What was the direction of the curatorial process like?
This project was done in the spirit of openness and collaboration, so the model of curation was giving co-curatorial power to all the artists involved. It's not your traditional top-down curatorial model. It was imperative that the initiative was a very grass-roots and ground up one, with the curatorial process reflecting that.
That said, we did have external mentors (who are professional curators) coming in to help deepen the concepts of each artists, as well as open up conceptual dialogue between all the various installations, and throughout the various installations you'll find subtle connections (whether visual or conceptual).
How were the artists chosen?
Passion, thematic engagement, and emotional resonance were key ingredients that artists had to display. This project was a direct personal challenge to the arts community in Singapore, so see whether we could step up quickly and fervently to respond to topical issues and our local environment. So all the artists had to be serious professional artists who were recognized by their peers for their sustained practice.
The most interesting feature about this whole process was how organically it came about. We did have enquiries from quite a few artists, so we knew we couldn't accommodate everyone, otherwise it would have turned into some sort of flea market. The artists that were merely using this project as a self-promotion platform (seeing the house just like any other vessel to hang stuff on) took themselves out of the picture. The ones who showed the most passion were the artists that stayed and pursued their concepts and ideas because of their affinity with the theme and space.
Diversity was also vital. We wanted to acknowledge the melting pot of residents that made up the Mount Sophia/Selegie area, and this is reflected in the range of artists participating, from third-generation Singaporeans, to PRs who have been here for over two decades, to even a UK artist who's only been here six months, and our resident choreographers who only arrived a month before the show to begin rehearsals. This has always been how Singapore's culture has grown and changed over the past century—permeable national borders that allowed immigrants from all over to bring to Singapore their customs, cultures, social practices.
We also wanted a good mix of genres and artistic disciplines. It's very easy for a project like this to go the documentary route through photography (e.g. photos of old buildings, scenes of the past), so the team gathered together an even mix of artists who worked in various media, including painting, ceramics, installation, sound and video, drawing. This project isn't about just documenting a nostalgic past, but also engaging with the present and imagining possible futures and invisible connections.
Are they also chosen because they felt somewhat displaced with this city that we call home?
It's too convenient to generalize. The point of this exhibition wasn't to merely send a single message about displacement, so the short answer is "no" to your question.
The goals of the exhibition are slightly more nuanced. The fact is that whoever we are and wherever we come from, we always face constant change, and each of us as artists react to this change differently. What we want to create is a space of diverse views to come together and just explore this concept in an open manner, without resorting to convenient reactionary sentiments that change is happening too fast, or that we are feeling displaced.
Furthermore, this general feeling of displacement isn't exclusive to the 16 artists participating in the exhibition. 13 Wilkie Terrace is a communal shared space not just for the artists involved, but for all volunteers and visitors to come together and share our thoughts with one another in an open fashion, in a comfortable and homely setting, be it through contributing to our interactive installations, or simply by spending time chatting to one another.
That said, this particular theme was chosen because it did reflect the accelerating change that was happening in Singapore, be it through the loss of buildings, the dilution of traditional practices, or the transformation of our values and social practices.
What were some of the most interesting works and how were they derived and created?
We could start with three artists who have made works which engage viewers on quite a personal but yet still universal level.
Calvin Pang's "Quiet Quiet" series took discarded objects from 13 Wilkie Terrace, and through subtle material transformations, turned their functions on their head, creating a viewer experience that is at once relatable yet surreal.
Mark Wong's projection and sound installations captures the rhythmic life of 13 Wilkie Terrace and brings haunting aural dimension to the exhibition. On a more everyday level, it's easy for anyone to connect with his piece, as we all have experiences in our own home where we can recognise the rhythms of movements of our own family members automatically. Mark's work brought a much needed dimension to the show, with his soundtrack echoing through the corridors and spaces of 13 Wilkie.
Michelle Lim's interactive installation is also another favorite. Working with ceramics, she carves stories into the bases of her bowls and cups, encouraging visitors to have a tactile experience with her work by moving them around onto the light to be able to discover the memories of her childhood (the carved stories are only visible when put over an LED light which shines through the base of the ceramics).
