142fb2bc3292c1533955a596cb71.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s100x200/5c67a89f7724305e4a1cf3cb098c5bf6ba34057c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s250x400/a6e421042c9cd37b57d70f19e36164372743a261.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s400x600/c15a409970bcf89f58357c8e4b028b9b6561a80a.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s500x750/15b4b76238c4ca402badc97b0a03cefe66ddaaa4.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s540x810/ea44c90e98a19c9c42e68c68dd9dbcb12f888065.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s640x960/5f29356f2b2001c00f3991696e79dd6cb00811e2.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/d04356cabdf67d12a36c594773503567/3785c58aa345cad4-2a/s1280x1920/d668aa1c31a45555ecf5dbcfc12588914108c2df.jpg 1068w" sizes="(max-width: 1068px) 100vw, 1068px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>She is a good sorcerer, but a poor disciple. She finds it difficult to concentrate. When she arrives the bell has been struck—the lesson has already started. The teacher looks at her sideways.</p><p>The teacher sighs, closes his eyes, and continues. “Judgement is a blade,” he says.</p><p>“When you judge another,” the teacher says, “you thrust a dagger at their chest. It may be that you cause a wound.”</p><p>She sits on her meditation cushion, and tries to settle.</p><p>“When you judge yourself,” the teacher says, “you stab a sword into your belly. It is certain that you inflict injury.”</p><p>Lids shut, brow furrowed, she tries to focus. Focus!</p><p>“When you judge yourself for judging,” the teacher says, “you swallow a knife. The blade travels through you, and stays in you. From throat to gut to bowel, it will cut, and cut, and cut.”</p><p>For emphasis the teacher strikes his bell: its chime runs up the rafters, then back down again.</p><p>“O my disciples, set down the blade of judgement. Take up the bell of understanding, instead. When you understand yourself, you ring a bell in your lap. You feel its voice in your body. It leads you to love and equanimity.”</p><p>But she is not listening to the bell, nor to the lesson. She fidgets with the sharp point of a pen in her blouse pocket. What excuse can she make, to leave early?</p><p>She is a poor disciple, but a good sorcerer. She has a tendency to hyperfixate. The teacher has taught her, not as he intended—she has an idea for a cursing-spell! She must write it down.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s1280x1920/913673ee1646958c7f20df655ad6f03452a53394.jpg" data-big-photo-height="450" data-big-photo-width="600"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s500x750/f6e7fc6f502536e9831a1b54712212da7f39344a.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s75x75_c1/f58bfabe3948fb475130029f8b8f1f4765f96534.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s100x200/2fb96e19f63ad3a7b9bdc51c59529e45317be04b.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s250x400/645158420639f2163fed71c263fd493a310612e2.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s400x600/e122380af261200037018724604faaf10255412b.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s500x750/f6e7fc6f502536e9831a1b54712212da7f39344a.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s540x810/3ef79e2f455db60c88d7548c146628db8be3de20.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c96a54d7b3007bfacf6b5f6a8cc5d125/3785c58aa345cad4-9b/s640x960/b6ce98283ab4be4575fd700e89ed78f38ed75934.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p><b>BROTH TO BLADES</b></p><p>A curse sent by contact.</p><p><b>Pact: </b><i>a major power of metal</i>, and <i>a minor power of retribution</i>.</p><p><b>Price:</b> <i>a silver coin</i>, covered with the blood of a living thing now dead, <i>offered to a power of hospitality</i> who rules where this curse is cast.</p><p><b>Procedure:</b> <i>a shaving from a bladed weapon</i> that has killed before. <i>Grind this into powder</i> while speaking the third and ninety-third formulas of ill-intent. <i>Mix this powder into the meal of your victim</i> while making the eighth gesture of cutting. <i>Your victim must eat this meal</i>.</p><p>For the next day and a half, when you call on your power of retribution and speak the third formula of self-assessment, everything in your victim’s digestive tract is transformed into knives.</p><p>It is possible for victims of this curse to perform simple actions without harm, provided they move slowly and are not distracted. Actions taken under stress always hurt—each dealing damage equivalent to three spears stabbing.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s1280x1920/cc958a1b313bbfce5b429a7d5193d4832a08520c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="537" data-big-photo-width="640"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s500x750/9f659722832346d5a8f7f0ea0f3974ae57dded93.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s75x75_c1/a904df229d1a71ecceec966bcc4c944d4b9c755e.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s100x200/e57986e35ac99f846187b4efdd157efcbc462ebe.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s250x400/81307538e8191ea5ab923a8afeb94db6f791e20a.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s400x600/659766770871410e0fdfb5c64105793664f5bb4f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s500x750/9f659722832346d5a8f7f0ea0f3974ae57dded93.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s540x810/d87e70284fc09015c7a189f099e30c1e7a04b201.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f924ed7b8568aee046ef47fdac647c81/3785c58aa345cad4-2b/s640x960/a1ac116fcefe6a78dd206582d70612de4fa54420.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+++</p><p>A magic system / ruleset is taking shape in my head:</p><p>Spells require <b>pacts</b> with powerful gods or spirits (ie: the real-world idea that magic practice is largely the exercise of diplomacy with entities abroad in the world); and a <b>price</b> (services should be paid for; you want to square accounts with the eldritch as much as possible). </p><p>The <b>procedure</b> is how you cast the spell; the bits in <i>italics</i> indicate elements absolutely necessary for the spell, if you must do things quick and dirty—but performing the full ritual is safest.</p><p>+++</p><p><i>( Image sources:<br><a href="https://www.travelfish.org/beginners_detail/thailand/133" target="_blank">https://www.travelfish.org/beginners_detail/thailand/133</a><br><a href="https://practiceofzen.com/2018/01/31/nothing-special/dai-bosatsu-zendo-meditation-hall/" target="_blank">https://practiceofzen.com/2018/01/31/nothing-special/dai-bosatsu-zendo-meditation-hall/</a><br><a href="https://itoldya420.getarchive.net/amp/media/les-jongleurs-indiens-eae48" target="_blank">https://itoldya420.getarchive.net/amp/media/les-jongleurs-indiens-eae48</a></i>7 )</p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/spells">#spells</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/magic">#magic</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/writing">#writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/lessons">#lessons</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/monks">#monks</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/fantasies">#fantasies</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade" title="Fri. March 14, 2025 @ 12:02 am"><span class="icon"></span>4 weeks ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade#notes"><span class="icon"></span>7</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-777919376095576064" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhBkOqC4W00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhBkOqC4W00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777919376095576064/judgement-is-a-blade" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-777738545657937920" class="post type-text tag_real%20life tag_port%20dickson tag_beaches tag_shores tag_poetry tag_song tag_art tag_friends tag_Youtube"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">PORTAL PARTY</h2> <p>Last weekend, 7-9 March, Sharon and I hosted a party.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s1280x1920/108f052537511f4f07a5d809debb33f6b48a4fa7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s500x750/dd16b43d68802fa43d936cdbaa3f1680f0f81d2e.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s75x75_c1/35663caedec845b9add583d885ead3bc2dd80a2c.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s100x200/cf2bce2bfb19c7e0ba3ba0d3b60f89253622d6ac.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s250x400/da838cf8443b115b8f8e2b3a0a5682d94af9f367.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s400x600/6c843981305270882dbfb58c9ac045654f514b24.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s500x750/dd16b43d68802fa43d936cdbaa3f1680f0f81d2e.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s540x810/1d2b04edc6cca9e9df51ee5795a048ec2799ca59.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s640x960/7d286262d6ec71e378cfafd189ab1533c4a34e13.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da22db965791dccf9c83bc9d7d4b5af1/140e5557c37a3fad-ab/s1280x1920/108f052537511f4f07a5d809debb33f6b48a4fa7.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s1280x1920/28f759a4aff3ca592af3009949c9f710c4f274cd.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s500x750/5d22380bd3dbf6ef22bd3f831e569f84b6c884eb.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s75x75_c1/5cc2064eefa7f7120221ea77f1c5cadce5885e55.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s100x200/eccc1dbd2c8efa08837473cf8170611682fdb328.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s250x400/3f025772a9725bccdf375f69d40e823212cfc3d0.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s400x600/170f457e0891b8606a5509f078b87940debf14f1.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s500x750/5d22380bd3dbf6ef22bd3f831e569f84b6c884eb.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s540x810/8ef94661a974755c39b52be11c3f0791426c2c55.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s640x960/24c63cfd471dee005e5a16c304092573a22c7294.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1d79ee397f6983ba2ac11eff72f83609/140e5557c37a3fad-30/s1280x1920/28f759a4aff3ca592af3009949c9f710c4f274cd.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Because: </p><ul><li>It was my birthday the week before;</li><li>Sharon’s <a href="https://smokesignals.sharonchin.com/portal-two-rings-of-fire/" target="_blank">“Portal”</a> work, which began on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DA18YXvT3AC/" target="_blank">our local beach</a>, then travelled to the <a href="https://artreview.com/9th-asian-art-biennial-announces-full-artist-participation/" target="_blank">9th Asian Art Biennial</a> in Taiwan, needed to come home again;</li><li>Sharon had to film a short educational documentary about her practice with the <a href="https://www.nationalgallery.sg/sg/en.html" target="_blank">National Gallery Singapore</a>;</li><li>We made <i><a href="https://www.britishcouncil.my/programmes/arts/connections-through-culture-grantee-2023/shrineshare" target="_blank">ShrineShare</a></i> last year, but had yet to show the project in our hometown;</li><li>It is always fun to give our friends a holiday, especially during Ramadhan;</li><li>I have always wanted to host a party where our friends could come and share the stuff they’ve made / been working on in a casual, no-pressure environment.</li></ul><p>We rented an AirBNB close to our favourite beach for the occasion.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s1280x1920/4142c1ec26552bf670f82cb0747e9734c8556bc0.jpg" data-big-photo-height="845" data-big-photo-width="633"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s500x750/75577a38bda7b3053fb35ed4ec5c8ab97103fac7.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s75x75_c1/3f10e6000938143c8e3cef061249d3d111bf64ea.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s100x200/707306f09726dc67c223d259bcd84d81ebb8328e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s250x400/e21320a37ba3ed7627393c69586e4a8035391651.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s400x600/f7a7fa8c9e65cfc00d591d1268b2db8fdcfeeb8f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s500x750/75577a38bda7b3053fb35ed4ec5c8ab97103fac7.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s540x810/7e2fb6ac4d5ed39c6a154c032813a781b690160e.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/08fe11ef66f7ed2e255c755ef2e0d2b5/140e5557c37a3fad-d2/s640x960/abcac7b4dd975ee040909e8839583110578f4563.jpg 633w" sizes="(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photo: </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dunyagozel.ann/" target="_blank">Dunyagozel Annaberdiyeva</a></i><i>)</i></p><p>+++</p><p>Though it was stressful to prep for (mainly because I was ill for the preceding two weeks; in the end I was feeling too poorly to run any TTRPGs on Saturday)—</p><p>The weekend went better than we could have imagined.</p><p>Highlights:</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s1280x1920/06b2e7f56144bc839669d97284980636759125ea.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="810"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s500x750/dea6288ff3fdbaaf442586fb583b65c5c2bdb74b.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s75x75_c1/ede3cee185b6a80ea259f7e251b301b4f512948f.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s100x200/a61fc36f4e1c405e518668a0e0c3ffd952bb3cb2.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s250x400/ea009a40c7cb7a180f54757c8ec692d7981086ed.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s400x600/bf0d62550573cef589eabb2a0cf0b37668f4e092.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s500x750/dea6288ff3fdbaaf442586fb583b65c5c2bdb74b.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ec982262872e18b773bbd77449580d49/140e5557c37a3fad-b2/s540x810/692aa606b9b92e0c392a57e041ed0f2787ffdfe3.jpg 540w, 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sizes="(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/88b4a6df7b7ef658048b32c0d74695c6/140e5557c37a3fad-9b/s1280x1920/e9342006139c8d28a324292f749a27f05b88849f.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="960"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/88b4a6df7b7ef658048b32c0d74695c6/140e5557c37a3fad-9b/s500x750/fc01eb39ce48c62f9b6ff46f9e826e28be9f9138.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/88b4a6df7b7ef658048b32c0d74695c6/140e5557c37a3fad-9b/s75x75_c1/7b60336d8459567f138443dcb15bab8a1a8e0049.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/88b4a6df7b7ef658048b32c0d74695c6/140e5557c37a3fad-9b/s100x200/92a328668438f67eb4d6c236a8fe829801fb1dac.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/88b4a6df7b7ef658048b32c0d74695c6/140e5557c37a3fad-9b/s250x400/ef4bf80790ef5b11a5aa39e1d74cc273b4cb5738.jpg 250w, 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data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s1280x1920/342286049cc3127991a5a09d4593af494f89fc77.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1350" data-big-photo-width="901"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s500x750/929e36004dd57e2b59093f934a4b8d4564b022c7.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s75x75_c1/a42e77ab467a414f6818666e658313f5e374aa64.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s100x200/33d635835fa55d76cdd914d5e761ab5d76b0b439.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s250x400/78683333dad97bdca301710e908a78cdf624e355.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a1214a66a92228067f76d3f4d7b317b9/140e5557c37a3fad-81/s400x600/b6bcbb7684ad59e5d7a8a1462704dbe9e50d270a.jpg 400w, 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sizes="(max-width: 810px) 100vw, 810px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s1280x1920/468e8c61d911cd8584793f3b735b4a0a3598f1a5.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="607"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s640x960/a82bd1300817a22c97108b9b948c117aa96844ef.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s75x75_c1/b8020f8a60c1b9d10983a334fc083dce31d472f0.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s100x200/7189062200e3523d93d9750b6b57bbc4d4a47013.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s250x400/7ee4506a4cc63925985db90a668a6941c9627de2.jpg 225w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s400x600/da9e03bac84c022898b841df2e9329e9cda5cec1.jpg 337w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s500x750/f78b46e3b16eb764dd9a37868ca867f31920643e.jpg 422w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s540x810/60ceaff3cb804b95872b6ae18b94dda7eb27487a.jpg 455w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s640x960/a82bd1300817a22c97108b9b948c117aa96844ef.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/3da604b3495891c1e4f6ed93ff32baf6/140e5557c37a3fad-1a/s1280x1920/468e8c61d911cd8584793f3b735b4a0a3598f1a5.jpg 607w" sizes="(max-width: 607px) 100vw, 607px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: Hana Zamri, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dunyagozel.ann/" target="_blank">Dunyagozel Annaberdiyeva</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/spectacularshah/" target="_blank">Shahriman Shahrul</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alterinate/" target="_blank">Erin Malikhain</a></i>, <i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kon_zing/" target="_blank">Ali Rafiq</a></i><i>)</i></p><p><i><a href="https://www.britishcouncil.my/programmes/arts/connections-through-culture-grantee-2023/shrineshare" target="_blank">ShrineShare</a></i>, featuring 16 artists, co-curated with <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Blandy</a> (also of <i><a href="https://www.copypastecoop.com/" target="_blank">ECO MOFOS!</a></i> fame), was designed to be a complete art-exhibition-in-a-folder. A pop-up exhibition, I guess?</p><p>The protective folder doubles as a curatorial statement and orientation essay; remove the binding clasp and you can remove the prints to hang individually; it comes with artist statements and game-like prompts you can put up as wall texts.</p><p><i>ShrineShare</i> has been shown in the UK and in Penang (as far as we know); it was time Port Dickson got to see it. We had the original stamps that the I used to make the prints, so folks popping by could make their own prints to take home.