Blondie’s current lineup consists of drummer Clem Burke, keyboardists Jimmy Destri and Kevin Patrick, bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Chris Stein and vocalist Deborah Harry. Formed in 1974, this group disbanded in 1982, and made a successful comeback in 1998. Now the band is bidding farewell for the second time with one kick-ass gig.

Blondie draws its influences from punk to new wave and is loved for songs such as “In The Flesh,” “Heart of Glass,” “Denis,” “Sunday Girl,” “Call Me,” “Maria” and “Rapture.” Besides having toured with Iggy Pop and David Bowie, the band has also been included in the Hollywood Rock & Roll Wall of Fame recently. This cool act has been credited with influencing musicians such as Madonna, Blur, Shirley Manson and Gwen Stefani. Undoubtedly, Blondie has a long list of achievements under its belt.

But like every veteran band, Blondie had its fair share of downs too. The early ’80s saw the group declining in popularity, with the album The Hunter receiving mediocre reviews. Reports of tension within the band were rampant. After Stein was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Blondie split up.

The band was reformed in 1998, with the album No Exit. If you are a fan of Blondie, this gig is a must-see following their stint two years ago here at Fort Canning Park. Relive how far Blondie has come over the years with their music, and sing along to their very infectious numbers. It’s going to be a searing show. Catch the act before it disappears—again.

Cheap food doesn’t always mean cheap taste. If you’re on the lookout for a place that will make your stomach full yet keep your pocket loaded, we can help. Bangkok is full of inexpensive and delicious food places—as long as you don’t judge a book by its cover. Bon appetit!

Banglumpoo

Tub Tim Krob Siam

Where: 188 Krasi Rd., Banglumpoo, 02-281-2298, 02-281-2393. Open daily 9am-6:30pm.
What: Tubtim krob, water chestnut coated with red jelly served with ice and in coconut milk.
Why: Tub Tim Krob Siam excels in—surprise—tubtim krob. Around for almost 30 years, this shophouse’s signature ingredient is macapuno, or mutant coconut, boasting softer-than-average meat.
Price: B20 for tubtim krob and B25 for macupuno in coconut milk.

Ah E-sa

Where: Tanee Rd., Banglumpoo, 02-282-6378. Open daily 8am-5pm.
What: Muslim food
Why: Don’t blink or you’ll miss this hole-in-the-wall eatery. From the outside, it looks like a small noodle stall, but inside, you’ll find tantalizing Muslim dishes. This one-stop shop offers everything from khao mok kai (biryani rice) to mataba. Don’t miss the beef satay and oxtail soup.
Price: B50 for oxtail soup, B35 for khao mok kai.

Kanom Jeen Banglumpoo

Where: A small soi beside Tang Hua Seng Department Store, opposite Chakrapong Mosque, Chakrapong Rd. Open daily 10am-7pm.
What: Kanom jeen with various curries from naamya to naamya pah to green curry.
Why: Although it’s in a small and grubby soi, the food, tables, chairs and vendor are very clean. The curries are spicy and yummy, made fresh every day.
Price: B15 for kanom jeen with curry. B5 for a boiled egg. Free fresh vegetables.

Pen Thai Food

Where: 229 Rambutri Rd., Banglumpoo, 02-282-2320. Open daily 7am-8pm.
What: Rice and side dishes like fried shrimp, curries and fried vegetables.
Why: Every side dish uses meaty ingredients just like in fine Thai restaurants, only cheaper. Their signature dishes are green curry and masaman kai.
Price: B20 for rice and one side dish. B25-70 for rice and two side dishes.

Shoshana Restaurant

Where: 86 Chakrapong Rd., Banglumpoo, 02-282-9948. Open daily 10am-midnight.
What: Israeli and Thai food
Why: You can have good Israeli food without having to wander the dark sois of Nana. Also, prices are cheaper than in Nana and the taste is pretty much the same, except lighter.
Price: B30 for falafel (5 pieces), hummus and hasilim. A combination dish with your choices of hummus, hasilim, fried chicken, salad, mashed potato etc. is less than B100.