What does nostalgia mean to you?
Nostalgia is such a value-laden term. By default, it casts a fond eye upon the past. On the one hand, there is an appreciation of the past, but what this can sometimes entail is taking our present for granted, and that itself is a dangerous thing. We tell visitors for every house like 13 Wilkie Terrace, there are many other old places that are still standing? The real question is why must we ourselves wait to hear about the impending loss of a place before we truly start to appreciate it? People did not really care abut Bukit Brown until we heard about the plans for redevleopment. Same goes for our old National Library. The message here is that we can't take anything from granted here in Singapore, whether it's a building we walk past everyday, or our favorite hawker stall. Let's not wait for things to go to feel nostalgic about what we've lost, instead, let's cherish the past and also really embrace what we have in the present as well!
Are Singaporean apathetic towards nostalgia?
From what we've seen, there has been no shortage of interest shown by our artists, volunteers, and visitors towards Singapore's past and history. DISPLACEMENTS is merely a small piece of a much larger picture, tapping upon the growing consciousness of Singapore citizens, PRs, and even expatriates of Singapore's heritage. We are such a young nation. I think after the past few decades of trying to chase a "world-class" and "developed nation" status, we as Singaporeans are now in a position to look back and try to explore where we came from, how we got to where we are, how our past informs our present identity, and how do we move on from here.
Is Singapore going to be running out of old places soon?
It's quite a coincidence that you raised this. We just screened "Old Places" (by Royston Tan, Eva Tang, and Vitric Thng) with our collaborators last weekend, where Puiyee from Objectifs was saying that 40-50% of the places shown in the documentary have already vanished since the film was shot 3 years ago.
DISPLACEMENTS is on through June 23.
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I am a product of pop culture... TV, books, movies, soundtracks, magazines and websites. I am definitely a part of the jacked-in, 24-hour, constant buzzing of things that scream “YOU MUST DO THIS!”
I like to hear about the underdogs, people who were so determined with their vision and idea that they were able to overcome naysayers to turn their idea into reality.
When I was a teenager, computer hacking was still in its infancy. We used to hack phone company calling cards so we could call long distance for free and also pirate computer games. One was considered elite if they could distribute a game within three days of its release. I was elite.
Like any Chinese kid in America, I was forced to take piano lessons and also sent to Chinese nursery school to make sure we wouldn’t lose touch with that side of our roots.
I need quite a lot of alone time. It was a shock moving to Singapore where it seems like people can never spend a minute away from another person.
My favorite feeling is when you look at your appointment book and the whole day is clear. I don’t know why people are always trying to fill their days with things to do.
I dreamed about working as a Disney Imagineer. They’re the guys that figure out how to make all these fantasy lands into reality. How to make the rides, how to make the smell of fresh baked cookies drift down Main Street, and essentially how to engineer every moment of your vacation.
When Tanuki Raw was under construction, I put up a sign that said “Media Preview” and had my wedding on the balcony. Everyone had to walk through the rubble of the interior.
Things to do with feet or shoes gross me out. If I touch my shoes I have to wash my hands, so I wash hands every time I put my shoes on. I had a roommate that used to run long distance every day. One day he came back after a run, took off his shoes, took off his socks, and then put his sock in his mouth to keep his hands free to do something else. I felt like throwing up.
Back in university I was dating a black girl and she took me to this reggae club. Everyone else there was black and over six feet three inches tall. The style of dancing was to jump up and hit the ceiling with your palm. I did not fit in no matter how hard I tried.
In order to have time for love, you need to have money. That may be the most depressing thing I have ever said. Money buys you freedom which you can use to spend time together, explore new things and help minimize day-today stresses.
The meaning of life is found at the bottom of a just-emptied beer glass. You may need to empty a few before you find it.
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Colbar
This converted military canteen from the 1950s looks like it’s still stuck in the past, with much of the old structure and décor retained, and—get this—not an AC unit in sight. This paragon of vintage-chic looks innocent enough (the sign on its roof deceptively reads “Milk Bar”) but holds its own against the big boys, stocking a generous array of English beers and ciders (from $11) to go with its tasty local fare.
