How SMU’s Individualised Second Major Helped Renee Tan Turn Her Thesis into Art
SMU student Renee Tan, graduating with an Individualised Second Major in Narrative Design in Global Cities, recently held an art exhibition, Maladies of Rest, inspired by her thesis. Focused on Manila, her thesis explored beauty and narrative design in urban spaces, which she translated into paintings and installations. Renee discusses how her Sociology major and Individualised Second Major complement each other in satisfying her intellectual curiosity.
“What does restfulness mean to you?” This was the question SMU student Renee Tan wanted her visitors to explore in Maladies of Rest, her immersive exhibition of paintings and installations at the SMU de Suantio Gallery.
Visitors entering the gallery were greeted by an imagined living space with furniture, paintings, and a set of notes that make up a zine scattered around the room. The notes were fictional letters by an unnamed writer sharing moments of interest to their faraway friend, G—.
“There are no explanatory labels accompanying the art—it’s meant to feel like you’re entering someone’s home, with doors left open as a warm welcome to guests passing by,” explains Renee.
“I also want visitors to experience the gentleness of the friendship between the writer and G—, whose presence lingers in the space, despite being physically absent. This lingering feels like warmth extended to strangers.”
Renee is among the first cohort of graduates from the Individualised Second Major (ISM) programme offered by the SMU College of Integrative Studies (CIS). Maladies of Rest is her first public solo exhibition and an extension of her thesis. Informed by her encounters of restfulness and restlessness through fieldwork in the Philippines, her exhibition aims to encourage visitors to explore their own ideas of restfulness and beauty.
Maladies of Rest ran from 22 January to 23 February 2025 at the SMU de Suantio Gallery, in conjunction with Singapore Art Week. Made possible by funding from the Steve Tay Vision Grant and support from the SMU Libraries, this exhibition marked a significant milestone for both Renee and the ISM programme.
Finding restfulness in a restless city
Metro Manila, the largest metropolitan area in the Philippines, may not seem like a place of rest to most. Yet, Maladies of Rest was inspired by Renee’s time conducting fieldwork in the city.
Recalling her experience, Renee shares, “People who have been to Pasay City might not describe it as restful, and I would generally agree. Yet I often think back to a quiet residential street I walked through one day—just 50 metres from the chaos of the main road. There, a hole-in-the-wall bakery sat nestled between pink pumice-textured walls, with overhead wires tangled in vines.”
Her thesis centres around beauty and narrative designs in urban spaces, making Manila—a hub of culture and business—an ideal setting for her research. However, translating her thesis into an exhibition proved challenging. Each piece of art required a unique creative approach: the thesis was grounded in logic, while the art sought to evoke emotion and affect.
Renee eventually found her footing, with support from her thesis advisor, Dr Justin Tse, Assistant Professor of Religion and Culture (Education) at the SMU College of Integrative Studies. Together, they worked closely to build this academic and artistic endeavour. “The rigour of the ISM demanded dedication, curiosity, attentiveness to the process, and a practice of interdependence,” she adds.
The curiosity of a budding artist
Renee is an inquisitive learner with a natural curiosity about the world. While pursuing Sociology as her first major, she took electives in diverse fields like entrepreneurship and art history. Applying for the ISM, which allows students to design an unconventional second major to complement their studies, thus felt like a natural fit.
“In Sociology, I explore how societies come to be the way they are. In my second major, Narrative Design in Global Cities, I discover how people design the worlds they live in, and how that can shape the worlds of their cohabitants.”
At her core, Renee is fascinated by creative world-building—how different worlds are constructed and how they are interconnected through the people who live in them. She believes that her two majors, while seemingly distinct, are complementary in satisfying her curious mind.
“My combined majors lead me to examine the worlds I build through art, and how they are connected to and embedded in the contexts they are in,” she says.
As an artist, Renee believes that inspiration doesn’t come from actively searching for it, but often emerges from chance encounters.
"What's consistent in my practice is to be present and intentional in my everyday life, without thinking about it as a source for art-making. To meaningfully tap on the abundance of ideas that my life offers, it's important for me to be present and engaged from moment to moment. What is meant for the art will come to the art, and it gives to my life as much as my life informs it," she elaborates.
A bright road ahead
Art started off as a hobby for Renee, but her interest deepened during her International Baccalaureate programme, where she was exposed to the creative processes of other artists.
Renee plans to further develop her artistic practice in Singapore and immerse in the local arts ecosystem before pursuing further studies overseas. She is considering applying for programmes that will allow her to explore diverse art styles and approaches.
For those keen to follow in Renee’s path in art through interdisciplinary studies like the ISM, she advises, “Have courage, trust yourself, and find your supporters and interlocutors—good creative work cannot be done in isolation.”
Renee’s story is a testament to how SMU empowers students to bridge disciplines and create meaningful change through self-directed learning.
The Individualised Second Major offered by the SMU College of Integrative Studies allows students to design a unique major that complements their primary degree.
Ready to chart your own path? Discover how this flexible and future-ready programme can enrich your academic journey and expand your impact here.