Pornchai (a.k.a. Kanompang Banglumpoo)

Where: Tanow Rd., Banglumpoo, across Soi Bavornrangsri. Open daily 8am-1pm.
What: Fresh baked bread and Thai desserts
Why: Roti Boy fever doesn’t compare to the lineup for Pornchai’s stuffed bread. Try raisin bread and mixed stuffing bread (sausage, mooyong, ham and raisin). If you hate lines, you can buy it at bakeries around Thewet and Victory Monument for an extra B5.
Price: B30 for all stuffed bread.

Siam Square

Omaishi

Where: 207/3/4 Phaya Thai Rd., near Net Design Siam Square, opposite MBK, 01-403-0505. Open daily 11am-8pm.
What: Japanese food like ramen, steak and curry rice.
Why: Air-conditioned but cheap. A good place to rest after spending all your money shopping. Their fish tempura ramen is superb.
Price: B35-B45, fish tempura ramen for B35. 

Inter

Where: 432/1-2 Rama 1 Rd., 02-251-4689. Open daily 10am-10pm.
What: Thai food.
Why: Cheap food, good taste. But don’t expect any service-minded waiters. They can barely remember what you ordered.
Price: B40-B100.

Benjarong

Where: Food Court, G/F, Siam Paragon, 991/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9000. Open daily 10am-11pm.
What: Thai food.
Why: Amazing healthy khai jeaw with a vegetable stuffing. Its delicious kang tai pla is also recommended. Compared to the other shops at Paragon, the food is very cheap.
Price: B40 for one side dish and rice or B50 for two.

Political Sciences Noodle (a.k.a. Kuay Tiew Odd Ton)

Where: Canteen, Faculty of Political Sciences, Chulalongkorn University. Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-2pm.
What: Old-style noodles.
Why: Try one dish and you will want to come back again for sure. The nice girls walking around are another good reason to drop by. Be prepared to wait.
Price: B20-B45.

Samyan

Ton Kok

Where: 77 Samyan Market, Soi Chula 15, 02-219-2119, 09-922-5903. Open daily 9am-8pm.
What: Thai food and bakery.
Why: The food is so-so, but its tasty chocolate cake is reasonably priced. However, we really mean it when we say the portions are small.
Price: B65 for one small foil box of its signature chocolate or orange cake. B25 per piece.

Mokethip

Where: 2/F, Samyan Market, 02-611-7976. Open daily 11am-midnight.
What: Steak and Thai food.
Why: A hearty plate of steak at a reasonable price is what Mokethip is known for, but the best-selling item is Chicken Alaska, a combination of fried chicken and spaghetti. If you want to try a bit of everything, there’s Hot Mix Grilled, which includes bacon, ham, sausages, pork chop and beef steak.
Price: Starts from B35 for Thai dishes and B70 for steak.

Silom Area

Kuay Tiew Krae

Where: Next to Assumption College, opposite Soi Chareon Krung 45.
What: Kuay tiew krae.
Why: The soup might be a little sweet for some—if you want to go for the spicier option, ask for yum. Many well-known people are regular customers here and rumor has it even some blue blood families have visited. To soothe your tummy while you’re waiting, have some spring rolls, sold at the beginning of the soi.
Price: B25 for noodles and B20-40 for spring roll.

Kuay Chop Nay Chai Wat Kaek

Where: 85 Silom Soi 20, Opposite Wat Kaek market, 01-490-0726. Open daily 6am-6pm.
What: Kuay chop (meaty stew).
Why: This kuay chop shop is known in the area because of its delicious taste and sumptuous aroma. It offers a great variety of meat options, so carnivores really get a selection. The most popular choices are egg, tofu, liver, pig’s tongue and pig’s stomach.
Price: B25 for a bowl, B30 for a big bowl

Sukhumvit, Thonglor, Ekkamai

Sukhumvit Soi 38

Where: Sukhumvit Soi 38, under BTS Thonglor Station, opposite Soi Thonglor. Open Tue-Sun 7pm-very late.
What: Plenty of choices from bamee (egg noodles) to khao neaw mamuang (sticky rice with mango).
Why: Must-haves include bamee phuu (egg noodles with crab) and khao neaw mamuang. The bamee features real crab meat, sweet and tender roasted pork and al dente noodles. The soup here is sweetened by long-time stewing—not palm sugar like at other bamee trolleys.
Price: Bamee for B30-50. Khao neaw mamuang for B60-80.