Da Paolo Bistro Bar
Drink till you see stars (literally!) at the outdoor patio of this colonial-style looker hidden amongst the lush foliage of Rochester Park. Though it’s a bit far away from the city, the chilled out atmosphere here makes the schlep worthwhile. Oh, and the drinks aren’t bad either. If you’ve ever wondered what a Chai High feels like, try the chai-infused gin cocktail ($22) to find out.
Tippling Club
With a name like that, we couldn’t leave out this Dempsey Hill favorite. It will move out of its current premise in September, so more reason to drop by sooner. The cocktail list here is still killer, we’re happy to report, with must-try classics like the Juniper Sling ($25), named after the Penhaligon’s perfume. Or just go wild and try the Fake Blonde ($21), a classy/trashy concoction of tequila, lime and beer that’s bound to get you into trouble.
Wild Oats @ Punggol Park
Bringing life to a sleepy neighborhood is never an easy task, but we think this cheekily-named bar-restaurant does the trick. Thanks to celeb chef Willin Low, this outdoorsy joint—think rattan chairs strewn casually across the grassy glade—attracts gourmands from all over the island who make their way here for fusion bites and exotic booze like lychee beer ($11.50).
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This snazzy little bar tucked amongst the dodgy shops along Mosque Street may be low profile (they don’t have a website or Twitter) but it boasts plenty of art cred, being the brainchild of Malaysian designer P.C. Ee. This small, speakeasytype space is packed with plenty of style, bearing lots of unfinished brick, concrete and metal for an industrial-chic vibe, which make a great backdrop for the underground art it showcases, such as the work of Thai graffiti artist P7. Complete the experience with Thai bites and cocktails ($15) created with Asian ingredients like pandan syrup, lemongrass and bandung.
7adam
Situated atop a hill off Adam Road in a tranquil black-and-white colonial building, this not-sohidden gem is a fusion bar-restaurant that doubles up as an art gallery. Coming here feels a bit like stepping into a moneyed art connoisseur’s house, what with paintings on the walls and sculptures displayed quite nonchalantly in various rooms. Swing by before July 23 and you’ll catch an exhibition of Malaysian artist Eng Tay’s Boteroesque works, inspired by and revolving around the concept of family. Although it’s best known for its European-Asian food, we’re certain appreciating the artwork here with a glass of wine or two wouldn’t go down too badly either.
The Vault
As if being one of the mpst popular bars in town wasn’t enough, this Chinatown joint has been hitting the sweet spot between corporate-chic and indie-cool lately. With its rotating showcase of local contemporary art, bimonthly Sunday Artists Market (next one’s on June 2, 11am) and flash mob art performance Stand Up For Artists Rights! (just past), it’s now steadily becoming a hangout for local music, art and fashion types. (Adorning the walls right now are Amanda Ang’s (An Everyday Muse) pieces.) The drinks aren’t terribly inventive, but you’ll want them handy as you join in the ruckus—the monthly exhibition openings are a great excuse to drop by.
Mad Nest
Well known to Easties, this airy restaurantgallery along East Coast Road is one of the few art spaces in an area almost totally dominated by food. It’s no surprise that the menu is staggering and covers practically all the bases, from Italian to Japanese to North Indian food, and that the drinks list is equally diverse. (They’re tweaking the alcohol menu right now, but we hope the fun craft beer and cider selection stays.) Artistically, the stuff on show here veers towards the friendly and harmlessly quirky—the kind of inoffensive stuff you’d buy as a gift, perhaps. Case in point: the current exhibition (through May 30) features illustrations based on street style snaps on websites like Shentonista and Sartorial Daily.
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If Tiong Bahru and Jalan Besar are getting too busy for you, Everton Park might just be the place for that quiet cuppa on a Saturday morning—it’s no coincidence that three coffee joints and two bakeries (what did we tell you?) have opened in this quaint neighborhood over the past year. “This is one of the oldest HDB blocks of Singapore and has seen its growth through the decades,” says Casey Loh, co-founder of refurbished antique furnishing store Artsyfact, one of the first few shops to open here last year. “We wanted to have presence in an estate that pays homage to nostalgia but is also surrounded by Singapore’s ever-evolving cityscape.”