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/140e5557c37a3fad-9c/s1280x1920/3069506e69630120afb32f1da3963b029e2cc3f1.jpg" data-big-photo-height="810" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/140e5557c37a3fad-9c/s500x750/cceb8fc05432e0bec39b3dc8f00c818f5fcf20f6.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/140e5557c37a3fad-9c/s75x75_c1/1bf1a6daf35535bfef4625ff262ea54e3b8e175a.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/dc7fa950dcb5c335616bf923de14676b/140e5557c37a3fad-9c/s100x200/f54c399c9fdc8b07c3fb1d1ba3fe12c133d0bc8c.jpg 100w, 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src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s500x750/f8966055108879e75e580db21ac81bc166332c29.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s75x75_c1/d81273018cb099078e8bd3cd5b83150ee570c435.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s100x200/b2dda47a84bc435960766b6587a5b0522fbd7b10.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s250x400/83d1ababecaedfce1b2cb6576556220a74fb0f16.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s400x600/408810ad500aeae7dfaf3119428e06a043d3d151.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s500x750/f8966055108879e75e580db21ac81bc166332c29.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s540x810/88874665b771884e0ab7c8328cd953638c07a7db.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s640x960/18f23830c64d4a52696775f06e40c1eb64570943.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s1280x1920/e75f93a58a8e167fd1d5c72bf8b3288ae177b24d.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/416d46c21840d8366409eb7ff7d016e3/140e5557c37a3fad-69/s2048x3072/ff7ab06a9b941ccee418081d9be2c19c13a2f66c.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: Hana Zamri, </i><i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/adriana.n.manan" target="_blank">Adriana Nordin Manan</a></i>)</p><p>This cat, which we got from a local sundry shop, served as a piggy bank for personal family stories.</p><p>I am collecting those for my upcoming art installation at <a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank">Weird Hope Engines</a> (a crocodile shrine that eats pain)—but it did double duty, in that the surrendering of trauma to the forces of transformation is a big part of Sharon’s “Portal” work, too, which is why …</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4bfe66a08d6bcb311ca09af7a59c72f2/140e5557c37a3fad-21/s1280x1920/531ebcf2d0ffd0650b1438818f32d30cf3a26d30.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="810"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4bfe66a08d6bcb311ca09af7a59c72f2/140e5557c37a3fad-21/s500x750/35492e966f4b622cfce30ce96eaa675cd3998ba2.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4bfe66a08d6bcb311ca09af7a59c72f2/140e5557c37a3fad-21/s75x75_c1/32d1a4f0cefa3990be1eca897e8e3c3015f36f1b.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4bfe66a08d6bcb311ca09af7a59c72f2/140e5557c37a3fad-21/s100x200/553c460c8ed17900ccc4ba666c801f3af0705ece.jpg 100w, 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sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jinjeanjins/" target="_blank">Jin Tee</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dunyagozel.ann/" target="_blank">Dunyagozel Annaberdiyeva</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/spectacularshah/" target="_blank">Shahriman Shahrul</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kon_zing/" target="_blank">Ali Rafiq</a></i><i>, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/alterinate/" target="_blank">Erin Malikhain</a></i><i>)</i></p><p>… when the time came for Sharon to perform “Portal” again, the cat was a central piece.</p><p>Sharon (with fellow performance artist <a href="https://www.instagram.com/poodien/" target="_blank">Poodien</a>) led the ceremony there on the low-tide flat, in the 8pm dark. We lit the lamps—made of bottles (alcoholism defined Sharon’s home life, growing up; a feature of our beach is the fact that people often come here, to drink in the dark; you find empty bottles of whisky and beer buried in the backshore grass); filled with paraffin.</p><p>We held hands, around the place where two mangroves once stood, like a pair of gate posts, to another world. 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sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/32509cf8fa2cd93c2b8420c38b5c927a/140e5557c37a3fad-e7/s1280x1920/3bb1d267d5ca308578517b13eb28a55cb417b462.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1920" data-big-photo-width="2560"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/32509cf8fa2cd93c2b8420c38b5c927a/140e5557c37a3fad-e7/s500x750/b6182743f810913c0f92b5e36e07bebc99860e77.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/32509cf8fa2cd93c2b8420c38b5c927a/140e5557c37a3fad-e7/s75x75_c1/acb0a2702caaa642ca47c4dbe8fc066fc3d162ae.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/32509cf8fa2cd93c2b8420c38b5c927a/140e5557c37a3fad-e7/s100x200/4df3d19297ee9722c8e9d72dc27b6b607afd167c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/32509cf8fa2cd93c2b8420c38b5c927a/140e5557c37a3fad-e7/s250x400/7a1d04ddc2e312d68510a57a019792d803082783.jpg 250w, 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class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s1280x1920/bffbdd01e3ce16f01095aa4435f1b71fdb9f3f7e.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1921" data-big-photo-width="2560"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s500x750/52edcb52fcbda35fcc8bc162552a59a79877cc57.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s75x75_c1/08c725291805c3e6be76004ff99ae56b976b9dda.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s100x200/9e6384b06ceddad6ec901def971852ffb11f46ab.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s250x400/d7271af4f65d85f7f2c939debb60265d279c4eb4.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s400x600/1b4f25b2d935c9b508b00863b6c130c087ec3bd9.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s500x750/52edcb52fcbda35fcc8bc162552a59a79877cc57.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s540x810/fa1b4f3b42223673e5cb8063cd72a7df8c805457.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s640x960/e68f2516c6f46025bf4f5ed2a489de840bf50c48.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s1280x1920/bffbdd01e3ce16f01095aa4435f1b71fdb9f3f7e.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/203a5f2164d43bc45b5323b7bf37206d/140e5557c37a3fad-97/s2048x3072/6669a2af87e40c86f84df200f302a946410343f9.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s1280x1920/68d8dbea9d06dec6d0aaadcbc45a342fa21909b7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="963"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s500x750/f2e667c8783889e2c9060d42b020b97adf37f84d.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s75x75_c1/ab926fff85200ac2e09319a670a5b8a8156f98b8.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s100x200/63d9918e67729d9a03e9539e89f89c1e2dafe765.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s250x400/1be1b1f3f1a3d7c9a14d1073e6d5b65b41e784fb.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s400x600/92f8c8a35c6040a664aa09daa2ba3e851a105070.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s500x750/f2e667c8783889e2c9060d42b020b97adf37f84d.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s540x810/c39dd2ea6dec13a045af0fcd00aeacc28d7fa0fa.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s640x960/6b661f1740a83a6535e431165cbcba7b1373a1dc.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c0c291c89f361aef13d32846dc0293a2/140e5557c37a3fad-b7/s1280x1920/68d8dbea9d06dec6d0aaadcbc45a342fa21909b7.jpg 963w" sizes="(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: Sharon Chin, </i><i><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jinjeanjins/" target="_blank">Jin Tee</a></i><i>)</i></p><p>Afterwards, an evening of sharing. Including:</p><p>“Where is my place in your life?”, a collage work by <a href="https://bio.link/undisciplinedbeing" target="_blank">Erin</a>, about the seats and expectations we are expected to fill, in family, in politics;</p><p>Poems—one by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/treeandplants" target="_blank">Cameron</a>, about the Jalan Ang Seng cemetery, one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest burial grounds; one by Lisa (our neighbour, who Sharon and I watched grow up) about a penpal who recently passed away; </p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/farahrani/" target="_blank">Farah</a>, talking about her new storytelling initiative, tentatively called “Bebenang”; and Muizz on his fashion project, <a href="https://www.inkaa.com.my/" target="_blank">INKAA</a>;</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/aimanazri87" target="_blank">Aiman</a>’s spoken-word love letter about his hometown of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batu_Buruk" target="_blank">Batu Buruk</a>—“no batu, but a lot of buruk”—hilarious and heartfelt;</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="embed-67f865dcaa6d5218307653" class="embed_iframe" src="https://safe.txmblr.com/svc/embed/inline/https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FAqv2RfyKCZc#embed-67f865dcaa6d5218307653-partied" width="500" height="280" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/nanawrote/" target="_blank">Nana</a>’s song of Port Dickson’s faded glory, empty resorts, and missing trees, an extension to the Blues Gang’s “Apo Nak Dikato”, (itself an ode to Negeri Sembilan), in lilting Nogori dialect (ngl this made me tear up yo);</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/joiedevince/" target="_blank">Vincent</a>’s origin myth of the mangrove apple;</p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/dunyagozel.ann/" target="_blank">Dunya</a> playing a Turkmeni gopuz / jaw harp, traditionally a women’s instrument;</p><p><a href="https://www.protagonist.my/" target="_blank">Adriana</a> sharing a WIP historical piece, told from the POV of her grandfather, who passed recently at one hundred years of age, who grew up in British colonial rule, and watched the Japanese soldiers arrive on their bicycles.</p><p>+++</p><p>There are places one loves. There are places one hates. And there are places one cannot help but belong to.</p><p>I am glad we got to share our place with you, dear friends.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s1280x1920/db97e35d2174ba9cab870985a458001f238e3df0.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="963"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s500x750/32e48f8c59924001ab51699d8994e34104f62730.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s75x75_c1/802221446845fb0441d6ed31a98b42eb60b93995.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s100x200/e8f639e184433ff31f562129c8cbeb4c020a5353.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s250x400/8befcdab0cf058629e9aad0bdefd628e6e047514.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s400x600/17e4794adcb152084ac0a7441ec1ae8e9df0f795.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s500x750/32e48f8c59924001ab51699d8994e34104f62730.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s540x810/bff42b9085b0eda67850b3f8ce16a5b507d0eeba.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s640x960/51fecf44dae5818a9571ce0d91947e1a2f6e257a.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6d2233e5cace89431955f09c814b4859/140e5557c37a3fad-8d/s1280x1920/db97e35d2174ba9cab870985a458001f238e3df0.jpg 963w" sizes="(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px" alt="image"></a></figure></div><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s1280x1920/f54547396e32d910f7f0f6efd69269f4c4e2bf20.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="963"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s500x750/64244acfda768e2cd645a5963d1c69890ab382f6.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s75x75_c1/3477a87a157106cc078792774945cc9c744e49fb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s100x200/4088b0e2256c9533ddedbed8cdfae741fc82bc0f.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s250x400/72439bd06e084d082ea8f5326bd50dbf1e3b0dc2.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s400x600/1e4bee769aa6cb9d5df7efda6fca19a0dbd67212.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s500x750/64244acfda768e2cd645a5963d1c69890ab382f6.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s540x810/9731711c11ce3960bef8d27a7351fb7da34192e6.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s640x960/890e02cfead0c252f0cda0b7f110d1a91c942c73.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6f0eaf32bcd49d54a0d1cf04b694737a/140e5557c37a3fad-4d/s1280x1920/f54547396e32d910f7f0f6efd69269f4c4e2bf20.jpg 963w" sizes="(max-width: 963px) 100vw, 963px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Photos: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jinjeanjins/" target="_blank">Jin Tee</a>)</i></p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/port%20dickson">#port dickson</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/beaches">#beaches</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/shores">#shores</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/poetry">#poetry</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/song">#song</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/art">#art</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/friends">#friends</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/Youtube">#Youtube</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party" title="Wed. March 12, 2025 @ 12:07 am"><span class="icon"></span>1 month ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party#notes"><span class="icon"></span>4</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-777738545657937920" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhB5HOk4W00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuhB5HOk4W00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/777738545657937920/portal-party" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-775741945558532096" class="post type-text tag_writing tag_ttrpgs tag_real%20life tag_adventures tag_hantu tag_amandaleefranck tag_pontianak tag_ghosts tag_malaysia tag_travel tag_kickstarter tag_essays tag_scrapworld tag_weirdhopeengines tag_davidblandy tag_Youtube"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h1><b>THE PONTIANAK, IN FICTION</b></h1><p><i>The following is one of a pairs of essays I wrote as a Stretch Goal for </i><b><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter" target="_blank">A PERFECT WIFE</a></b><i>.</i></p><p><i>Pretty basic stuff for hantu aficionados, of course. But it is designed as orientation for GMs / players who are unfamiliar with the Malaysian context—a primer of the pontianak’s pop-cultural significance; an author’s note for why I wanted to treat her story the way I did.</i></p><p><i>This essay—alongside another essay titled “The Supernatural, in Southeast Asia—will appear as appendices in the zine, which you can support</i></p><h1><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidblandy/a-perfect-wife-ttrpg-adventure-fundraiser" target="_blank"><b><i>>>>HERE<<<</i></b></a></h1><p><i>Three days left!</i></p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s1280x1920/79042fefffa8c62dacfe84a4e3c2cf0f10c739b5.webp" data-big-photo-height="720" data-big-photo-width="1280"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s500x750/b1e9cf6fb28bd6bbd9842545891277ebd679ea83.webp" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s75x75_c1/b05fa456f248ea453edc14e900ef8453675bd8db.webp 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s100x200/12115452de8e217e6cdd6219b402c4e99f32a7df.webp 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s250x400/605a15f3a5ded2a1eef4b2bd99605d1313491dc3.webp 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s400x600/49c21dca3a26c1743428ecfef8046cbb0651c2e5.webp 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s500x750/b1e9cf6fb28bd6bbd9842545891277ebd679ea83.webp 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s540x810/5ea44e22dc1b959c392aaf72e6403304edebf157.webp 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s640x960/d8e769d32de418520ad4a855a92e16091a8ee8c7.webp 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/1a52944c4803c540e17d6c2f1b58f7f3/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-e2/s1280x1920/79042fefffa8c62dacfe84a4e3c2cf0f10c739b5.webp 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(<a href="https://www.roots.gov.sg/stories-landing/stories/the-singapore-story-through-60-objects/community-and-faith/production-still/story" target="_blank">Image source</a>)</i></p><p>Malaysian culture is replete with monsters.</p><p>Many are gendered female, and cluster around childbirth, that oldest and bloodiest of terrors. A <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyol" target="_blank">toyol</a> is created from the flesh of a dead fetus. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penanggalan" target="_blank">penanggalan</a> seeks the blood of new mothers and infants. A woman who perishes while pregnant or in labour may rise as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langsuyar" target="_blank">langsuir</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuntilanak" target="_blank">pontianak</a>.</p><p>If you have read through or played this adventure, you have already met the pontianak.</p><p>She is pretty famous! She lends her name to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontianak" target="_blank">a city in Indonesia</a>. She headlines horror movies: the first was a Cathay-Keris production, <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050848/" target="_blank">Pontianak</a></i> (1957); the latest is Glen Goei and Gavin Yap’s <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9113332/" target="_blank">Dendam Pontianak</a></i> (2019). One of the three protagonists in Charlene Teo’s litfic novel <i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33000419-ponti" target="_blank">Ponti</a></i> (2018) is the aging star of a fictional 1970s pontianak film.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s1280x1920/7987e4e7922fde4388ae2184ecc04ef04990d4dc.