San Saeb

Where: 94/13 Sukhumvit Soi 23, 02-260-1626. Open daily 10am-10pm.
What: Spicy Thai-style noodles.
Why: This air-conditioned noodle place features soup so deliciously rich that people always drain the bowl. One order is quite small so you may need to ask for two. Also offers homemade ice cream and is always busy during lunchtime.
Price: B25-30 for normal dishes and B65-75 for noodles with Thai-French beef.

55 Pochana

Where: Sukhumvit Rd., about 60 feet after Thonglor, 02-391-2021.
What: Classic Thai dishes from tom yum goong (spicy prawn soup) to kai tod met mamuang (chicken with cashew nuts).
Why: It can be very noisy sitting on the street, so take a seat inside the no-frills restaurant and enjoy. These guys do it right.
Price: Main dishes range from B50-120.

Yen Ta Fo Krueng Song

Where: 3079/25, Piyarom Sport Club, Sukhumvit Rd., before Sukhumvit Soi 101/1. 02-741-8612. Open daily 10am-9pm.
What: Famous for yen ta fo and one-dish meals created by nationally well-known cook Archan Mallika.
Why: Yen ta fo features three different levels of spice: ros jeb (spiciest), jai soa (medium spicy) and dek dek (mild). Or go for kuay tiew tom yum jing jing, untouched by prik pon but redolent with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf and shallot. The deep-fried Bhutan mushrooms are a crispy and tasty appetizer. The cha rang chut (Babbler’s bill tea) may keep you from getting drunk easily and cures hangovers.
Price: B55-80, B20 for tea.

Roong Roj Noodles

Where: 10/3 Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-258-6746. Open daily 9am-4:30pm.
What: Kuay tiew tom yum, kuay tiew krae.
Why: The tom yum noodles with real lime juice are this place’s specialty. Noodles come already seasoned, with your choice of a variety of toppings such as minced pork. A must-have with your tom yum noodles is deep-fried fish skin—they use real salmon.
Price: B30-40, deep-fried salmon skin B15-30.

Elsewhere in Town

Krapohpla Nam Daeng

Where: Suan Luang, Pathumwan Soi 5, across from the car park, 01-886-8739. Open Thu-Tue 4:30-10pm.
What: Fish maw soup.
Why: This small stall run by two aunties has only one staple, fish maw soup, but has been in business for over 20 years. One of their recipes for success is real fish maw instead of low-quality pig skin, and they pay B1,500 per kilo for the real thing.
Price: B60-70.

Sun Moon Chinese Restaurant

Where: Soi Ngam Duplee between Pinnacle hotel and alleyway. Open 10:30am-10:30pm.
What: Chinese dumplings.
Why: This tiny place has a variety of excellent dumplings, some great Chinese/Thai dishes, and very friendly service. Also try their fried eggplant(B70)—which comes out looking (and tasting) like French fries.
Price: B50 per plate of dumplings.

Chiffon Bakery

Where: 356/59 Samsen Rd., Thewet, 02-281-1315. Open daily 9:30am-7:30pm.
What: Chiffon cake.
Why: Living up to its name, Chiffon Bakery offers airy chiffon cake. Though there are many stalls selling this delicacy, this is the only place you’ll find it fresh from the oven. Great with a cup of coffee.
Price: B7/piece.

What is Push Mail?

Push Mail is a wireless communication service that offers non-stop access to email, phone, Internet, text messaging as well as word/spreadsheet processing.