Its close proximity to Neil Road and Spottiswoode Park also means that city slickers can either have a meal at one of the old-school kopitiams along the former or check out art gallery Vue Privee at the latter before proceeding here for coffee and desserts. Located on the ground floor of HDB blocks, these establishments are fairly accessible, but be prepared to make a few wrong turns (old designs may be charming, but they’re not always practical).
One-year-old Nylon Coffee Roasters is must for serious coffee lovers. Primarily a coffee roaster, this small joint is best for a quickie takeaway for a cup of espresso ($3) before you proceed to check out the rest of the area. Reminiscent of Papa Palheta and Chye Seng Huat (proprietors Lee Jia Min and Dennis Tang were former partners at the two joints), this is a quaint, scaled-down neighbourhood version specializing in six types of blends using beans from El Salvador and Kenya. Meanwhile, Just Want Coffee is great if it’s variety you’re looking for. Espressos and house blends aside, you can also pick up their caramel ice drip ($7) and Luwak coffee ($35) at this easy-going 25-seater cafe. Twenty-day-old Cozy Corner Coffee (#01-50 Blk. 4 Everton Park)—with its graffiti walls and trendy furniture—is another great new joint to hang out in, serving sandwiches (from $6.50) and pies (from $2.50) on the side.
For desserts, don’t miss Grin Affair for their highly creative “cakes in a jar”. Spanning flavours like strawberry cheesecake and hazelnut, these are a step up from regular cakes found in other bakeries as they are all individually handmade and hand-packed by brother-and-sister team Leslie and Jody Ong. All cakes are stuffed in recyclable mini jars and make perfect gift ideas (plus, they’re only $5.50 each). Batterworks is another spot load up on a wide range of pastries from just 95 cents each, or $5.50 for six.
Then there is Artsyfact (Call to make an appointment), a small but hip vintage furnishing store founded by Aaron Koh, Casey Loh and Leon Lai (no, not the Canto-pop singer). The trio scour the island’s estates, homes and flea markets for unwanted junk, then repurpose and restore them into unique furniture and furnishings (prices range from $19 for an enamel vase to $2,000 for a sofa). Aspects of the original material, including its history with previous owners, are preserved and there’s always a story to tell.
While it’s still early days to really tell if Everton Park has the potential to become a destination in its own right, its quaint setting and increasingly modern mix of cafes are telling signs that it is not far off. “The potential for Everton Park to grow is there as older shop owners are moving out to make space for newer tenants,” says Artsyfact’s Loh. Though footfall isn't fantastic, we still expect indie-types to come down to this area to hang out.”
Clubbing at the usual shiny mega-institutions these days feels like stepping into a Rich Kids of Instagram diorama (only real!), what with barely-legal young men and misses—each armed with a personal giant bottle of Dom Pérignon—cavorting to Avicii. So it’s no surprise that savvier folk have been sniffing out the Alexandra area for alternative parties. The boys from Sideshow practically hold court here, with their wildly successful garden parties at The Training Shed setting the tone with their free-wheeling Sunday outdoor parties, plus a recent do inside art gallery Future Perfect. And last month we saw the Super 0 parties take the heat up a notch with cult names like 2562, Delta Funktionen and Dinky gracing the decks of an ingeniously converted space in Gillman Barracks.
Of course, people were already hanging out here before anything ever popped up in Gillman Barracks—this cluster of galleries and eateries has been on everyone’s radar since its massive opening last year. If you plan to visit, look out for upcoming openings. Some galleries synchronize their opening nights, which are great fun for gallery-hopping.
F&B offerings can sometimes be a little lackluster at spots like these that are far from competing dining destinations. Fortunately, there are a couple of gems here that make the grade. We really like The Naked Finn, which has plenty of indie cred, having begun as a little pop-up kitchen at the now-defunct hip local boutique A Curious Teepee. It’s all grown up now and has a place of its own, drawing hungry crowds nightly with grilled seafood and refreshing cocktails (from $16). A more romantic spot is secluded modern Thai joint Tamarind Hill, while crunchy types can get their greens at Onaka, which makes use of wholesome meat analogs in their dishes (tempeh Reuben sandwiches!, $13).