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1728" data-big-photo-width="1166"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s500x750/7ce230d6191daab2aeab4afbeb08705b10185de3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s75x75_c1/9bf187750e4f06ffb3a670cd9e0886a05507262d.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s100x200/353553102d3fda406b352b64198ba41869312dcd.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s250x400/05855bd7fae7558c92eeed92157f26b42a688820.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s400x600/a0aa8749709e9c4c08eab5ae2d098d18fd7a642a.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s500x750/7ce230d6191daab2aeab4afbeb08705b10185de3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s540x810/8a23a3e38f825f33748316f84f7271fd3aff7078.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s640x960/994510b32a0fd261c42a9cc57470b4def3771932.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a608d4574e23617223abadbd9955beb/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-51/s1280x1920/7987e4e7922fde4388ae2184ecc04ef04990d4dc.jpg 1166w" sizes="(max-width: 1166px) 100vw, 1166px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>There is much scholarship about the pontianak. A frequently-cited paper is Alicia Izharuddin’s <i><a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14680777.2019.1681488" target="_blank">The laugh of the pontianak: darkness and feminism in Malay folk horror</a></i> (2019). Alicia focuses on one of the pontianak’s trademark features—her laugh, popularly a cackle of wild abandon—as a site of radical resistance.</p><p>Nothing scares men more than a woman “laughing at patriarchy, laughing at power, <a href="https://aizharuddin.com/2018/01/21/on-womens-laughter-in-malay-horror-part-2/" target="_blank">laughing from below</a>.”</p><p>+</p><p>It is said the pontianak “can only be subdued by striking a nail to the back of her neck” (<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312019479_From_International_Horror_Films_to_the_Local_Filem_Seram_Examining_the_Cinematic_Identity_and_Roles_of_the_Malaysian_Pontianak" target="_blank">Lee & Balaya</a>, 2016). So thwarted, she turns “into a beautiful woman and a good wife until the nail is removed” (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6080375-the-malaysian-book-of-the-undead" target="_blank">Lim</a>, 2008).</p><p>With fortitude, craft and cunning, a hero may snare this female creature for himself. Vanquish the monster, get the girl! Because the monster is the girl.</p><p>A notable depiction of the pontianak-as-perfect-wife appears in <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1669117/" target="_blank">Gergasi</a></i> (1958):</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="embed-67f865dcb2b94879669099" class="embed_iframe" src="https://safe.txmblr.com/svc/embed/inline/https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FIlkzLLoy4Lw%3Fsi%3Dhm5CNHk4y-ZgIj_Q%26t%3D845#embed-67f865dcb2b94879669099-partied" width="500" height="374" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>A hunter, driven by the prospect of winning a “woman of incredible beauty”, stalks a fanged and taloned pontianak. He watches her kneel by a stream to drink. In this private moment she looks tired: an old crone.</p><p>He attacks her from behind with hammer and nail.</p><p>She screams. Falls into the water. When he fishes her out again, she is a transformed: a young woman—confused, afraid. Quiet, she shrinks away from him. He tells her: “You have awakened from a terrible dream. Let us go home.”</p><p>“Home?” she asks. She has no idea where she is, who he is.</p><p>“My home,” he says. “Do not doubt. Believe in me. I am human, just like you.” He yanks her into his arms. “Let us build a palace of happiness together.”</p><p>+</p><p>Watching such a scene today feels uncomfortable. Physical assault at a moment of vulnerability. A man taking control of a woman when she is too disoriented to consent. Penetration used as a guarantee of marriage.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s1280x1920/0a4710287235f3177ea8a68eb52b39f434ade49c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="607" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s500x750/49792956827294953fd48aeb6b6d51681ae514cd.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s75x75_c1/0b91ac55f1699ce0e45d44f410ba98a8d73d925b.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s100x200/e5790138aa45abd00e5f3ff207b5d7743eaf7a0d.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s250x400/5bc6d1da3096d3ca4141caa62571da7b11bd8f19.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s400x600/e07c9851b3a4d2d11bd8b70ac091440d44d97675.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s500x750/49792956827294953fd48aeb6b6d51681ae514cd.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s540x810/b76093eb7761da470f27dfc26cbdd4300fc6ad5e.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s640x960/b17873b008802503bbefbb18577a20c75a18933a.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b10c7b957e9e3ae235923e2d72c73914/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-ad/s1280x1920/0a4710287235f3177ea8a68eb52b39f434ade49c.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(<a href="https://www.farhanajafri.com/2019/10/movie-review-dendam-pontianak.html" target="_blank">Image source</a>)</i></p><p>The nail is a straightforward symbol: with it, the pontianak is pinned in place, like a moth specimen in a lightbox.</p><p>The pontianak-as-captive-wife narrative is rare, nowadays. Nowadays she is allowed to be a sympathetic villain. In Shuhaimi Baba’s <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371890/" target="_blank">Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam</a></i> (2004), she rises to exact vengeance on her murderers. We acknowledge the fact that women suffer at the hands of bad men, sometimes!</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s1280x1920/f094a31d6f6dc2293817b07153d7c6a000e43a68.webp" data-big-photo-height="" data-big-photo-width=""><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s500x750/35dce94d216c88c75dec775f3a1512ace10b7e67.webp" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s75x75_c1/c4b2cfa968b20e1208983f4683f43d0e0455dd38.webp 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s100x200/aaba042b35a8dd01bf3cf4fac4fbdbce76cb5560.webp 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s250x400/303c1c3d618c141ad7fac82cf1c924daa7e94439.webp 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s400x600/57531c99eead32e7e2f43f4be06f406145ade5fc.webp 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/647a1868d5f7e0e81c9cf0310e999e69/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-55/s500x750/35dce94d216c88c75dec775f3a1512ace10b7e67.webp 477w" sizes="(max-width: 477px) 100vw, 477px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(<a href="https://murai.my/2019/71262/maya-karin-beri-bayangan-kemunculan-pontianak-harum-sundal-malam-3/" target="_blank">Image source</a>)</i></p><p>It is satisfying to see justice done. To bad men—and to monsters. The pontianak typically meets one of the following ends:</p><ul><li>She is banished by devout Islamic prayer;</li><li>She fades away, having exacted her revenge;</li><li>She escapes into the dark, so a sequel can be made.</li></ul><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s1280x1920/752f6d0a154f815b6ab7c6d44b83ae891072d107.jpg" data-big-photo-height="607" data-big-photo-width="1080"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s500x750/35f1ebcd17844a4fd353a457aa767c5261a4accd.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s75x75_c1/5e4ba75b4e3d871f83d632d69200ed68253cfcaa.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s100x200/456b0000e2d42e38c50381c2c09fbaa5c7506bf5.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s250x400/41db0097845a2218d429eda5064e6107d534a447.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s400x600/b1f7420b5abd633ff6bb693f62b35b07c2c62a5f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s500x750/35f1ebcd17844a4fd353a457aa767c5261a4accd.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s540x810/5aee0bf77fd8dd2bc9c1353f071229f69f4ef109.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s640x960/15553625186f012d1457f4ae2fb742e8e19531df.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/446524851b35428dbe619bd6da6affa8/e15ea1fb40f6bd11-2b/s1280x1920/752f6d0a154f815b6ab7c6d44b83ae891072d107.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(<a href="https://www.farhanajafri.com/2019/10/movie-review-dendam-pontianak.html" target="_blank">Image source</a>)</i></p><p>In all cases:</p><p>With the avatar of abhorrent femininity gone, a conventional ever-after is possible. The male lead safely marries his lady love, starts a family. Baby-making and heteronormative gender roles resume. The order of the world is upheld.</p><p>+</p><p><b><i>A PERFECT WIFE</i></b> is set in the aftermath of a pontianak story. Dr Azman is a good man, enjoying the just reward he believes he deserves. All is well, in the order of the world. Yet Sara wonders why her happy ending feels pyrrhic.</p><p>What will you do about it?</p><p>+++</p><p><b><a href="https://www.rascal.news/a-perfect-wife-the-vicious-horror-zine-bringing-people-together/" target="_blank">A PERFECT WIFE</a></b><i> is a modern-horror adventure for TTRPGs, published as a print art zine and PDF. Its publication is helping fund flights and expenses for <a href="https://comradery.co/amandalee" target="_blank">Amanda Lee Franck</a>, <a href="https://monstermanualsewnfrompants.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Scrap World</a>, and myself, to travel to Nottingham for </i><a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank"><b>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</b></a><i>, in March 2025.</i></p><h1>SUPPORT US <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidblandy/a-perfect-wife-ttrpg-adventure-fundraiser" target="_blank">>>>HERE<<<</a></h1> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/writing">#writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/adventures">#adventures</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/hantu">#hantu</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/amandaleefranck">#amandaleefranck</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/pontianak">#pontianak</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ghosts">#ghosts</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/malaysia">#malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/travel">#travel</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/kickstarter">#kickstarter</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/essays">#essays</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/scrapworld">#scrapworld</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/weirdhopeengines">#weirdhopeengines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/davidblandy">#davidblandy</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/Youtube">#Youtube</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction" title="Mon. February 17, 2025 @ 11:12 pm"><span class="icon"></span>1 month ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction#notes"><span class="icon"></span>8</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-775741945558532096" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuh3-J1_Om00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuh3-J1_Om00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/775741945558532096/the-pontianak-in-fiction" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-774648179838828544" class="post type-text tag_real%20life tag_travel tag_writing tag_adventures tag_ttrpgs tag_kickstarter tag_zinequest tag_aperfectwife tag_amandaleefranck tag_scrapworld tag_davidblandy tag_weirdhopeengines tag_crowdfunding tag_begging tag_pontianak tag_hantu"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">A PERFECT WIFE - Now On Kickstarter!</h2> <p>What happens when a toxic man forcibly marries a murderous vampiress?</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1080" data-orig-width="1920" data-npf='{"type":"video","provider":"tumblr","url":"https://va.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_sr7mitLNc61rzvura_720.mp4","media":{"url":"https://va.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_sr7mitLNc61rzvura_720.mp4","type":"video/mp4","width":1920,"height":1080},"poster":[{"media_key":"c605e7757778f6971346d372f15499fd:cc4c9dc5b477bc64-45","type":"image/jpeg","width":540,"height":304,"url":"https://64.media.tumblr.com/c605e7757778f6971346d372f15499fd/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-45/s540x810/1a1787c1336b9c1557919008a092b6ff697dd88e.jpg"}]}'><video controls="controls" autoplay="autoplay" playsinline="playsinline" muted="muted" poster="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c605e7757778f6971346d372f15499fd/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-45/s540x810/1a1787c1336b9c1557919008a092b6ff697dd88e.jpg"><source src="https://va.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_sr7mitLNc61rzvura_720.mp4" type="video/mp4"></source></video></figure><p><b>A PERFECT WIFE</b> is <b>an adventure of contemporary supernatural horror</b>, featuring the Malaysian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuntilanak" target="_blank">pontianak</a>, set in modern-day Kuala Lumpur.</p><p>A <b>TTRPG zine</b> with art by <a href="https://comradery.co/amandalee" target="_blank">Amanda Lee Franck</a> and <a href="https://monstermanualsewnfrompants.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Scrap World</a>, layout design by <a href="https://davidblandy.co.uk/" target="_blank">David Blandy</a>, and text + design (+ some art) by me!</p><p>This is also a <b>fundraiser</b>! Everybody working on the zine is part of a visual art exhibition called <a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank"><b>WEIRD HOPE ENGINES</b></a>, happening in Nottingham in March 2025. Proceeds from our zine will go towards paying for air tickets and travel expenses <b>to get me and Scrap and Amanda to the UK</b>.</p><h1>SUPPORT US <b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidblandy/a-perfect-wife-ttrpg-adventure-fundraiser" target="_blank">>>>HERE<<<</a></b></h1><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s1280x1920/650d7ea14c946bcdd09e6f6393407b982451bf54.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1240" data-big-photo-width="1748"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s500x750/25251f82a2f082099d5ca0c1e0fea5ec38994f23.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s75x75_c1/473e57db02c90b6d56639764adba9398aef5378d.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s100x200/760a3343f40f1f9a47d10549945041e5b0601eab.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s250x400/8acba085b57e2476a36a36b07f95adb7435559f3.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s400x600/eb07836e42dffd1d7b67426288e9f8c36f9bed46.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s500x750/25251f82a2f082099d5ca0c1e0fea5ec38994f23.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s540x810/4fd6dbb465bef99f694873ea81367262648006d0.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s640x960/d2b4c7397a5d1e7b73a1ff62ac1fe7ed682c24b6.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s1280x1920/650d7ea14c946bcdd09e6f6393407b982451bf54.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/860a397a808ba21b2f0979149fe7d96e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-6d/s2048x3072/089b64a3d3663beb8b004581e7c3fc5fabba2eea.jpg 1748w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(Draft layout)</i></p><p>The zine version of <b>A PERFECT WIFE</b> is an expanded, up-punched version of the <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife" target="_blank">adventure I posted on this blog</a>:</p><ul><li>Sharper-drawn setting details and locations;</li><li>A shift away from a genericised Asian city, to Kuala Lumpur specifically; </li><li>Double the number of NPCs; </li><li>Player-character background packages; </li><li>A less-straightforward string of clues, for more satisfying investigative play;</li><li>Proper cartography and better art.</li></ul><p>To wit, here’s Sara from the blog post:</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s1280x1920/51c2dfab958d7a9235f68228cf1ba301902f78de.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1766" data-big-photo-width="2223"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s500x750/f38f3e72e0144c22efed803c8291ed7d60d16374.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s75x75_c1/ffdb5af56c9c03dc4f441be192355b3cd7308eda.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s100x200/0acf1d076f369f32b76bef83d47c3ea85da8e2af.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s250x400/802d4b86a66e6644576be2cbe372beb23368aae8.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s400x600/a092f62bfffb9ea9ab33b505ea2ccb455298bc6a.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s500x750/f38f3e72e0144c22efed803c8291ed7d60d16374.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s540x810/6b63ec0f72bf5fadbfbfbb91c5dc8544e6218913.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s640x960/7db11db5533a7b1c2be49b8dffce36257328583c.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s1280x1920/51c2dfab958d7a9235f68228cf1ba301902f78de.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/35218a5b9536a4cb9cd02e59cf2b2bc5/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-36/s2048x3072/cd389dd4edeb0da31e3170b5808f4d70dfdc5dc9.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>And here is Sara, in the zine:</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s1280x1920/07424bdad594dd468ac35eecfd5b24570848f90c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="3500" data-big-photo-width="3500"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s500x750/725b120a0c223dc56d8661bfce4590a47fee4242.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s75x75_c1/3b91f6a35fd72ecf4ab7599fcbb02cfdcb31328c.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s100x200/c73e2da812fd672393b592104e8f27532d0abcd1.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s250x400/f4a7a08f161f4d4a5a03337d01ccd452258d593e.