Rock, Solder, Wire: A Hangout with Found Library and Vic, 2025

Workshop

Presented as part of Residency Thursdays at Singapore Art Museum

The evening brought together participants to explore human-object relationships. Guided by artist residents Isa Pengskul and Victoria Hertel, the workshop unfolded in several stages.

Participants began by browsing Found Library—a participatory archive of everyday more-than-human objects initiated by Isa Pengskul, Jerald Lim, and Qiutong Zhai in 2024. Each participant selected an object they wanted to befriend for the evening, drawn to it through their own instinctive connection. Before moving into the making phase, participants worked through a creative workbook filled with odd prompts such as “Place the thing in the crook of your arm and gently rock the thing to sleep.“ Designed by Found Library, these prompts were intended to deepen participants' understanding of and relationship with their chosen object.

With this foundation established, Victoria led a guided soldering and circuit-making workshop. Participants learned to wire simple electrical circuits, creating what the group called "friendship bracelets" for their objects. This hands-on technique was inspired by Victoria's own practice: in 2024, she had borrowed a rock from Found Library and created an electronic friendship bracelet in response to it. The workshop extended this personal artistic investigation into a shared learning experience, teaching others the soldering skills needed to craft similar pieces.

The session concluded with a short sharing where participants reflected on the kinships and connections they had formed between themselves and their objects, exploring how meaning emerges through encounter and care.