For post-dinner drinks, there’s Room Coffee Bar, a dinky little cafe which used to be tucked away in a shophouse on Carpenter Street. But unless there’s a party going on, nights here tend to be on the low-key side, so if you’re in the mood for beer and music, Timbre @ Gillman is probably your best bet for kicking back until late.
Although there’s art and music aplenty in this part of the island if (and only if) you know when exactly to swing by, there just aren’t enough choices around to make this a 24/7 hangout yet. On our wishlist? Casual cafes could turn this into the ultimate brunch spot, and it would be ear-splittingly amazing if forward-thinking nightspots (think the old La Maison on Fairways Drive) could capitalize on the low residential density here.
This tight alley may have just five hip dining establishments, but that’s quite enough to rival other hip hoods in terms of crowd density. Anyone who’s walked the street will know that well—even the quietest weekday spot here is almost full house on a weekend. That, despite the estate being far from the city (located off Upper Serangoon Road) and at least 15 minutes on foot from the Lorong Chuan MRT Station. Driving? Word of warning: parking is limited and can be a nightmare. But if lack of access hasn’t affected businesses, it can only mean one thing: Jalan Riang is doing something right.
The first to take up residency here was three-year-old The Fat Cat, a casual, non-airconditioned bistro with a serviced food court concept. There are three stalls serving Thai, North Indian and French cuisine, plus the eatery’s own bar offering a selection of beers (from $8), wines (from $11 per glass), cocktails (from $10), coffee (from $4), juices (from $3) and desserts (from $1). With each stall offering its own distinct flavor and menu—we’re talking about over 100 food items—it won’t be easy making decisions, but the wide variety of dishes are hard to fault.
Next door, seafood restaurant The Cajun Kings, replacing the former Jules Cafe Bar, bustles with a swinging, convivial ambiance. This is the kind of place to forget all table manners—eat with your hands, laugh out loud, slurp and burp if you like—while you feast on its hearty Cajun-boiled shellfish like crabs, mussels and prawns served in plastic bags (from $8 per 100g). For dessert, try the quaint neighboring chocolate cafe Wimbly Lu if you’re in the mood for sophisticated sweets like chocolate crème brulee ($5) and the Blackout Cake ($6). Plus, its whimsical décor complete with fairy-lighted glass roof and cozy vibe might be just what you need for a quiet evening.
For affordable, true-to-form Italian fare, La Pizzaiola ticks all the right boxes. This second outlet, with its unfussy, modern interiors of wood-paneled walls, dark-colored furnishings and concrete floors, offers a concise menu of Italian standards: antipasti (from $6.90), pasta (from $12.90) and pizza (baked in a wood-fired oven, from $13.90).
Finally, at the end of the street is the latest addition to the scene: coffee spot Rokeby (pronounced roc-ker-bee), named after a street in Western Australia. The three-month-old establishment serves artisanal coffee (from $3.50) complete with latte art, as well as a decent selection of starters (from $6.90), Western mains such as prawn risotto ($18.90) and kurobuta pork collar ($23.90).
More venues might help to stretch the crowd thinner, but Jalan Riang is a small lane and there are not nearly enough of the charming 1980s shophouses to go around (maybe just two or three more and the area will be full). Nonetheless, what the street lacks in quantity it makes up with quality.
Although there never was any shortage of good food around here, Katong somehow never got around to becoming truly hip. These days, however, it looks as though the profile of this area is finally about to rise above its laksa-and-Peranakan-kueh doldrums. What with the iconic Red House Bakery currently being renovated into a set of slick apartments, the whiff of imminent gentrification is pretty strong.
