CounterArchive: Fictional Healing is a Connections Through Culture 2023-24 project, by Ong Jo-Lene and Michelle Williams Gamaker.
This initiative is a recurring programme proposing alternatives to the record of official history through non-exhibition, process driven and collaborative activities. Partnering with the Malaysia Design Archive, this iteration focused on creating counter-narratives to colonial myths of the Malayan Emergency, exploring the potential of filmmaking as a form of reparation.
The project included a Fictional Healing Collective Filmmaking Lab, bringing together sixteen artists, filmmakers, and creative practitioners to collectively write, direct, and shoot a short film. This resulted in over 300MB of raw footage for an eight-vignette short film countering narratives to the official archives.
Additionally, the project featured academic events, screenings, and sharing sessions held in both the UK and Malaysia, all of which saw overwhelming interest and attendance, fostering a deeper understanding of alternative historical perspectives.
As CounterArchive is a recurring project proposing, the next steps involve post-production of the film and continued research and collaboration between the UK and Asia. Read more about the project in Ong Jo-Lene’s reflection story below.
Stay tuned for updates and new developments on CounterArchive.