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s400x600/59b6fbba41e98f4d05af0176885f2c0c9f220a5f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s500x750/725b120a0c223dc56d8661bfce4590a47fee4242.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s540x810/9e68402eed4ecba7454918dd734b5195f398e729.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s640x960/a5145207a2efa4caaf8946d0aa76b6aab32ebcfe.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s1280x1920/07424bdad594dd468ac35eecfd5b24570848f90c.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/6ba6e06ee31e4a0cf9fdb41e63b2ca8d/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-92/s2048x3072/62cadbf1f683880666d65cfc48e4aaa83cb7cff3.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>But that’s just my art; strictly dilettante-grade stuff.</p><p>You are here for Amanda and Scrap, who both contribute sick, hand-painted, full-colour art to the adventure, oozing with moody dread:</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s1280x1920/75bacad4ab7353b45656e086f421358ba093e305.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1500" data-big-photo-width="2000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s500x750/060c84ba11ae302dbed17d780e69a3080cb2c475.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s75x75_c1/7e26cb1b26701772001e4e7cb648d34da7c60ffb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s100x200/8573c7e3f03ad42cc73c0fb26434e48cec1040f3.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s250x400/2a539d4b7fa33d40b8ff3e3e9941b6eb902fcdf2.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s400x600/b87df55fa0c162e0d9a92b35628ee69357391afc.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s500x750/060c84ba11ae302dbed17d780e69a3080cb2c475.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s540x810/d64ac69e726f26cfffafebc60c86b22a7461ec96.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s640x960/eaf5ea7821a2a9cbd71a87bbb7e5204e1946d62c.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s1280x1920/75bacad4ab7353b45656e086f421358ba093e305.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ad1b68ef6a2bfc3458e864f4b39518b/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-25/s2048x3072/b75ca5c56e179e2baf549dfd71e16d5965a90f74.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s1280x1920/db151a0b790b37785e76975c813d44396cf5b6b0.jpg" data-big-photo-height="6896" data-big-photo-width="4912"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s500x750/40d1393e5f93f9757d73cc2fdaecfb849dbd64d6.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s75x75_c1/6736e26c8c75df9cd1f0c40ca30d756f6066921e.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s100x200/c879f255848c6f6732af827108941ddbe118a818.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s250x400/6f8bb921d5ea7533d6b114fca00be25137002673.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s400x600/3610d2dde7921ef649b18be71c499ace2085b157.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s500x750/40d1393e5f93f9757d73cc2fdaecfb849dbd64d6.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s540x810/d0ed8c3d0e263d019bae60ca5bdec4989c2dbb42.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s640x960/adb60a1eb705a3ca2001efd3d435d58ed4723899.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s1280x1920/db151a0b790b37785e76975c813d44396cf5b6b0.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2ce84f723a2f053c8283cdcc4138695e/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-8a/s2048x3072/c2c3424baf4dfb575d46c36a75579e2a9313aab0.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>I mean, <i>come on</i>.</p><p>We hope that all this is enough to entice you to back us. As of writing, we’ve already raised enough for a print run of the zine (with a fold-out of the location, and A5 art prints of Amanda’s and Scrap’s paintings), but we still need help with the flights-and-travel fundraising bit.</p><h1>SUPPORT US <b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidblandy/a-perfect-wife-ttrpg-adventure-fundraiser" target="_blank">>>>HERE<<<</a></b></h1><p><i>Still</i> not convinced? <i>What’s it gonna take</i>?</p><p>You know what? I’ll write something for you. I’ll write you <i>a bespoke NPC</i>, that you can use your game, when you play <b>A PERFECT WIFE</b> at <i>your</i> table.</p><p>I’ll even <i>make art of this NPC for you</i>. Original hand-drawn pen art which <i>I’ll physically mail to you</i>. </p><p>I’m not joking. This—alongside the option of having <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/amandalee.bsky.social/post/3lhebrf4cps27" target="_blank">Amanda draw you a creepy (maybe cute) owl</a>—is literally one of the add-ons you can append to your backer rewards on the Kickstarter. </p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s1280x1920/a7f7493a1ac2937a685513258805b147c7890e5f.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1999" data-big-photo-width="1999"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s500x750/179cfb9bc458e25de4a787ba54552274e99083b0.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s75x75_c1/84d274a1e6436b0a36fa9a3e6cc024ee2daeee7c.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s100x200/a22c5e4a190d529900b5d5c6ab9909bd0b6fad9c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s250x400/4649d31b3f5a7fd879080d531e8631685c9ef821.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s400x600/822b3c6ff71a795b2b07e776fd458aef503001db.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s500x750/179cfb9bc458e25de4a787ba54552274e99083b0.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s540x810/8052888651ea205a6058c0241cfb5a5af92273d8.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s640x960/f643185c78931dfa0670e90dac66f8cfe3d0676d.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s1280x1920/a7f7493a1ac2937a685513258805b147c7890e5f.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/9a9d36a3b769691fbb05148c92bc6a59/cc4c9dc5b477bc64-9f/s2048x3072/b8a4cf4181d5d449435fd33e8ae576e96f428e10.jpg 1999w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p><i>(The show that we will all be part of. More info <a href="https://boningtongallery.co.uk/event/weird-hope-engines/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</i></p><p>If it sounds like I’m begging—I am.</p><p>I’ve admired Scrap and Amanda for years. What a privilege to have worked with them on this zine, to have them make art from my words, my imagination.</p><p>It would be a dream turned real for me to be able to meet them for the first time, and thank them in person.</p><h1>SUPPORT US <b><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/davidblandy/a-perfect-wife-ttrpg-adventure-fundraiser" target="_blank">>>>HERE<<<</a></b></h1> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/travel">#travel</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/writing">#writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/adventures">#adventures</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/kickstarter">#kickstarter</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/zinequest">#zinequest</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/aperfectwife">#aperfectwife</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/amandaleefranck">#amandaleefranck</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/scrapworld">#scrapworld</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/davidblandy">#davidblandy</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/weirdhopeengines">#weirdhopeengines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/crowdfunding">#crowdfunding</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/begging">#begging</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/pontianak">#pontianak</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/hantu">#hantu</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter" title="Wed. February 5, 2025 @ 9:27 pm"><span class="icon"></span>2 months ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter#notes"><span class="icon"></span>9</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-774648179838828544" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuh06cfHCa00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyuh06cfHCa00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/774648179838828544/a-perfect-wife-now-on-kickstarter" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-765407230999838720" class="post type-text tag_ttrpgs tag_real%20life tag_fantasies tag_writing tag_pontianak tag_vampires tag_ghosts tag_hantu tag_malaysia tag_refugees tag_adventures"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h1><b>A PERFECT WIFE</b></h1><p><i>(It is Vampire Weekend! Have a </i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuntilanak" target="_blank"><i>pontianak</i></a><i>-themed urban-horror investigative adventure. I wrote it with Kuala Lumpur in mind, but it should work for any big city just fine.)</i></p><p>+++</p><h1><b>DISAPPEARANCES</b></h1><p>An inner-city neighbourhood, too ugly for gentrification. <b>Refugees</b> have settled here. They fled war in their own country. But they have not escaped violence.</p><p>People work basement sweatshops, or clean toilets in nightclubs. They stumble home in the morning dark. At dawn, their neighbours find <b>gore blotching the dumpsters</b>.</p><p>The first disappearance was <b>a year ago</b>. Now it happens with alarming regularity—every fortnight. The neighbourhood is tense. Most agree the following precautions work:</p><ul><li>Cross the road if you spot rats. </li><li>Walk on if your name is called.</li><li>Do not look for the baby crying. </li></ul><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s1280x1920/48c8d7b8d7c319241b9de08d4c52f6683df88416.jpg" data-big-photo-height="768" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s500x750/08a5056a1f5cd26745b740c605b20f4594562516.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s75x75_c1/7577dac375046b4df796acbad7d664f6d9e3d510.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s100x200/cf907626b9ea59e1cb4bbfabcf0b76a3db4b206a.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s250x400/fc9c284c177bd76a1133a780402023f1cf10e2b3.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s400x600/9f2821803ac42aa3dbcb59e1645a3396c48a4e28.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s500x750/08a5056a1f5cd26745b740c605b20f4594562516.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s540x810/3adf6624242b3f473123e6d1643a93d7fe6a7180.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s640x960/ae7c61c8e6a06c430e6c2c2e6fe7f13473b88222.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/107c4c763c7ba44ab322a399c80a7444/903a9028f708a909-92/s1280x1920/48c8d7b8d7c319241b9de08d4c52f6683df88416.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE COMMUNITY CENTRE</b></h1><p>A school for refugee children. A girl in pink polka dots tugs the sleeve of a hijabi woman. “Shingalong time, Missh Shara?” she asks.</p><p>Sara gives in. Poor Yinyin! Her father vanished over the weekend. Sara offers<b> cash for information about what happened to him</b>. The authorities don’t seem to care.</p><p>Sara cares. She teaches English here, weekdays. Last year, when she miscarried, she bled all over the felt carpeting. She paid to have it cleaned. <b>A faint stain remains</b>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s1280x1920/a34ca538d500c7f78111c8fe7ebe893c359d3adf.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2250" data-big-photo-width="3000"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s500x750/e186d373077912034842db5831360860bec0d7f3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s75x75_c1/4b707144d097d272feda1783b15ec284922de7f1.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s100x200/b059292d02fb0f2bd7c138d8f96db33f2560b7c2.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s250x400/264f64279dc7552371cabb4a4452bfe45410c74e.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s400x600/880487e53448d47f669c5d520c20d53d519c43ff.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s500x750/e186d373077912034842db5831360860bec0d7f3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s540x810/b74b34a47067127456d475b4f6493876d95b871a.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s640x960/1624ff8ad3c752c0f0d4466967053a396444873e.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s1280x1920/a34ca538d500c7f78111c8fe7ebe893c359d3adf.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/79d0c6f0e4ecb622bcc7eef03de345f9/903a9028f708a909-31/s2048x3072/c118d60c3dd5f7cea1cbc227b012f8b402ab4a78.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>YINYIN, THE ORPHAN</b><br><i>Sniffling, hiding, remembering. </i></h2><p>A bundle of giggles, playing with her friends—but as soon as she is allowed a moment on her own she crouches, hugs herself, sobs.</p><p>Yinyin tells you her Papa is short a finger on his left hand, and has a picture of a scary black cat on his right arm. Yinyin tells you she loves her Papa.</p><p>“Shaturday night, Papa wentsh out to buy shtuff at the<b> shop</b>. Papa hashn’t come home. Will you ashk <b>Uncle Yat </b>when Papa will be home?”</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s1280x1920/44487d6787d61bdec89c856d00e8817d0de48800.jpg" data-big-photo-height="3952" data-big-photo-width="2223"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s640x960/ff1d33b9d56ca032a071087ac4debb4b687ae7cb.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s75x75_c1/be6140441baea37f601c1df5ecdaf8e91584b7eb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s100x200/4ec7e4beac2415b5645a79e715af52c4ed22a977.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s250x400/3b870435dbdb348451ef73eb91a099f19926202f.jpg 225w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s400x600/cc43d3fd858dff491961cdedfcfd17666d83082a.jpg 338w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s500x750/1915859eb5217bf269c77d693b50b1aebcb60d79.jpg 422w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s540x810/d1bc2906610c4482652651225b0b77ba55e7f2d0.jpg 456w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s640x960/ff1d33b9d56ca032a071087ac4debb4b687ae7cb.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s1280x1920/44487d6787d61bdec89c856d00e8817d0de48800.jpg 1080w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/ce2bf43b05a33afc09b9847cf1a1dfb8/903a9028f708a909-29/s2048x3072/65d7e57142577b906d27e2ec2dac74ed21f4af92.jpg 1728w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>SARA, THE WIFE</b><br><i>Literature, pastry arts, embroidery.</i></h2><p>At brunch her friends coo: “Look. At. You! You’re glowing!” Then they smile, half-cringing. They know she knows they’re lying.</p><p>Sara has not been sleeping well. Hormones, she thinks. She is <b>six months into her second pregnancy</b>. This will be her firstborn child. She will not disappoint her <b>husband the doctor</b> again.</p><p>She has <b>a nail embedded into the back of her neck</b>. She cannot feel it. Her hijab means nobody else sees it.</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s1280x1920/39b0a76a5e49a10e5adfb5e61e61cc87d7754a79.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1280" data-big-photo-width="720"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s640x960/364b36c10a73604c016985f195424511739af5c8.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s75x75_c1/fedfb1f7dbad9d4bbd9e6e9416a239b42275ff5d.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s100x200/f03cc354cbe3fc5eaf9b563328409207e2557d1c.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s250x400/afecd30393d65a0a26b420783cf158e5d0fb613e.jpg 225w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s400x600/ed0ae5e47b43dafa7b16d7b1db86d36308653b6d.jpg 338w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s500x750/12f92d587ad0e9b0b23e3a7a4bcd5e042ea58b98.jpg 422w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s540x810/4535faa53fad273c2cb6661bbcb2d95783064213.jpg 456w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s640x960/364b36c10a73604c016985f195424511739af5c8.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e467e5c19d8f0b613342195cb1906060/903a9028f708a909-4f/s1280x1920/39b0a76a5e49a10e5adfb5e61e61cc87d7754a79.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE NEIGHBOURHOOD</b></h1><p>Shop signs in a language you cannot read. Even the thoroughfares feel like alleys. Whenever you turn a corner, roll an encounter:</p><ol><li>Music blaring from a phone. A gang of <b>six 38-ers</b>. They whistle passers-by over, to squeeze for snack money.</li><li>Excited yaps. <b>Seven dogs, four puppies</b>. An elderly man has brought them rice and curry, in styrofoam packets. </li><li>The flutter of yellow paper. Ideograms and a tiger, drawn in red ink. Somebody has lost their <b>protective talisman</b>.</li><li>Squeaks from a smelly drain. <b>A rat</b> pokes its head out, peers at you for a full minute, then continues on its way.</li><li>Police tape. “Move along, move along,” <b>Sub-inspector Rafiq</b> repeats, bored. A severed finger has been found.</li><li>“Eh-hek, eh-hek, eeeeeeeeeh!” A baby has begun to cry, close by. Just behind that pile of boxes. <b>Sara’s baby</b>.</li></ol><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s1280x1920/8b5f69aa67bbeb16a0b8303af1ea0cf16e5db315.jpg" data-big-photo-height="481" data-big-photo-width="912"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s500x750/708256ad979c37182c353c4a4a08dafe9a396c69.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s75x75_c1/46547ff44bdf27f328b28098e909e524697482a0.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s100x200/055146e1e958cd8a32225d8905f833136c36b968.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s250x400/abed0f576a3a9588825d3ef9347ec3ef11e88b08.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s400x600/8091673244492b2c2fdd78604a1144d1e9af792f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s500x750/708256ad979c37182c353c4a4a08dafe9a396c69.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s540x810/57d9c9bee573deee105ee00c51716c3e3932d797.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s640x960/a4e57f13b7924221a4ac0e8329afef4b75725ee0.