Another old-school institution that’s recently undergone a makeover is AlibabaR the Hawker Bar, a kopitiam that’s somewhat catapulted to fame following the success of French food stall Saveur, which now has its own digs at Purvis Street. It’s now more of an open-air bistro where you can sip on upmarket brews like Belgian Trappistes Rochefort beers (from $12.90). There isn’t a mixologist on the premises, but we wouldn’t be entirely surprised to see one. It certainly seems like East Coasters have an unquenchable thirst for booze, and aren’t shy about flocking to new bars either. We visited some newer kids on the block Immigrants and sister establishments Rabbit Carrot Gun and The Trenchard Arms right after they opened, and found that they were already packed with crowds of rowdy (in the first case) and grizzled (in the latter) regulars.
A notable alternative is Penny University , a lively cafe that’s packed to the gills on weekends despite not serving alcohol (nor pork; it’s halal). With a streamlined menu of coffee, tea, breakfast bites and Windowsill pies, it’s sort of the grown-up, cooler older sibling of run-of-the-mill coffee chains hawking sugary ice-blended drinks. Instead of pimply study groups, you’ll find mostly young adults on platonic coffee dates and folks doing their own thing, accompanied by cups of their signature muddy espresso ($5.50). As the cafe looks to expand its menu with classic fry-ups, we think this could easily become Katong’s answer to Loysel’s Toy or Kith Cafe.
Katong has plenty going for it, being a bit of a favorite with design collectives like Kinetic and PHUNK Studio. There’s even a gallery of sorts along the main foodie strip, in the form of Mad Nest. But nearby hawker food offerings and shopping malls make this a truly egalitarian hangout, and not just a hip destination for those—like you, now—in the know.
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Yes, it’s an izakaya named after a streetwalker. But this isn’t a case of “sex sells”, for this lady of the night is the main character of the short story Good-Bye by cult manga artist Yoshihiro Tatsumi (the titular hero of Eric Khoo’s 2011 film Tatsumi). Mariko serves US soldiers and understandably draws flak from her native culture, but she lives by her own rules nonetheless. We think an intriguing personality trumps any amount of T&A, and if you do too, let’s toast to that with a selection of warm and cold sakes from various parts of Japan (from $12/glass, $70/bottle), whiskeys like Nikka Black ($12/glass, $170/bottle) and craft beers including Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale ($16).
The gender-bending tanuki (a mythical Japanese raccoon dog) appears all over this Orchard Central hotspot in various guises—in a naughty latex getup and heels, oozing louche cool in Breton stripes and armed with a cigarette. This creature is best known for its oversize scrotum, which according to Japanese folklore, symbolizes good fortune. Going by how packed it’s been lately, especially at its launch party last month, those danglies seem to be working pretty nicely as good luck charms. It may also have something to do with how the martinis and classic cocktails here are made with a “gentleman’s pour” (translation: they’re strong) and start at a mere $10 during the daily happy hour (5-8pm).
In case anyone’s a bit squeamish about the well-endowed tanuki, here's a much daintier rodent for the whole family to enjoy. This little glider, Hiro, aptly represents the sweet but shy (it’s tucked away in a side alley) newcomer on the Amoy Street scene, best known for fusion Japanese creations like breaded shrimp soba pasta and their signature maki roll. Behind its cutesy exterior, though, lies an Asahi-mad monster that’s quietly hoarding a stash of the regular Dry, Black and Premium varieties. Have them all at just $8 a pop during their weekday happy hour (4-8pm). Those avoiding beer bloat, don’t fret; this hospitable critter has you covered with Tatty Road wines from Australia ($10/glass during happy hour).
If you’d pick oiled and macho over cute and cuddly any day, you’re in good company at this taquería and bar atop Duxton Hill. Their signature masked hunk is a luchador, or Mexican pro wrestler in the lucha libre (freestyle fighting) tradition, so this joint isn’t exactly prim and proper, although it should be said that the only wrestling action in store is with the crowd you’ll be fighting to score yourself a table. Obviously you’ll want to recharge with chorizo tacos or huitlacoche (corn smut) quesadillas, but have a look at their extensive cocktail list too—true to image, the drinks here pack a punch. Margaritas, mojitos and sangrias are well and good for quelling the flames from all that hot sauce, but we like the Mexican Mule ($16), a hardworking mix of tequila and ginger beer with fresh lime and ginger thrown in.
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