"Tadika" translates to "Kindergarten" and has been a recurring theme in Shooshie’s work, including projects like Muar Art Kindergarten (2012–2013). For Shooshie, the use of the word “Tadika” goes beyond simply evoking a return to the basics—it is a provocation to unlearn, to question what we think we already know. She often encourages us to set aside our roles—artist, programmer, project manager, production manager, curator—and instead arrive as individuals, open and curious, soaking up knowledge like a five-year-old.
As part of the Fellowship, we collaborated with Shooshie to develop a new module titled Tadika Kura-Kura, which directly translates to “Tortoise Kindergarten”, a playful misnomer for a Curatorial Lab. The name emerged from a wordplay on the Malay terms kuratorial (curatorial) and kura-kura (tortoise), loosely translating to Kindergarten of Slow Curating. Tadika Kura-Kura unfolded as a series of workshops, discussions, and excursions across various parts of Malaysia, shaped by Shooshie’s distinctive approach of bringing inherited practices into contemporary focus, often through collaboration with communities, materials, kinships, and local knowledge systems. This model of gathering is intended as a space to engage with key sites in Shooshie’s practice, serving as an entry point for rethinking contemporary artmaking beyond the typical framework of exhibitions.