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/cefff7dc39390c07b745a07217a9d1c0/903a9028f708a909-d6/s1280x1920/8b5f69aa67bbeb16a0b8303af1ea0cf16e5db315.jpg 912w" sizes="(max-width: 912px) 100vw, 912px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>38-ER, GANG MEMBER</b><br><i>Machete use, boasting, escaping.</i></h2><p>Tattooed on their bare shoulders: the number “38”, stylised to look like the symbol for the sacred sound Aum. </p><p>Are these disappearances the work of some rival triad, trying to take over their turf? They were protective amulets. They move in groups. <b>One in every group carries a gun</b>.</p><p>They are still losing. Three senior members have gone missing. Their boss <b>Uncle Day has not left his club</b> in weeks. </p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s1280x1920/cfd53c0e7d7defe060541da1256cf19840ba67c7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="900" data-big-photo-width="1200"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s500x750/98b4ea64dc14d8b5380c62d0de740610eb2d07e5.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s75x75_c1/761c04edd0a57df939f67dac1d431e6dd3bc7cfb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s100x200/a538226eeb97ab7529c91ba71b8464efe42f5efa.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s250x400/e6558a64c01f440a679fbebba14ed93b71285874.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s400x600/09d579bfa22d29b0a225d7ae86f5087b865802b9.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s500x750/98b4ea64dc14d8b5380c62d0de740610eb2d07e5.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s540x810/e81b32d5875a08d1450c67f3f1ba0a2034d3bdb5.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s640x960/e5b0d4049262d5670086be392423396a7a8a203e.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s1280x1920/cfd53c0e7d7defe060541da1256cf19840ba67c7.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>SARA’S BABY, THE GHOSTLING</b><br><i>Stalking, mimicking, exsanguination.</i></h2><p>There was no funeral because she lost them so early. She buried their remains, mourned them in private. She doesn’t know their spirit is still abroad.</p><p><b>Usually invisible; materialises to attack</b>. Appears as a child with corpse-green pallor; talons; and <b>proboscis-like umbilical cord</b>.</p><p>Will never harm Sara. Hungers for her affection. Often spies on her at the Community Centre. May copy her teaching voice: “Quiet please!” “Sit down, children!” <b>Make a check, or obey</b>.</p><h2><b>DEALING WITH SARA’S BABY</b></h2><p>As <b>resilient as an ordinary five-year-old</b>. Harmed by mundane weapons. If slain, <b>reappears the next new moon</b>. Even full funeral rites will not put them to rest.</p><p>The wrong that made them was done to their mother. </p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s1280x1920/c045077213d527e87669f07b4a61c8711b7ea671.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1773" data-big-photo-width="3144"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s500x750/ec228e11339b0b647a0edf0a0ceab71f76091671.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s75x75_c1/60d289d9c37e2185a683b6d84349da5be8b3a766.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s100x200/07dcaceb68414cb504b597968f20dace03b91983.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s250x400/e9df812b8e8d9639f9eeb670fbe6ef65a5c5e9aa.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s400x600/1c44687598849904abdf94f8c1bbd680a1dbf9b0.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s500x750/ec228e11339b0b647a0edf0a0ceab71f76091671.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s540x810/712ba8ef46de3aa52618f5dea6062679a83b9da9.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s640x960/0697c492903b5c97ce80421cd9e44045a0010620.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s1280x1920/c045077213d527e87669f07b4a61c8711b7ea671.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/fb0c5ba8256c000e438460c9a3bdc613/903a9028f708a909-d3/s2048x3072/2a64f069077b9f5899b8f95530afab61dbb0361b.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>REFUGEES</b></h1><p>It is a close-knit neighbourhood. Folk gossip about your business. Some are becoming familiar faces. At every location, roll to see who also happens to be here:</p><ol><li>An eleven-year-old. <b>Suki</b>. <i>Organising, hauling, shortcut-taking</i>. With five siblings to support, she has stopped school. Is a gofer for most businesses. <b>Has keys to most back doors</b>. </li><li>A one-armed man. <b>Uncle Tin</b>. <i>Marksmanship, bushcraft, forgetting</i>. His panther tattoo marks him as a former resistance fighter. Cheap rum in his pocket. <b>An assault rifle in his flat</b>. </li><li>A woman, heavy makeup. <b>Sanda</b>. <i>Dancing, drinking, scrimping</i>. Go-go dancer. Annoyed that the the new girls at <b>the club</b> pinching her regulars. <b>Uncle Day’s favourite niece</b>.</li><li>A bald head, robes. <b>Brother Pha</b>. <i>Selling, haggling, spellcraft</i>. Peddles a <b>camphor liniment</b>. “I bless, I bless!” Claims it wards against evil. It stings spiritual entities like pepper spray. </li><li>Always taking a call. <b>Mr Nong</b>. <i>Spying, deception, pistol-use</i>. Seems helpful, but <b>feeds you bad leads</b>. Actually a private investigator keeping an eye on things for <b>Dr Azman</b>.</li><li>Waddles like a duck. <b>Mya</b>. <i>Cooking, scolding, knife-use</i>. She is expecting twins—two boys. “My hubby’s so happy.” Unless you get involved, <b>will be the next person to disappear</b>.</li></ol><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s1280x1920/687d900823885dc56c0be28839319fa0b953d809.jpg" data-big-photo-height="576" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s500x750/5b147c9a363db4761d96d69d0a603d620d2494a3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s75x75_c1/8a5ca86aa3622119d9b76a7f4d25a9ecb95185c7.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s100x200/d84a943b0ce104a705fdfa968fdcd38cab9000f9.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s250x400/490be96b06bc47add991cd4c8aaa8259486fb158.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s400x600/b697fa8bfb37088117f7b67fccd796d893567b7c.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s500x750/5b147c9a363db4761d96d69d0a603d620d2494a3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s540x810/8f5bd13fc31a2fc335a4530cb3f05e33ee27a261.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s640x960/c359d746bc53127891e796a0d9288be45aedfd40.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c121862372543e59fe81c5bc052026eb/903a9028f708a909-83/s1280x1920/687d900823885dc56c0be28839319fa0b953d809.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE SHOP</b></h1><p>No signboard; doesn’t need one. Sells cosmetics; produce and spice pastes for dishes from the old country; third-hand phones.</p><p>Also roasted sunflower seeds; cheap rum; smuggled cannabis—enjoyed at <b>tables in the alley out back</b>. </p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s1280x1920/4e1b0c2ebcaa275659638ef64ae7ad981f2318e6.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2004" data-big-photo-width="2671"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s500x750/a3f569e6abfb4025482321d8f97039a846d0fa06.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s75x75_c1/c2fa15adefcee7ce5853bb653fa00cc89f758574.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s100x200/359a7c7f5ecece2607b85d46c469d23fbc07895e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s250x400/ca62992ba290de1f79fd2ea3fc7ba2e993625c5e.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s400x600/fc647d9fdb6ac57011402d756470ec442f1436ea.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s500x750/a3f569e6abfb4025482321d8f97039a846d0fa06.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s540x810/426987cd2da92aa51f6f57b363b265d5d08e528f.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s640x960/5de8fe148ea6ec38f087fc50390cf7babb6fee8c.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s1280x1920/4e1b0c2ebcaa275659638ef64ae7ad981f2318e6.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1a1505b148f12e59cc34509eba3c040/903a9028f708a909-ce/s2048x3072/da3fd4b9189b647b68863262bae315bd9f4984c5.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>UNCLE YAT, THE SHOPKEEPER</b><br><i>Smuggling, gossiping, electronics.</i></h2><p>“See this panther here?” He points to a tattoo on his left arm. “We fought. We believed! But we lost. That’s life.” He takes another drag of his spliff, and chortles.</p><p>Yinyin’s father was here, Saturday, drinking. “<b>Putting the charm on some girl</b>. Real pretty! And getting real close, touching his face, all that. They left together.”</p><p>Yat gets quiet. “After what we’ve been through? We all deserve some happiness.” Yat thinks she was a go-go girl. “<b>They work at the club</b>. Go ask Day.”</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s1280x1920/ede62e2d68a6fc0c96f4f4d920ccf13dc68bc615.jpg" data-big-photo-height="675" data-big-photo-width="1200"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s500x750/001e73592b40de0c1cf8a52b38850bde789f44e2.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s75x75_c1/b96d8487befc5ec29a934c3e496300b2046eef48.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s100x200/f6f11f036b522f24a37c332347ef2df08937f9eb.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s250x400/53444838233bed8556a24a74d1367f7c5585782e.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s400x600/7b2547146086d3bbd2a006e5077fa0e90bc97b0b.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s500x750/001e73592b40de0c1cf8a52b38850bde789f44e2.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s540x810/c2a6ea535a5e3f097af1bfccfffb7f7b7de50d92.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s640x960/9c8bde29a917588ceb15b89c57242027c84c4908.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/77a0bf446dffb6066767e259d2ed7816/903a9028f708a909-cf/s1280x1920/ede62e2d68a6fc0c96f4f4d920ccf13dc68bc615.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE POLICE KIOSK</b></h1><p>Community board: empty. Front desk: empty. Air-conditioning: freezing. You have to press the call buzzer four times before an officer appears, irritated.</p><p>Whatever you say, she will ask if you want to <b>make a report</b>. “Here, the form. Write. Sign.”</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s1280x1920/ea37ca71280926242f62208cc0c400005264403d.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1934" data-big-photo-width="2578"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s500x750/5b02ec431a928327d95f4d9078f2cbd4fb1c50c8.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s75x75_c1/936105e7ce3f4ccbed633e9ba201f43dc9ed5ab2.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s100x200/9f8c93bb130a9a8d15907b5a1b25c1af113d8f93.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s250x400/40a687f3dde3792b1a97e27c8168408074bed709.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s400x600/325549e655ddf6f079c96189325b19af674890dc.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s500x750/5b02ec431a928327d95f4d9078f2cbd4fb1c50c8.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s540x810/1301e50b4a0a85c5fe0cd4c3eb4ac472e4b4079c.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s640x960/f0c21d699cd8a317eaddaa764995389fff351c2a.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s1280x1920/ea37ca71280926242f62208cc0c400005264403d.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/4ebc4db67b21d67bae38e65bda5c57ef/903a9028f708a909-0a/s2048x3072/d1e1f2bff57dfaa92e22245a46092479a04ac6c8.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>SUB-INSPECTOR RAFIQ, THE OFFICER</b><br><i>Report-writing, delegating, pistol use.</i></h2><p>Takes cigarettes breaks to escape the kiosk’s chill. Obliged to set up a cordon around any scenes of obvious violence. Treats his job as a pensioner’s hobby.</p><p>A grey moustache, holding your attention. Friendly but unhelpful. Mention <b>Sara </b>and his eyes narrow; he <b>asks whether you know Dr Azman</b>.</p><p>“Because I do. The doctor’s wife has pure intentions, yes. But she is naive. These refugees? They are bad people. We should protect pure women from bad realities.”</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s1280x1920/33e06a9e1f3a52bd41537b9333bec4cb30d9598c.jpg" data-big-photo-height="600" data-big-photo-width="800"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s500x750/29e875d18394df4bbebd237a0fc1d8d4eeac2a87.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s75x75_c1/a32821080aa96b97545011f8ffabb819b8b97f21.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s100x200/4291b1daf9bb77e98ffa10f3a91e2c13d9ad703e.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s250x400/7e672324febe57486792baeea62d5ec241e55922.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s400x600/cf0e36ced37e26709d76ccd04051033f3ed7d369.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s500x750/29e875d18394df4bbebd237a0fc1d8d4eeac2a87.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s540x810/e7f4446adff753183ccb827667ddaf16cb64a051.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s640x960/28a9e00d3ca587f8031988ae84e7317479337ed3.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2a1f5f8e3ca500291cc5e8d6fe002eff/903a9028f708a909-a6/s1280x1920/33e06a9e1f3a52bd41537b9333bec4cb30d9598c.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE CLUB</b></h1><p>A poor person’s idea of what wealth looks like: lots of glass; lots of pleather. Driving dangdut. Dancers gyrating on stages in front of murals of elephants, phoenixes, panthers.</p><p>Upstairs, <b>a 38-er with a shotgun</b> guards an armoured door. To meet the boss, you must be vouched for.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s1280x1920/8369ea6aa8c00ef673eb9d40bc9e863fc8a579ae.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1703" data-big-photo-width="2271"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s500x750/01af080a6f30b39be96c969b52abcea73cc53332.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s75x75_c1/aeb2fb46c31748607a2468886f5be4f785cff07f.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s100x200/ab676fd8d13f099b390808a54ee980b16efe95be.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s250x400/8c80f911a6845351140ddfc2c9a893b326d1df4c.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s400x600/7babc4ab0a0908f618f9db0e160bdefe3eacc505.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s500x750/01af080a6f30b39be96c969b52abcea73cc53332.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s540x810/c36c869a8c520df2cc2811b51251eaba3e8fe7e2.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s640x960/9563fa53fca989ab7bf66a656247c074980f78d0.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s1280x1920/8369ea6aa8c00ef673eb9d40bc9e863fc8a579ae.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f6ab0a2c1446113e6012095fdf5fd5f7/903a9028f708a909-55/s2048x3072/9171f1318f99e166366552437d4b82c3dab2e23f.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>UNCLE DAY, THE BOSS</b><br><i>Speechifying, martial arts, rifle-use.</i></h2><p>A fifty-year-old veteran with hippie dreads. Panther-themed ink. Day was a military commander. Now he fights on a different plane.</p><p>“My people’s true war is spiritual. You appear on a lucky day—very lucky. It is fate. Preordained! What insight do you bring, heavenly messenger?”</p><p>Confirms that there are many fresh faces on weekends. “Beautiful girls are sacred animals, you understand? We cannot turn away beauty!”</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s1280x1920/cfd53c0e7d7defe060541da1256cf19840ba67c7.jpg" data-big-photo-height="900" data-big-photo-width="1200"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s500x750/98b4ea64dc14d8b5380c62d0de740610eb2d07e5.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s75x75_c1/761c04edd0a57df939f67dac1d431e6dd3bc7cfb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s100x200/a538226eeb97ab7529c91ba71b8464efe42f5efa.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s250x400/e6558a64c01f440a679fbebba14ed93b71285874.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s400x600/09d579bfa22d29b0a225d7ae86f5087b865802b9.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s500x750/98b4ea64dc14d8b5380c62d0de740610eb2d07e5.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s540x810/e81b32d5875a08d1450c67f3f1ba0a2034d3bdb5.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s640x960/e5b0d4049262d5670086be392423396a7a8a203e.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b3f7faad484e217717937d4d68eb280/903a9028f708a909-4d/s1280x1920/cfd53c0e7d7defe060541da1256cf19840ba67c7.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE WOMAN OF YOUR DREAMS</b></h1><p>This happens on the next weekend night, to the most cishet male person among you:</p><p>Maybe she is in some sort of trouble, and her car won’t start. Maybe she is on a corner, smoking—one black eye. Maybe she is on the podium, enduring gropes and jeers.</p><p>She is beautiful. <b>Exactly your type</b>. You can save her, be her hero. She will be grateful.</p><p><b>There are warning signs</b>. There is no car. She will not describe her assailants. She leads you down a dead end. Her fragrance is sweet, like rotting flower garlands. Every dog in the neighbourhood bays.</p><p>She lowers her eyes, bites her lip. How can she repay you? she asks. This is a game she likes. Gratification delayed. It makes the end delicious.</p><p>Show suspicion, fear? She gets annoyed. Why aren’t you playing along?</p><p>Her neck twists around. She grins, chin over the nape of her neck. Arms at wrong angles, fingers ending in talons. She lopes after you, running backwards with a digitigrade gait.</p><p>+</p><h2><b>SARA, THE PONTIANAK</b><br><i>Pretending, pursuing, disembowelling.</i></h2><p>The pontianak is a nightmare: born when an unhappy mother dies at childbirth; made when life is destroyed, trying to satiate the demands of the patriarchy.</p><p>The pontianak is a predator: she eats men. Women are exempt—except when they are pregnant with a male foetus. Baby flesh tastes best.</p><p>The pontianak is reversal. In human form, <b>her physical features are tailored</b> to appeal to potential victims. She <b>must reveal her monstrously twisted form to feed</b>.</p><p>The pontianak is fear. She wants her victims to know. She has tells. She <b>always smells of rotting flowers</b>. <b>Dogs hate her</b>: one will flee; a pack will attack.