Gross National Distress

The National Productivity Centre of Singapore was established on the 1st of May 1967, to raise awareness of ‘productivity consciousness’. This term refers to a mindset that a worker should adopt in order to maximise quantity without compromising quality while also minimising waste and inefficiency. At the core of this research is suspicion that ‘productivity consciousness’ – a state imposed psycho-social construct – may have resulted in episodes of Mass Psychogenic Illness (MPI) across the factories of Singapore.

Often occurring in environments of strict discipline, workers would experience episodes of trance, dizziness and fainting spells. The phenomenon was first made known to the public in the newspapers in January 1973. Production at a television assembly plant was halted due to several female workers being possessed by otherworldly entities. One of the tasks of this research is to understand the relationship between MPI and productivity consciousness. Did the pursuit of productivity consciousness lead to the emergence of MPI?

Oral interviews and literature about industrial, labour and social history are primary sources of knowledge on the subject matter. Through art making, performance and experimental filmmaking, I try to create a space to playfully cultivate ideas that could help deepen the understanding of the two concepts.
 
 

Jaar

2025