How does it work?

It works the same as a wireless laptop computer, but the handsets are the size of a PDA and it never turns off.

What can I do with it?

You can use Push Mail to read and write emails with attachments, process data and organize with your workgroups while not in the office.

Who should use Push Mail?

It’s suitable for anyone who travels a lot or is regularly away from the office and needs continual access to the web or email.

What is BlackBerry?

BlackBerry is another wireless communication service in competition with Push Mail. BlackBerry and Push Mail do the same thing, but support different operating systems. Push Mail can support Microsoft Windows, Nokia Solution, Symbian or Java, while BlackBerry only supports the BlackBerry OS.

Who are the service providers?

We have three in Thailand—DTAC, AIS and True Move.

How is this different from accessing the web on my mobile phone or PDA?

On a mobile phones you normally only have access to free email sites like Yahoo! or Hotmail and they require you to connect to the web to access them. Push Mail is always connected, and it allows access to more powerful email applications like Microsoft Outlook. Plus, you can create, view and edit documents as if you were using a laptop.

Can you use a mobile phone or PDA to get Push Mail?

No. You need a special handset that has software to support the operating system.

How much do Push Mail and BlackBerry services cost?

The cost varies depending on the provider you choose, your handset and how much data you expect to be moving around per month.

I run Microsoft Windows on a PC and use Outlook for my contacts and emails. What Push Mail handset should I use?

If you want your handset to synch perfectly with your computer, get one that uses a Microsoft Windows OS. BlackBerrys have had trouble openning Microsoft documents.

What if I’m an Apple person?

Neither Push Mail nor BlackBerry are fully compliant with the Apple OS, so check the specs on the handsets you are considering.

Where can I get more information?

www.dtac.co.th, www.ais.co.th, www.truecorp.co.th, www.blackberry.com.

Handsets

BlackBerry 8700g Wireless Handheld
BlackBerry OS, organizer, Internet, email, 64MB flash memory and QWERTY keyboard. B25,500. Available at the True Shop, Siam Paragon, 3/F, 02-610-8888.

HP RW6828 PDA phone
Microsoft Windows OS with Microsoft software, QWERTY keyboard, 2 megapixel camera and 64MB memory. B28,900. Available at DTAC Building, 1/F, Viphavadi Rd. Call Center 1678.

O2 Xda Atom
Microsoft Windows OS, 2 megapixel camera and 64MB memory. B31,900. Available at DTAC Building, 1/F, Viphavadi Rd., call center 1678.

Nokia E61
Microsoft Windows OS and Office software, QWERTY keyboard, multimedia messaging and 64MB memory. B16,490. Available at Nokia shop, 3/F Siam Paragon, 02-610-9778.  

CHA Spa

9 Thonglor Soi 25, 02-381-7000, www.cha.co.th. Open Tue-Sun 10am-10pm.

The concept: CHA uses traditional Chinese remedies, along with some new twists. The focus on preventative care means a marriage of health and beauty that aims not just to enhance your looks but to maintain physical and mental wellness.

The facilities: The spa houses six VIP rooms and up to 19 beds in the two-storey China-chic home, plus three private rooms and a good-sized pool in the garden, which will eventually be the site of yoga and meditation classes. The otherwise serene spa also offers a huge flat screen TV and WiFi. It also has a long list of Chinese teas selected for their physical and mental effects.

The service: The friendly feeling at CHA is what distinguishes it from the rest. It offers top-to-bottom service, whether you want to indulge in a mani-pedi or relieve your neck pain.

Signature treatment: Tui Na is special massage treatment dating back 2,000 years. It aims to balance health by establishing a more harmonious flow of Qi (energy) through the body. The treatment draws on techniques such as massage, acupressure and bone setting, and it not only relieves stress but helps stave it off—great for those who work at computers all day.

Price: Total Qi treatment goes for B1,450/60min, The Real CHA (cool mineral mask with algae to heal sun damage and Total Qi) for B3,850/150min. Or try the day package with CHA Day Deluxe Detox for B6,800/7 hours.