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s1280x1920/806ec3db462030b2093b3bd3b7e1af6e35d7abc8.jpg" data-big-photo-height="900" data-big-photo-width="1200"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s500x750/2eda2d8c1570ac94b85cb2fef6c2ad2585ae9ada.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s75x75_c1/1d7f08c972bfae852aaef2cb721f8471cc156fe3.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s100x200/a220c883f6d8c6122bfdebf933fb2dc3ce39a7c9.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s250x400/c5a07eda042cce71773b1d7e2481e181b11c5ce9.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s400x600/432acc640cfaeba4d41d6972e99c010ee190b7cd.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s500x750/2eda2d8c1570ac94b85cb2fef6c2ad2585ae9ada.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s540x810/c3f93d173345ec8cad675c9949e1dbec6e0fe6e8.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s640x960/6dbc70900a7c26e02dc58d607c4937a71afa9c7d.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/0b62c32ab25905d6e97264ba9fe3a7ef/903a9028f708a909-c9/s1280x1920/806ec3db462030b2093b3bd3b7e1af6e35d7abc8.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>SARA’S POWERS</b></h2><p>She may <b>whisper to any man she can see</b>. The target hears this whisper over any distance. She materialises by his ear.</p><p>She may <b>laugh, a high-pitched cackle</b>. Men who hear this laugh develop debilitating fever a day later. Breaks after a week.</p><p>She may <b>touch your clothes</b>. Unerringly locates any man wearing any article of clothing she has previously touched.</p><p>She may <b>fly</b>. Moves through the air as if running on solid ground.</p><p>She may <b>change shape</b>. Besides taking human woman’s shape, she may also transform into a bay owl.</p><p>+</p><h2><b>DEALING WITH PONTIANAKS</b></h2><p>As <b>resilient as three human persons</b>. Harmed by mundane weapons. If slain, <b>reappears the next new moon</b>.</p><p>A known solution is imprisonment: a specially-prepared nail, stabbed into the back of her neck. This <b>transforms the pontianak into a human woman</b>.</p><p>Unaware of the nail, amnesiac, she is easily groomed by her captor. Often she is made to perform sanctioned gender roles—marriage, family-making—roles she previously abandoned.</p><p>The pontianak remains within. Her children may be born as monsters. <b>If the nail is removed</b>, she remembers what she is, and once again goes free.</p><p>+</p><h2><b>DEALING WITH SARA</b></h2><p>A pontianak always has a nest—typically a banana plant, banyan, or frangipani. This is where <b>the root of her spirit resides</b>; where she retreats if her body is slain.</p><p>Kill the pontianak, wait for her to retreat to her tree. Trap her inside with mystic wards. <b>Burn the tree</b>. This destroys her permanently.</p><p><b>Sara’s banana plant is in the back garden of her house</b>.</p><p>+++</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s1280x1920/a696c66660ed980038c6289a8643305c2218221f.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1008" data-big-photo-width="756"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s500x750/c0d86868730ac966cf4a1396f664c64b8e00ecff.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s75x75_c1/ce90944fdb1fc632199be1e006dccc6863ab93a5.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s100x200/6c62cf00d94cfa88ea3baee71657a0289eb0b915.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s250x400/34689bcab8e64c82ff4191930218d3746a4abd56.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s400x600/56337ef2c7ec656809435fde31bf92c9be6b54bf.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s500x750/c0d86868730ac966cf4a1396f664c64b8e00ecff.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s540x810/2cb19cc214fdab2da449f940bf171451f2b05a89.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s640x960/d507ed1f82b2c5b1beabe075da154d4b9b5a67c4.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/06106bbebdd85845e6b526bae8bd8cc5/903a9028f708a909-c1/s1280x1920/a696c66660ed980038c6289a8643305c2218221f.jpg 756w" sizes="(max-width: 756px) 100vw, 756px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h1><b>THE HOUSE</b></h1><p>A two-storey bungalow, in one of the city’s oldest suburbs. The neighbours are cousins of sultans, hedge-fund managers, architects.</p><p>The perfectly manicured back garden has spider lilies, frangipanis—and <b>a single banana stem, in a person-sized urn</b>. “Easier to control the corm, so it grows neat,” Dr Azman explains.</p><p>The banana’s trunk has a girdle woven from coarse black thread. Look closer: <b>the thread is human hair</b>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s1280x1920/5ba71d36a4bcaf23a3d22c161cb377d483831560.jpg" data-big-photo-height="2969" data-big-photo-width="2364"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s500x750/8c5e4f7edd6be87568053595687c2ae302ad7bc2.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s75x75_c1/cbb3330072807804b476b621763730b4f137db8a.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s100x200/1f997077694a1e5ddae46f7690e08437649dbadd.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s250x400/e8d59040696ef9bb3d9cbf9fa907dcc5ccc945a4.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s400x600/1e2d699246896a075083bc5603b89759698db7d0.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s500x750/8c5e4f7edd6be87568053595687c2ae302ad7bc2.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s540x810/53d1412b75e0161497c358a38c301214d97c5b08.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s640x960/62ecd761e53e6ad25fd207c75485da66b7883fbf.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s1280x1920/5ba71d36a4bcaf23a3d22c161cb377d483831560.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/8d2a7889db4774f1d062353d081139b1/903a9028f708a909-88/s2048x3072/cda02128edd1eafbc0e9cd4a7347d165f5ae74d3.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><h2><b>DR AZMAN, THE HUSBAND</b><br><i>Gardening, surgery, spellcraft. </i></h2><p><b>Has a driver with a concealed-carry licence</b>. Went to boarding school with the current Defence Minister. Framed: doctorates in a variety of medical fields; a masters in anthropology.</p><p>“Black magic? Bloodsucking spirits?” He shrugs. “Charlatans, placebo effect, criminal types using spooky stories to hide trafficking operations.”</p><p>You notice <b>a vial on a cord around his neck</b>. Inside: a single hair, suspended in dark oil. He buttons up his shirt without a word. He asks Sara to bring tea. “You’ve met my wife?”</p><p>+</p><h2><b>DR AZMAN’S WIFE</b></h2><p>Dr Azman wanted a wife. He did not leave such a thing to the vagaries of love; he made one for himself. Etched the nail in her neck; wove the girdle around her tree.</p><p>Dr Azman wants a son—though he is willing to accept a daughter. His first try failed. His perfect wife does have some downsides.</p><p>Dr Azman is trying again. Curious how gestation goes easier if his wife’s spirit is let out, given leave to feed. Nourishment for the foetus? <b>Once every two weeks.</b></p><p>When he removes her nail she blusters and threatens. She doesn’t mean those things, he knows. <b>He wears protection</b>, as a precaution.</p><p>Dr Azman’s vial contains oil distilled from the flesh of Sara’s original corpse. <b>Sara may never harm the person who wears this vial. </b></p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s1280x1920/12f8741bcf197f2ab892f1161d2d6a0bf409ece0.png" data-big-photo-height="726" data-big-photo-width="1024"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s500x750/592082238e0de5afc990365b9cc7ba7bb058656a.png" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s75x75_c1/f346ab75d94b85b23e92e9c943947014a8fbc56c.png 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s100x200/96068929c11420c1c9978763114b3a3711063433.png 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s250x400/a0e4b31af141ccc013f1c2388b2e2556107abf96.png 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s400x600/2e5a39ce879d197e2113afe7f6fa77a59d36103e.png 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s500x750/592082238e0de5afc990365b9cc7ba7bb058656a.png 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s540x810/4874632ae82fb49c316cdd1e7aa8670c17924c10.png 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s640x960/ad4a814469693198164fc62948195879d27babdf.png 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/724e6fa06a1c19d365ed668b0e6e7399/903a9028f708a909-d8/s1280x1920/12f8741bcf197f2ab892f1161d2d6a0bf409ece0.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+++</p><p>Some notes:</p><ul><li>This was written with page references—ie: “turn to pg xx”—because that’s what I do as a matter of course in drafting. But I couldn’t get internal hyperlinks to work with Tumblr’s text editor; my html-fu isn’t good enough. Sorry. Hope it is still legible nonetheless.</li><li>The original version of this was written as a monster entry for an urban fantasy game. Stripped the system-specific stuff out; expanded the adventure bits (locations, characters, shape of What Is Going On). Basically rewrote the whole thing.</li><li>Writing for a contemporary setting is interesting. Felt okay to use an even more basic version of the system-neutral “stat block” I usually use. Mechanics aren’t a prerequisite to contextualise action in modern-day reality, consider we (most of us, anyway) actually live here.</li><li>Malaysian hantu / monsters are overwhelmingly gendered female; most are created from childbirth and its horrors. They are nightmares of the patriarchy (and its callous treatment of women’s bodies) made manifest.</li><li>Every Malaysian writer eventually writes a pontianak story. This is mine, I guess? The one bit in the pontianak mythos that arrests me most is the idea that she can be <i>captured</i>, turned into a “proper” woman. And that this is spoken of as some sort of victory, some sort triumph against evil—men win, in the end, always and forever.</li><li>The refugee angle is me working through Malaysian society’s xenophobia towards of asylum seekers. I have written about it <a href="https://dark-mountain.net/whalebone-crabshell/" target="_blank">before</a>; it is still relevant <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/malaysia/comments/1fvwz60/misbehaving_palestinians_in_viral_video_to_be/" target="_blank">now</a>.</li><li>This adventure explicitly casts the husband as the villain. He should get his comeuppance. Any way the situation develops, Sara—an innocent woman—will not come out of this unscathed.</li><li>Felt okay to sketch the NPCs, but not the monsters, because I’m not a good enough artist. Your imagination is better than I.</li></ul><p>+</p><p>Image credits:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/UrbanHell/comments/ufb8de/random_alley_in_cheras_kuala_lumpur_malaysia/" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/r/UrbanHell/comments/ufb8de/random_alley_in_cheras_kuala_lumpur_malaysia/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sabahpost.net/2019/12/06/polis-tembak-mati-3-pengedar-dadah-rampas-syabu-dan-senjata-api/" target="_blank">https://www.sabahpost.net/2019/12/06/polis-tembak-mati-3-pengedar-dadah-rampas-syabu-dan-senjata-api/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/08/747004/balai-polis-sungai-besi-dihias-indah-sempena-hari-kebangsaan" target="_blank">https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2021/08/747004/balai-polis-sungai-besi-dihias-indah-sempena-hari-kebangsaan</a></li><li><a href="https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Flmb0m4v472n81.jpg" target="_blank">https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Flmb0m4v472n81.jpg</a></li><li><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickgray/3471922613" target="_blank">Nick Gray on Flickr</a></li><li><a href="https://g.co/kgs/7wu8NTh" target="_blank">https://g.co/kgs/7wu8NTh</a></li><li><a href="https://naturerules1.fandom.com/wiki/Oriental_Bay_Owl" target="_blank">https://naturerules1.fandom.com/wiki/Oriental_Bay_Owl</a></li><li><a href="https://www.bikemap.net/en/r/7659968/" target="_blank">https://www.bikemap.net/en/r/7659968/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.secret-retreats.com/blog/general-info/list-of-edible-flowers-in-asia-floral-delights-in-asian-cuisine-part-1.html" target="_blank">https://www.secret-retreats.com/blog/general-info/list-of-edible-flowers-in-asia-floral-delights-in-asian-cuisine-part-1.html</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/fantasies">#fantasies</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/writing">#writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/pontianak">#pontianak</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/vampires">#vampires</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ghosts">#ghosts</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/hantu">#hantu</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/malaysia">#malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/refugees">#refugees</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/adventures">#adventures</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife" title="Sat. October 26, 2024 @ 9:26 pm"><span class="icon"></span>5 months ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife#notes"><span class="icon"></span>33</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-765407230999838720" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugVHT90Gi00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugVHT90Gi00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/765407230999838720/a-perfect-wife" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-764675391370756096" class="post type-text tag_ttrpgs tag_design tag_performances tag_actual%20plays tag_brain%20farts tag_bullshit tag_resolution%20systems tag_Youtube"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">Mechanics as Bits</h2> <p><b>EDIT:</b></p><p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/judgefredd.bsky.social/post/3l6s76mwrox26" target="_blank">Freddie Foulds</a> over on Bluesky found the post for me! It was a Chris McDowall post: <a href="https://www.bastionland.com/2017/12/alien-dojos.html" target="_blank">Alien Dojos</a>. </p><p>This is now a fan post about the genius that is Alien Dojos.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s1280x1920/708c757238231bb200f1d1d298b8736b894846cd.jpg" data-big-photo-height="361" data-big-photo-width="640"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s500x750/38b532514e8dcb185e0bce537b07bb5cbca0fa3a.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s75x75_c1/87f2f732146acb3b3fc01af6b0550dd08d345d66.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s100x200/282b20bbc27c8d7d9be79087b043d174fe586c11.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s250x400/4f6720110725987d921e2fc4a781c7221947272f.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s400x600/1a311edd17b38e90098b51deef23295ccc5d74f7.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s500x750/38b532514e8dcb185e0bce537b07bb5cbca0fa3a.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s540x810/64833f53a6eb3c5cac734feb17ceb33f90b2d9e4.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/964667d4f91d99637a5892d7dc2bbd7b/ffaa9e89ffc31466-e2/s640x960/9c7c4a9f45e37de6dc35091c61f466aaffa830f4.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Every martial art described there (for use with <i>Into The Odd</i>) has a resolution mechanic that involves doing something tactile with dice, beyond just rolling. </p><p>For “Bafistan Fist Fighting” each punch is a d6, “rolled” by “throwing them into the air and punching them”—but you have to punch them in such a way they still land on the table; if you miss your punch, or punch them off the table, that’s a failure.</p><p>Or, how about “Five Way Stick”:</p><blockquote class="npf_indented"><p>Initiate: When fighting with a Martial Stick (d6, Bulky) stack 5d6 in front of you and try to flick the top die from the stack. If any other than the top tie fall, fail and treat the roll as 1. Continue down the stack until you fail or choose to stop.</p></blockquote><p>These are:</p><ul><li>Functional subsystems (clear resolution mechanics);</li><li>Thematically appropriate to fiction they are meant to represent (little minigames of player dexterity to resolve character actions involving martial arts);</li><li>Physical spectacle (at the very least you will be focused on the “roll”, if not dodging flying dice);</li><li>Goofy as shit (a virtue in itself).</li></ul><p>I want to make rules like this.</p><p>+++</p><p>Today I spent a few hours watching this <a href="https://youtu.be/8o_8Wn-ancY?si=gVglH52ozfAs5WrM" target="_blank">Alien-abduction themed actual play of <i>Dread</i>, on Smosh</a>. I liked it a lot! More than I thought I would!</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="embed-67f865dccd107211754971" class="embed_iframe" src="https://safe.txmblr.com/svc/embed/inline/https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F8o_8Wn-ancY%3Fsi%3DTsEGe4Kz0d6LbVWq#embed-67f865dccd107211754971-partied" width="500" height="280" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>(Please don’t laugh at me <i>too much</i> for my very vanilla Internet media consumption! I am an <b>old</b>, and very uncool. Today I was watching YouTube between digging up banana corms.)</p><p>I almost never watch actual plays, mind you. I tried Critical Role and bounced right off; I have seen maybe two Dimension 20 sessions ever; the last AP series I followed really was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarmonQuest" target="_blank">HarmonQuest</a>, which was—what, the twenty-teens?</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s1280x1920/2f5f35d28f7a58b69e73aa7cdd863a14a20aa50b.jpg" data-big-photo-height="720" data-big-photo-width="1280"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s500x750/b180d97942f1a31f816496ce350361408050b25d.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s75x75_c1/951e8c78bb05ba7e70c727373c84ba680d4ce6cb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s100x200/f072379ab35f62c1dad196507455be38af41c254.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s250x400/9519ffb70c1548814aa64d6138863c1737cb7cc0.