The Substation’s PiakPiakPlace Insta-Comic competition invites Singaporeans to celebrate their struggles and contestation for space with a healthy dose of satire and self-deprecating humour

“You don’t need much space to have sex,” Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State, famously said in 2016.
But in a country where home ownership is an uphill battle for young adults looking to leave the nest, and spatial concerns like a lack of decent housing for foreign labourers and minority communities remain unaddressed, there is little room for basic privacy and individuality in our designated private spaces, let alone for sex.
What happens when spatial boundaries between the private and the public are blurred? How can we make room for car park romps, registered mobility devices, and unauthorised picnics amidst increasingly privatised spaces and placemaking initiatives?
In light of that, The Substation’s PiakPiakPlace Insta-Comic competition is inviting all Singaporeans to celebrate their struggles and contestation for space with a healthy dose of satire and self-deprecating humour.
In the face of spatial adversity, those who are interested are summoned to partake in a new wave of digital activism with their best comic memes.
Competition Period: 21 October – 6 December 2019

How to join the competition?
Submit your best Insta-comic with an accompanying caption on Instagram to join.
Do ensure that your account is set to public and your entry can be found using the hashtags #piakpiakplace #substationcomiccompetition.
The entry should best illustrate a personal and/or collective struggle with space – whether private or public, physical or virtual.
Not forgetting, be sure to prepare a copy of your comic in 300 dpi and in a format suitable for print (at least A3 size), in the event that your entry is selected for the winning showcase.
What do you stand to win?
Grand Prize (x1): S$1,000
People’s Choice (x1): S$800
Jurors’ Choice (x4): S$500/each
All winning Insta-comics will be published in a zine at the end of the competition. Selected entries will also be exhibited in a winners’ showcase in January 2020.
The winners will be contacted and announced by 20 December 2019.
How will the judging be done?
Subject: Is the subject matter in your comic relevant and current? Does the content address the claims, contradictions, and tensions of public spaces in Singapore?

Creativity: Is your comic fresh and unique in terms of style, layout, story, and script? Extra points if you can make use of Instagram app features (carousel format, upload as video or .gif, etc.), in a clever and engaging way.

Longevity: Will your comic remain funny, interesting, and relevant over time, just like Josephine Teo’s quote?
When is the deadline of submission?
Closing date and time: 6 December 2019, 11pm SGT
Entries submitted past 6 December, 11pm SGT will not be considered.
The winners will be notified via Instagram Direct Messaging by 20 December 2019 (be sure to check your DMs).
If you have any questions, do email your enquiries to [email protected].
For the competition brief and T&Cs, click here.