Science of the Secondary 10: Toilet Paper

‘Science of the Secondary’ is a creative project by Singapore-based Alvin Ho and Clara Koh, who together go by HOKO. The series is a way for them to investigate the everyday and rediscover our curiosity about things and practices so familiar that we often overlook them. The tenth issue looks at toilet paper, the life of which is fundamentally short-lived. Even though its absence is a major cause of panic for toilet users, the toilet roll remains a lowly object, and occasionally even cause for embarrassment. Considering how excreting faeces is a daily affair for most, such sentiments towards a roll of tissue destined to keep one’s hygiene in order seems rather immature.