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s400x600/ceae83a91e152dcc0fabbb93db4bcc1fb3a0d2e4.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s500x750/b180d97942f1a31f816496ce350361408050b25d.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s540x810/5ab86c9549cd1610142303908bd41e6fc3eab7af.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s640x960/a45dad918b8f9c78535cb98030b6ac99885decdf.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/59f4861fbe10a815afbda2888f57edd5/ffaa9e89ffc31466-92/s1280x1920/2f5f35d28f7a58b69e73aa7cdd863a14a20aa50b.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>Watching the Smosh Dread thing got me wondering:</p><p>How often do mechanics / system talk come up in the course of big mainstream actual plays?</p><p>I don’t mean: </p><ul><li>“Pull from the Jenga tower.” (simple resolution mechanics); or</li><li>“I cast Fireball!” (diegetic, arguably)</li></ul><p>But:</p><ul><li>“Okay so let’s look it up. Fireball is 20ft x 20ft, and *doesn’t* set stuff on fire.” (non-diegetic rules clarification); or:</li><li>“You have four ‘Mercury’ symbols, and from last round you have the "somebody will betray you” narrative trigger, let’s consult the relevant oracle table …“ (complex resolution mechanics)</li></ul><p><a href="https://blog.trilemma.com/2023/01/rpg-transcript-analysis-critical-role.html?m=1" target="_blank">This analysis by Trilemma of the transcript of a Critical Role episode</a> [and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/newmadras.bsky.social/post/3l6rkeeohxc23" target="_blank">additional commentary by Thomas Manuel</a>] goes a ways towards answering how much general rules talk occurs, though it doesn’t make a distinction between the <i>types </i>of rules talk in the sense I’m thinking of.</p><p>+</p><p>Here’s a (totally untested) hypothesis:</p><p>If actual plays are edited / watched for the uninterrupted flow of action / banter / emotion at the table (as ones geared towards general, non-TTRPG-enthusiast audiences like Smosh and HarmonQuest certainly are);</p><p>and:</p><p>If certain kinds of complex mechanics <i>tend </i>to divert attention into cul-de-sacs of meta-narrative detail, interrupting said flow of action / banter / emotion (these are generally absent from the APs I can sit through, or at least edited out);</p><p>then:</p><p>The games that work best for actual play are basically party games, with light and (more importantly, for this post) <b>VISCERAL </b>resolution mechanics:</p><ul><li>Jenga-d suspense;</li><li>The sleep rituals in stuff like Werewolf;</li><li>An overdramatic rock-paper-scissors game; etc</li></ul><p>Or, alternatively, they are games whose systems can get out of the way enough to function like party games. I’d argue that D&D counts as one such game. It is go-to mainstream TTRPG actual play system because yes, of Name Brand Recognition—</p><p>But also because it is possible to not play with any actual D&D rules (and therefore avoid the tedium of looking up what stuff like Conditions mean) and still be playing D&D culturally.</p><p>+</p><p>Basically:</p><p>How suitable a tabletop roleplaying game is for actual play depends on how easily its mechanics can function as <i>bits or performances, in the improv sense</i>.</p><p>+++</p><p>So this is very shaky ground for me; I don’t watch actual plays and I am talking out my ass. But through the sewage of my bullshit is perhaps the firmer ground of a design opportunity, maybe? </p><p>Namely:</p><h2><b>Could we be designing TTRPG mechanics as performances / for performativity?</b></h2><p>+</p><p>I’d argue that <a href="https://www.tiltingatwindmills.net/games/dread/" target="_blank">Dread</a> is so well-known because its simple core mechanic is a novel for precisely this reason: you and your friends enact your suspense around the Jenga Tower physically and viscerally (even if it is anxious silence), for each other (if not for an outside audience).</p><p>There is the sense that you are acting. <i>Doing something</i>.</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s1280x1920/d9fc7cc14dc41413952dd3c5321b9c53db8a6cdc.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1261" data-big-photo-width="734"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s640x960/f46deba1ed7b4947dd19323cbe8f8232acb2dbce.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s75x75_c1/97a62e760367f0d8e7946115a2e31053bd2d12bd.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s100x200/7662d53bdbc82773041f0a318befcdb086cba6b6.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s250x400/78ffe5e5e365661dc38061b3023bd9015215c481.jpg 233w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s400x600/1e34cfd424cb1ab069feba4465aeaedabfef5ead.jpg 349w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s500x750/fd1ee3db0cbd54f7760525d8590f6970d4b29b51.jpg 437w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s540x810/47184b3a164e2da703fe0b2bf47002e862f42b5d.jpg 471w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s640x960/f46deba1ed7b4947dd19323cbe8f8232acb2dbce.jpg 559w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/2afd2bea739a1f6f9e3d38701253a4b4/ffaa9e89ffc31466-38/s1280x1920/d9fc7cc14dc41413952dd3c5321b9c53db8a6cdc.jpg 734w" sizes="(max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>How else could we manage this?</p><p>Rolling dice or revealing a card are already performances, technically—but for our purposes here I’d argue that they are very "small”; they don’t have enough presence.</p><p>How can we treat dice rolls with the pomp of ritual, construct more ceremony around a card-based resolution system?</p><p>Boardgames are already good at fun counters and tactile props and click-y dials—but these are also small, in that they live mainly on the table. You are still sitting on your ass.</p><p>Props that make you get up! Rulesets that necessitate play-fighting!</p><p>LARP totally fits. Throwing pouches and yelling “Magic Missile! Magic Missile!” 10 out of 10 no notes.</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="embed-67f865dccd13e183306733" class="embed_iframe" src="https://safe.txmblr.com/svc/embed/inline/https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fj_ekugPKqFw%3Fsi%3D71zD4bCHYP9Azov_#embed-67f865dccd13e183306733-partied" width="500" height="374" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" mozallowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>+</p><p>Finger games (rock paper scissors; lat ta li lat ta li tam pong; thumb war) fit.</p><p>A chase scene in fiction resolved by a game of tag is maybe too on the nose, but also fits.</p><p>+</p><p>I’ve been trying to find this blogpost I vaguely recall, that proposes exactly the kind of thing I’m thinking about.</p><p>It suggested a list of unusual fighting styles (or maybe martial arts) for D&D. It has stuck in the substrate of my mind because the proposed fighting styles all had non-standard, action-based resolution mechanics.</p><p>Ie: the GM tosses a handful of dice; you (the player) try to punch as many of them in mid-air with your fists; how many you get determines how many hits you score in fiction.</p><p>Something like that. Imagine that goofy shit at the table!</p><p>I can’t find this post any more. Does anybody else remember something like it? Help! I want to find it again!</p><p>+++</p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/design">#design</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/performances">#performances</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/actual%20plays">#actual plays</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/brain%20farts">#brain farts</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/bullshit">#bullshit</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/resolution%20systems">#resolution systems</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/Youtube">#Youtube</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits" title="Fri. October 18, 2024 @ 7:34 pm"><span class="icon"></span>5 months ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits#notes"><span class="icon"></span>26</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-764675391370756096" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugSh3UF8m00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugSh3UF8m00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/764675391370756096/mechanics-as-bits" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-762315720839380992" class="post type-text tag_ttrpgs tag_theory tag_brain%20farts tag_notes tag_gns%20theory tag_traditions"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">GNS is not a Theory; it is a Tradition</h2> <p>This post is a brain-fart—me trying to jot a thought, lurking and seeing TTRPG folks react to <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/_articles/system_does_matter.html" target="_blank">GNS Theory</a> for the upteenth time.</p><p>+</p><p>Context:</p><p>GNS Theory seeks to frame, understand, categorise, and model tabletop roleplay—and, via this framework, suggest solutions and improvements to the craft of TTRPG design as a whole. Understanding GNS Theory, it is asserted, will allow you to create better-designed (“more coherent”) games. </p><p>Edwards compares the utility of <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/articles/6/" target="_blank">understanding GNS</a> to that of understanding physics:</p><blockquote class="npf_indented"><p>I use a physics analogy: prior to the insights of Newtonian physics, bridges could be built. Some of them were built rather well. However, in retrospect, we are well aware that in order to build the bridge, the designer must have been at the very least according with Newtonian physics through (1) luck, (2) imitation of something else that worked, (3) use of principles that did not conflict with Newtonian physics in a way that mattered for the job, or (4) a non-articulated understanding of those principles. I consider the analogy to be exact for role-playing games.</p></blockquote><p>+</p><p>“Is GNS Theory right or wrong?” is usually the question when TTRPG folks talk about it. This feels unusual for an art theory—but is perhaps understandable in GNS’s specific case.</p><p>Edwards presents his ideas as actionable: a science by which you can make better games; principles you can rely on to build your own bridge. It becomes paramount, then, that those principles be factual. Otherwise the bridge collapses.</p><p>(Edwards infamously called people who enjoyed “incoherent” games [according GNS standards] <a href="http://www.indie-rpgs.com/archive/index.php?topic=18707.0" target="_blank">brain-damaged</a>, but the less said about this the better.)</p><p>Also because nerds are <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/693356847419293696/dds-obsession-with-taxonomy" target="_blank">perverts about taxonomy</a>:</p><p>Here is a sorting hat that will let us categorise and self-select our fandoms and selves.</p><p>We <i>love </i>this tribal shit. “Are you a Gamist? Narrativist? Simulationist? Take this quiz! Argue in the comments!”</p><p>+</p><p>GNS is two decades old by this point.</p><p>It was the chief theoretical framework of the Forge. It guides the work of designers like <a href="https://lumpley.games/author/lumpley/" target="_blank">Vincent Baker</a> and <a href="http://www.halfmeme.com/" target="_blank">Paul Czege</a>. Game lines like <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/183912222656/what-torchbearer-taught-me-about-rpgs" target="_blank"><i>Burning Wheel</i></a><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/183912222656/what-torchbearer-taught-me-about-rpgs" target="_blank"> and its descendants</a> are entirely informed by GNS conclusions about players and player behaviour, resulting in specific strengths, quirks, and frustrating design “solutions”.</p><p>On the other hand:</p><p>From the Noughties onwards there has been any number of interesting and excellent games made without adherence to (or even knowledge of) GNS. Tabletop roleplaying games have flowered much since the Forge’s heyday.</p><p>+</p><p>All that long-winded shit to get to the thought I had:</p><p>Rather than asking: “Is GNS true? Does GNS work? Does GNS accurately describe tabletop roleplaying games?”</p><p>It is probably more useful to consider GNS as a <i>TTRPG art tradition</i>. A school or movement or genre, that creators and designers have chosen to belong to / define themselves by / work in the lineage of.</p><p>Similar to:</p><ul><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada" target="_blank">Dadaism</a> as a movement; or </li><li>Animation that falls within the anime genre due to context and lineage; or </li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pina_Bausch" target="_blank">Tanztheater / Pina Bausch’s</a> place in contemporary dance; or </li><li>How employing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Method_acting" target="_blank">Method techniques</a> results in specific styles; or</li><li>Music theory, which should be more accurately called the <a href="https://youtu.be/Kr3quGh7pJA?si=4cgORWBMT3bBEVC0" target="_blank">“harmonic style of 18th Century European composers”</a>.</li></ul><p>But Dada is not the whole of art; nor is anime synonymous with animation. Pina Bausch is just one albeit influential choreographer; nowadays method acting has an antiquated, faintly ridiculous legacy. </p><p>Meanwhile, European music theory today is often seen as the scientific yardstick by which all music should be measured, just as nerds are wont to do with GNS vis a vis tabletop roleplaying games in general.</p><p>But we should remember that GNS is a lens, one way of considering and practicising the craft of TTRPGs. It is one lens amongst a multitude. Whether it is a good lens is up to you. Some designers have followed its precepts, and made games informed by said precepts; such games vary in quality but share a particular vibe. </p><p>A bridge built in the Moorish style isn’t necessarily superior or more stable than a bridge built any other other way; but you may find it beautiful, provided you are partial to Moorish architecture.</p><p>I think that analogy works for GNS.</p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/ttrpgs">#ttrpgs</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/theory">#theory</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/brain%20farts">#brain farts</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/notes">#notes</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/gns%20theory">#gns theory</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/traditions">#traditions</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition" title="Sun. September 22, 2024 @ 6:28 pm"><span class="icon"></span>6 months ago</a></li> <li class="notes"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition#notes"><span class="icon"></span>25</a></li> <li class="comments hidden"><a id="dsq-762315720839380992" href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition#disqus_thread"><span class="icon"></span>Comments</a></li> <li class="permalink"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition"><span class="icon"></span>Permalink</a></li> <li class="share"> <a class="share-btn" href="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugKIXlpKy00" data-permalink="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition">Share</a> <div class="share-box"> <div class="share-box-inside clearfix"> <input class="shortlink" type="text" readonly="" value="https://tmblr.co/ZTYnyugKIXlpKy00"> <div class="plusone-btn"><div class="g-plusone" data-size="medium" data-count="true" data-href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition"></div></div> <a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="https://slowlorispress.com/post/762315720839380992/gns-is-not-a-theory-it-is-a-tradition" data-text="" data-count="none" data-via="">Tweet</a> <div class="like-button"></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="post-shadow"></div> </div> <div id="post-759075868440248320" class="post type-text tag_real%20life tag_imaginations tag_nationalism tag_benedict%20anderson tag_essays tag_reviews tag_shrines tag_monuments tag_theory"> <div class="post-panel"> <div class="copy"> <h2 class="post-title">Monument vs Shrine</h2> <div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s1280x1920/174ed44655efe099badd6907daade7b955b13361.jpg" data-big-photo-height="895" data-big-photo-width="1300"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s500x750/a5f1845844533bff3d12abbdedacf85b975b1af3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s75x75_c1/f53b7e24eb2df7f33598d633ba8f110a8e25028f.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s100x200/3aed0884378cecf1da60ce3865e7d5c9412270f6.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s250x400/8501eff04efb9e2d2b5e0b41f562baf13ca8b411.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s400x600/ad000e1fa14d46e76eafe0b5eae6d39a970e1cc7.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s500x750/a5f1845844533bff3d12abbdedacf85b975b1af3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s540x810/2d05f2e349fec67c91fcaf6de7fac9bc7cb1c44d.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s640x960/739ee75a7efb3b99ccbaa56c51417369e9d0ca73.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s1280x1920/174ed44655efe099badd6907daade7b955b13361.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/b32c5941cbf7f247dc33ba77ac08d443/56511380c52dfce7-cf/s2048x3072/db1e7fdf88eedf0ebd41b33cffad083fbd8d147f.jpg 1300w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>In <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/1634-the-spectre-of-comparisons" target="_blank">“Replica, Aura, and Late Nationalist Imaginings”</a>, the political scientist Benedict Anderson (most famous for his Southeast Asia scholarship and that definitive critique of nationalism, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagined_Communities" target="_blank"><i>Imagined Communities</i></a>) muses on the Lincoln memorial:</p><ul><li>Within a temple explicitly mimicking “the religious edifices of a safely pagan Greece”;</li><li>Mazda Corp floodlights designed “to ward off unnatural, indifferent sunlight”;</li><li>The abstract enshrinements of “Lincoln’s memory” in the “hearts of the people”, while neither Lincoln’s actual remains or any rites for people to perform are present;</li><li>The sense that ultimately the most reverential thing to do there is to take photographs.