This work deals with the recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Singapore and USA, which has been a source of tremendous optimism and grave concern among a variety of people, depending on which side of the free-trade issue one sides with.

 

One of the elements that Singapore has had to "give in" is that of the import of chewing gum. The FTA problematized the ban on the import of chewing gum imposed by the Singapore government in the late 80's. Given the fact that this has been the most conspicuous and controversial policies of the Singapore government which has as a result (along with other severely restrictive policies) suffered the label of "soft authoritarian" regime, it is no surprise that there are several political sensitivities that have been sparked by this.

 

In their work the artists are interested in engaging the issue of free trade with specific reference to the FTA between Singapore and the USA. It comprises a multi-channel video installation comprising interviews of Singaporeans who are asked to express their views about the FTA, free trade and their notion of what US imports mean to them.

 

International Symposium on Electronic Arts, San Jose, California, 2006)

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