Divana D

103 Thonglor Soi 17, 02-712-8986, www.divana-dvn.com. Open Mon-Fri 11am-11pm, Sat-Sun 10am-11pm.

The concept: Cross-cultural beauty. The latest offspring of Divana International, Divana D combines the best beauty philosophies and products from all over the world in developing its treatments. Try Japanese-style seaweed treatments to rebalance and soothe your skin, or follow in Cleopatra’s footsteps and enjoy a goat’s milk bath for silky softness.

The facilities: There are now four couples’ rooms and four private singles, with five more couples’ rooms on the way. Each room is influenced by a country; Casa is adorned with Moroccan accents, vibrant colors and colorful mosaic walls, while Hana offers simple Japanese décor with a wooden bathtub and earth-tone color palette.

The service: The staff is friendly and attentive. They not only ask how much pressure you prefer, but how your day is going. They will go out of their way to get you a cab or even lend you an umbrella on a rainy day.

Signature treatment: The most popular treatment is Divine Hot Stone, in which a therapist rubs you down with hot turquoise stones and lays them on your body at particular points to help soothe sore muscles and increase blood flow. A nice treat after a long day at work, the treatment also includes an aroma cream massage and Spirulina hair mask.

Price: From B900 for Divine Eye Soother (40mins). Divine Hot Stone (120mins) is B2,500. Ultimate Youth (165mins) is B3,000.

No longer is art confined to the traditional gallery. Various factors such as the desire for more freedom, the ephemeral nature of certain art works and exorbitant gallery commissions are driving more and more young local artists away from the well-trodden art path. Instead of turning to a typical gallery, they set up or choose edgy, unconventional art places to put up shows or art-related events. We bring you a list of these alternative spaces.

Located in a bohemian street where several designers and artists live, ShowHaus Gallery (10 Kuo Chuan Ave., 6247-9347) is a work place, a living area and an exhibition venue for artists Nathaniel Walters, Nick Charnley and Mickey Koh. They last organized the show Kuo Chuan Lifestyles, featuring an eclectic range of eccentric art works. “We discovered that the street was full of artists and designers. We invited them to exhibit with us—whoever wished to participate could do so. We ended up with a wide variety of work, ranging from ceramics and glass to a sculpture and a video installation,” Charnley says. “Subsequent exhibitions will not necessarily be limited to residents of the street. The criteria for being part of these shows are as yet undecided, but it is likely that the range of artists and media will remain broad.”

Your MOTHER Gallery (91A Hindoo Rd., 9787-7874) is another exhibition area which also functions as a dwelling. The home of artists Lina Adam and Jeremy Hiah, this venue has had cutting-edge works from young talents such as Warren Khong and Hiah himelf. As its irreverent and wacky name suggests, the freedom to express is the owners’ guiding philosophy for the space’s uses.

Also straying away from commercial galleries is instinc (23 Emerald Hill Rd., 6735-9867), a studio as well as an indie exhibition venue by abstract artists Valerie Ng, Wyn-Lyn Tan and Yeo Shih Yun. Ingenious shows, such as Bag It which showed works ranging from collages to sculptures, fabric works to installations, have been organized here. “Some artists who are from overseas but who are residing in Singapore have participated in our group and solo shows. We also hold group and solo exhibitions by the three of us to showcase our works intermittently,” Yeo claims. “The people that come to the shows vary from tourists to art students, executives to designers, architects to other artists and art lovers or collectors.”

Another atypical arts area is the tunnel that leads to Esplanade—Theatres on the Bay at Citylink Mall (1 Raffles Link, 6238-1121). Three of the display windows located here are called tickleart, and often showcase innovative contemporary art. Located strategically in a shopping mall, the space allows artists to engage the public in their works. “To create the exhibition A Roomful of Old Ladies, artist Mithun Jayaram sat in the tunnel for over a month and asked people to help him sharpen pencils. Using the shavings collected, he produced this beautiful installation,” Susie Wong, co-curator of tickleart reveals.