</li></ul><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s1280x1920/37edc1842be76a8111a14098cd7a207d8dbefc68.jpg" data-big-photo-height="271" data-big-photo-width="640"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s500x750/35696f092611dd823e7404842e4e6e9f1c8d7b43.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s75x75_c1/39ab4436890eabc191e48c1464a9cc675cbe54cb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s100x200/f07fa6a01453f2f0dc024896cc2a23c07f8f0511.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s250x400/52a6c024beda65a472a0b131d8a90d64f8a5f6a4.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s400x600/2216aeceed097ba78bfa71fa08080d9678667436.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s500x750/35696f092611dd823e7404842e4e6e9f1c8d7b43.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s540x810/c58f23853d9ab76f27250649bbaa0fbaa66495dd.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/c1528fab5cbc4476e127e0ad236a5c14/56511380c52dfce7-4d/s640x960/6fad4745cfd714444e959f801090b007d449dff7.jpg 640w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>The Lincoln Memorial; the Jefferson memorial next to it; both figures repeated again on Mt Rushmore; both figures repeated ad nauseum on dollar bills.</p><p>These monuments are designed to proliferate. Not only must they create a sober, stately experience for the visitor—but they must also do so consistently, because they are built for visitor<i>s</i>: the mass audience of the national population.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s1280x1920/6b73a742a0dc4678e4c7c0874dd8ad84ccad6350.jpg" data-big-photo-height="968" data-big-photo-width="1280"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s500x750/7a97479a98b8cde0baf85a8e9f99a3acada0ad96.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s75x75_c1/8992e5398f5e0044f2e0c5ce0ed9cf0800669464.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s100x200/265dc93cad4345a2e08f421eb1852da78d37c694.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s250x400/7eabdb62e809c830101ab7b2a4cb51687d959fa9.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s400x600/46a1c9cac63ff6a163edab02d9922fb35fcd3229.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s500x750/7a97479a98b8cde0baf85a8e9f99a3acada0ad96.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s540x810/5a9cd573a7f64a983aaf9a480caafe0b06c585f5.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s640x960/5445870e8805e267ec3ad9117ca61cea2c314ff5.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/da60984615381fe7da5ae8db75e48693/56511380c52dfce7-49/s1280x1920/6b73a742a0dc4678e4c7c0874dd8ad84ccad6350.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>Otherwise they must be physically replicable: a memorial to a particular national hero, erected in every city.</p><p>The very format of monument-building get copied: </p><p>Post-colonial countries, in need of new myths, choose to manufacture national cenotaphs of their own, in imitation of Western models.</p><p>Malaysia has <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putrajaya" target="_blank">Putrajaya</a>, a federal capital sprung <i>ex nihilo</i> from palm-oil agricultural land, its buildings all arches and onion domes and imitation <i>arc de triomphes</i> in inhuman scale, its avenues broad and utterly unwalkable in the tropical heat.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s1280x1920/eab1719b98565e2e3845c942bee964ec2d8bb262.jpg" data-big-photo-height="3425" data-big-photo-width="5138"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s500x750/dc144bea71e87b9f641a35dcf8fa2b29216e63d2.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s75x75_c1/7c0ec75a97e58cebbd39d2c94ea0436b9d8842ca.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s100x200/bf7c85981e73265118a05f8f56fbde99743c83b0.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s250x400/d0faf2d2233e6aa86ec0231445766bc0e9b91395.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s400x600/13edb868a65d9811357970dbf11022e54292d3f8.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s500x750/dc144bea71e87b9f641a35dcf8fa2b29216e63d2.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s540x810/4e56f35786b645bfee9526d7a6054d8cf224301d.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s640x960/53e2dd51b33718c27335d39a361d90a947910f21.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s1280x1920/eab1719b98565e2e3845c942bee964ec2d8bb262.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/af11faeec5aada120d00195b94ba6b43/56511380c52dfce7-3f/s2048x3072/4ab2c4fc6a9a1185f23879f50b74fe82e60aec91.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>At such monuments the citizen is cast as tourist.</p><p>Of this state-sanctioned object of devotion you are encouraged to take photographs, sell merchandise—ie: continue the process of replication. With every copy nationalism is reified.</p><p>God forbid you tweak the official monument with your own meanings, though! While writing this post, I found the following story, from December 2023:</p><p><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/lincoln-memorial-temporarily-closed-after-vandalized-graffiti/story?id=105811958" target="_blank">“Lincoln Memorial temporarily closed after being vandalized with ‘Free Gaza’ graffiti”</a></p><p>+</p><p>Anderson’s essay cites instances where the personal and irreproducible sneak back into, or leak out from, or <i>vandalise</i>, national monuments:</p><p>“Early in the 1910s,”—in Manila’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manila_North_Cemetery" target="_blank">Cementerio del Norte</a>, a municipal cemetery planned by an American urban designer—“a small pantheon was constructed for the interment of Filipino national heroes.” </p><p>This monument was to emulate the Pantheon in Paris, where “great Frenchmen” of the national canon are memorialised.</p><p>But the Filipino version failed.</p><p>“Today, hardly anyone in the Philippines is aware of this dilapidated pantheon’s existence … What has happened is that the Filipino Voltaire and Rousseau have managed to escape, summoning devoted, often familial bodysnatchers, to convey them to home-town shrines.”</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s1280x1920/5729df0e6eecb4bd8bebef26a50a6bd0334dc239.jpg" data-big-photo-height="504" data-big-photo-width="800"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s500x750/6837098e811d941b2aab1fd26a9e222274d7e3f3.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s75x75_c1/c732dd279f770689b078e2d17f9e313c5e1b2abb.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s100x200/f5c0883c2c5693167f51de59e978e6677fd25866.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s250x400/3d2ac2df7b0e2202624b5dcdf9bcb5ff0f79dbef.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s400x600/deda30b77ae34132c2e8fd463a2c9f975f14ca1f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s500x750/6837098e811d941b2aab1fd26a9e222274d7e3f3.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s540x810/176d885c4e8f098040d472c0b2a9850321598c83.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s640x960/6ff5178e65503b59f032d095e3345c9cb16af26f.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/7575cc3985a011b3026bbaf160a53269/56511380c52dfce7-81/s1280x1920/5729df0e6eecb4bd8bebef26a50a6bd0334dc239.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>Not that the municipal cemetery itself is deserted. Custodians and their families live in the very mausoleums they care for.</p><p>Further, Anderson describes All Saints’ Eve in the Cementerio del Norte, when thousands pour into its precincts.</p><p>But these multitudes <i>adjourn </i>to their own myriad family graves and small ancestral shrines: spending the day with immediate loved ones, “drinking, praying, gambling, making offerings …”</p><p>Most of the Philippines’ presidents have mausoleums in Norte, “but no one pays attention to them … and only their separate descendants come to attend them.”</p><p>“There is something exhilarating here that one rarely sees in national celebrations, maybe because the structure of the ceremonial is not serial, but entirely cellular.”</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s1280x1920/ee73918ece9b3a5863a8cb0ed7be328ae86b4274.jpg" data-big-photo-height="" data-big-photo-width=""><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s500x750/0964b6229b6328d123ed7f26e74e0a6dace47d45.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s75x75_c1/6d82b6c9481543a2f1fcb881c894ce8cbbec60d9.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s100x200/2786a70ea076ba9d893b6fc3ed4d8359e7b72f2a.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s250x400/a565df0362d5aab18d4112de21e75885ad135516.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s400x600/67b531638523ba6be07559e3dfec9b6c3820dc8c.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/f1b37fb1e7432d58616b88898040c969/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s500x750/0964b6229b6328d123ed7f26e74e0a6dace47d45.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>Hometowns re-exerting themselves within the nation; ordinary people scrawling meaning onto the edifices of the uppercase-P People. A multitude of the singular, instead of a single mass. </p><p>Despite nationalism’s efforts to centralise and clone a national identity, still we mutate, still we bootleg, still we graffiti, becoming once again ourselves.</p><p>And—particular to post-colonial societies—in doing so we casually <i>continue the work of liberation</i>, sneaking the idea of freedom away from our own architects and elites and prime ministers, who would seek to seize its meaning for their own purposes.</p><p>The churches or mosques or temples to <i>demos </i>that the federal government builds are ours to transform. To take from. To ignore. </p><p>“No need. We’ve got our own shrines at home.”</p><p>+</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s1280x1920/c95bb4f70e9a36186cb24c2428167cb91f8d9f72.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1080" data-big-photo-width="718"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s540x810/03e9af052d72802d221c6cd40e2eeee36e8f3ba9.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s75x75_c1/a02e1313ae96bceb7e1fe170d4e7fb2505c9f757.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s100x200/15eeeb9bf3d2e2165c7d11fd8b99a998bef96cf9.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s250x400/31b2166e058377d86437533ee7b4c97536fd39fd.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s400x600/fde9b358ed8ac5c6a3d54ec312e892c2f6a9d875.jpg 399w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s500x750/0f56a34576cf802434d74a768fa48e4b50c6b6dc.jpg 499w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s540x810/03e9af052d72802d221c6cd40e2eeee36e8f3ba9.jpg 539w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s640x960/5fd76ed13e47c18a7f69ff4328ffa9ce4af1ecab.jpg 638w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/71da40445914047431699d5a71c9aec3/56511380c52dfce7-99/s1280x1920/c95bb4f70e9a36186cb24c2428167cb91f8d9f72.jpg 718w" sizes="(max-width: 718px) 100vw, 718px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>National heroes become local saints and slip out of national control.</p><p>Does the Filipino government really control the various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rizalista_religious_movements" target="_blank">Rizalista</a> sects? Karpal Singh is now a <a href="https://malaysiagazette.com/2017/06/03/karpal-singh-disembah-sebagai-datuk-gong/" target="_blank">datuk kong</a>, without his <a href="https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/384475" target="_blank">political dynasty’s consent</a>.</p><p>Across Melaka and Negeri Sembilan there once existed shrines dedicated to Hang Tuah, Malay folk hero, now a powerful figurehead of Malay-Muslim ethno-nationalism.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s1280x1920/a062a86f753888e625acdd1d3382f2c2df5db233.jpg" data-big-photo-height="3024" data-big-photo-width="4032"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s500x750/c0582e7fd5a40df26a16657ae0948316bf43a602.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s75x75_c1/cae63d1a13d45cc10ada19ab5c54b1d47d88d6c1.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s100x200/8c2ce8a7bc7b07cc0af0f2a5bf722e9582c26e04.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s250x400/7e6702aef03c7946a1cb297706216cb7aa1cdf93.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s400x600/e8c27034a28664a5a3cd69391db0b499755b692f.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s500x750/c0582e7fd5a40df26a16657ae0948316bf43a602.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s540x810/48b91d349dea408f5176fa3fc75be73bb3087523.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s640x960/5dd244ac4241a36f0fdea8e0c6ce5c6690142113.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s1280x1920/a062a86f753888e625acdd1d3382f2c2df5db233.jpg 1280w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/e4d987bc1e8e1c66d76e5f88deb951ef/56511380c52dfce7-2d/s2048x3072/edcd727d20a3a92c94b019e33305473cf5658160.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>One such shrine existed at <a href="https://www.bharian.com.my/bhplus-old/2015/10/85549/bekas-tapak-kaki-hang-tuah-tarikan-di-tanjung-tuan" target="_blank">Tanjung Tuan</a>:</p><ul><li>With a plain altar—more a porch, really—of poured cement, for folk to leave food offerings;</li><li>Sunlight mottled from the surrounding forest, and fluorescent lights from a nearby gazebo;</li><li>A large rock, with an indent on its crown, said to be Hang Tuah’s actual footprint;</li><li>The idea that this was a sacred space, where you could come to ask the spirits of the place for love or children.</li></ul><p>The shrine that existed was sited in a forest reserve. It was swept clean of leaves by locals; its adherents belonged to all faiths and ethnicities; following the transactional logic of folk religion, those who had received its blessing would’ve paid for its maintenance.</p><p>+</p><p>“Existed”.</p><p>Because the Religious Department of the State of Melaka <a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/719072613208588288/hang-tuahs-footprint" target="_blank">destroyed the Hang Tuah shrine sometime in 2022</a>, for the crime of idolatry.</p><p>A double heresy. An affront to both orthodox Sunni Islam—</p><p>But also to the Malaysian state, that sanctions Sunni Islam as its official religion; whose nationalism requires its mythic hero to have only the attributes and magics the state ulama and historians say he must have—and no others.</p><p>Local shrines are destroyed, because the nation-state intuits them to be threats to its exclusive franchise.</p><div class="npf_row"><div class="npf_col"><figure class="tmblr-full"><a class="post_media_photo_anchor" data-big-photo="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s1280x1920/411b659f0f275fefcbc605f9974891c57223e5f3.jpg" data-big-photo-height="1711" data-big-photo-width="1280"><img class="post_media_photo image" src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s500x750/cd835363b7f4b2944671ba4e09206fa2ab3c640f.jpg" srcset="https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s75x75_c1/8846d242a56e0e1501c12af4961e6fdcf45cc5b0.jpg 75w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s100x200/27bda4df38930246f7908f46358ee40df07b2a11.jpg 100w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s250x400/e909756f167cfb48e26b889e4fdfc5e3fb62cd84.jpg 250w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s400x600/4b993742f82a82646ed43384fa467898f592ebd8.jpg 400w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s500x750/cd835363b7f4b2944671ba4e09206fa2ab3c640f.jpg 500w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s540x810/030b3160917ab707a049da713069c94777976126.jpg 540w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s640x960/a14a1ea135525dd7787f1869c8ac95be375769b3.jpg 640w, https://64.media.tumblr.com/a5e86353979e5cd800093cd28233c337/56511380c52dfce7-cb/s1280x1920/411b659f0f275fefcbc605f9974891c57223e5f3.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" alt="image"></a></figure></div></div><p>+</p><p>Image sources:<br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_five-dollar_bill" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_five-dollar_bill</a><br><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe</a><br><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putrajaya" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putrajaya</a><br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasRetrostalgia" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasRetrostalgia</a><br><a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/984521.shtml" target="_blank">https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/984521.shtml</a><br><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PerakPress" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/PerakPress</a><br><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malays_(ethnic_group)" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malays_(ethnic_group)</a></p> </div> <div class="meta"> <ul class="meta-list"> <li class="tags"> <ul class="tag-list"> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/real%20life">#real life</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/imaginations">#imaginations</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/nationalism">#nationalism</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/benedict%20anderson">#benedict anderson</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/essays">#essays</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/reviews">#reviews</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/shrines">#shrines</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/monuments">#monuments</a></li> <li><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/tagged/theory">#theory</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="date"><a href="https://slowlorispress.com/post/759075868440248320/monument-vs-shrine" title="Sun. 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