Much like the Esplanade Tunnel, the wall opposite the display windows at Citylink Mall is also a hot alternative spot for putting up absorbing art work, especially photographs. These visuals change approximately every two months. “The objective of showcasing photographs in a shopping mall is to reach a wider audience, people who do not necessarily go to a gallery to see an exhibition,” comments local photographer Tan Ngiap Heng, who has unveiled works there before. “Hopefully, they will be engaged with the images and enjoy them and even desire to learn more about photography as an art form.”

Besides homes and shopping malls, art is also invading eateries. An outlet of tcc (The Coffee Connoisseur) (51 Circular Rd., 6533-9033) for example, features works of distinguished foreign and local artists. Painter Rajavelu and lensman Ray Ong are among the list of creatives who have held shows here, and this month, local photographer Charlie Lim is featured. “The artist’s creative flair and distinctive style has won him both national and overseas recognition. tcc will be showcasing his photography works that were created with a unique ‘painting’ technique,” states Abbey Chang, tcc’s assistant vice president of business development. “We try to feature art works that are unique and different; whose theme aligns with tcc’s brand statement of being bold and different.”

Another great alternative art space is the Indonesian café Warong M Nasir (69 Killiney Rd., 6734-6228). The shows here are organized by a group of street and contemporary artists who dub themselves Wunderspaze. “We want to expose artists from the regions, especially young artists, through the café’s wall and exhibition space, and to provide an alternative space for artists to show works,” quips Khairuddin Hori, Wunderspaze’s artistic director. “My focus is to showcase Southeast Asian artists, or people who have an interest in Southeast Asia. There is too much European and American stuff around anyway.” Look out for a game show, and avant-garde installations and videos soon to be disclosed in this little-known café-cum-gallery.

A group of local art practitioners who call themselves p-10 (10 Perumal Rd., 6294-0041) has a space which hosts a myriad of activities from workshops to discussions, talks to residency programs. Exhibitions are held in this rented area only occasionally, transforming the premise into a transitory alternative exhibition space. We believe that there is a lot more to art than just putting up exhibitions,” Jennifer Teo, a member of p-10, explains. “p-10 is interested in creating dialogue, networking, publishing and engaging the public, and we try to do these through various activities.”

No longer does anyone have to drag their feet to the archetypal gallery for a dose of art. Fast venturing into homes, eateries and shopping malls, partaking in art is fast becoming a lifestyle. These cool, casual and unusual exhibition spaces bring art closer to the public, and are also a testimony to the escalating creativity of local young talents.

As we delve into Singapore’s contemporary arts scene, we also take a look at the galleries which showcase interesting exhibitions from newer artists. These forward-looking favorites are warmly received by the art community for their dedication to spreading art knowledge and appreciation. If you’ve been passing these places by, it’s time to step inside and see what they’re up to.

Our local contemporary arts scene took a catalytic leap back in 1986 with the establishment of the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore (LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, 90 Goodman Rd., 6344-4300). Its Earl Lu Gallery (as it was called then) boasts more than 100,000 regular visitors per year and curates exhibitions from local, regional and international artists. Hop in for a peek at its current exhibition, The Second Dance Song: New Contemporaries, which runs till the end of October. Featuring Singapore’s emerging contemporary artists, the exhibition explores cultural re-appropriation and is one of the venues for the first ever Singapore Biennale.

Utterly Art (208 South Bridge Rd., 6226-2605), founded in 2001 by Kenneth Tan and Pwee Kheng Hock, provides about 1,200 square feet of exhibition space fot contemporary local and Southeast Asian artists. “We also provide information on the collectability and value of various regional artists for would-be collectors who are interested in art but are unsure of how to get started,” says Managing Partner Pwee Keng Hock. So bear that in mind when you hop over for Fish Fond—A Silent Violence by contemporary Filipino artist Fernando Escora, which runs from Sep 7-17 and Landscapes by Singaporean Jason Wee, which happens Sep 21-Oct 1.

In a similar vein, Director of Art Seasons (The Box, 5 Gemmill Lane, 6221-1800) Terry Lee, believes that Singapore has a very young art market, and support is necessary for younger artists to thrive here. He elaborates, “We try to have at least one Singaporean show every year, and we’ve been putting up the annual exhibition Made In Singapore (now showing), where we invite many young artists, many of whom have just graduated from the art academies, to display their work,” he adds. “We give them the space for all forms for visual art—painting, photography, video and special installations.”

Providing a platform for cultural expression, the SG Private Banking Gallery (2/F, 1 Sarkies Rd., 6737-8422) Alliance Française de Singapour attracts the general public, collectors and individuals involved in the arts. According to its Executive Director Pierre-Emmanuel Jacob, “[The gallery’s] goal is to function as a bridge for different artistic expressions from the various cultures not only from Asia, but internationally as well, to create dialogue among artists and their audiences.” Getting involved with all art genres, the gallery brings in everything and anything from paintings and sculptures to photography, installations and videos to performance art. This 11-year-old gallery continues to engage and exhibit the works of forward-thinking regional and local artists, including Malaysian-born painter Sandra Lee and Singaporean sculptor Tan Wee Lit, whose works along with French photographer Hermance Triay are lined up for the exhibition FABLE happening Sep 1-15.

As a leader in the growing demand for multi-cultural and contemporary Southeast Asian artworks in the region, TAKSU Singapore (#03-80, 43 Work Loft @ Chip Bee, Jalan Merah Saga, 6476-4788) encourages an exchange of ideas among artists in terms of styles, creativity and ideas. With galleries in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta, the works displayed are always interesting, like painter Om Mee Ai’s work on geometric abstraction (Sep 7-21), and other artists like France’s Agathe de Bailliencourt and Malaysia’s Eric Chan.

Supporting every aspect of visual arts, BLOCK43 Studio Gallery (#03-80, 43 Work Loft @ Chip Bee, Jalan Merah Saga, 6471-1359) provides an alternative education program for children and adults, for a wide range of interests and skill levels. “We give support, and advice, on how to exhibit and survive, as a practicing artist,” explains Founder and artist James Holdsworth. “We work as an independent gallery, to provide an affordable exhibition space, and sponsor as many exhibitions as possible.” Past exhibitions held at BLOCK43 include Access Indonesia earlier this year, which showcased works from a variety of mediums and styles reflecting Indonesian traditions and changing cultures and Access Hanoi which showcased the hottest new Vietnamese artists.

The local art scene is finally catching up with the rest of the world, if the latest influx of young artists, who dabble in multimedia art forms such as videography, vector art illustration, graphic design, motion graphics and Internet art, is anything to go by. Over the past year these emerging artists, namely design collectives Momorobo, :Phunk Studio, fFurious and tsunamii.net, and wunderkind Brian Gothong Tan, have been making waves with their modern and cutting-edge artworks that have been lapped up and showcased not only in Singapore, but across the world as well. :Phunk Studio and Momorobo’s works recently traveled to Dublin and Shanghai, as part of the Translate art program that aims to promote local talents alongside established international ones, while Tan and tsunamii.net have held solo and group exhibitions in Melbourne, the Netherlands and Tokyo.

But these showpieces are more than just traveling artworks—they are extremely progressive works that have won international acclaim too. I-S finds out why these young local artists choose to create edgy artworks with the use of multimedia, and how collaborations and international art platforms are propelling their works to the next level.

Sign of the Times

Certainly, today’s breed of young local multimedia artists and creatives are bolder and more tech-savvy in their choice of mediums, compared to artists working purely in fine arts. Utilizing not just traditional art tools such as paper and pen, multimedia artists embrace technology with open arms and minds, and work with various tomfooleries to create utterly modern works.

Brian Gothong Tan (www.briangothongtan.com), whose works include an amalgamation of photography, videography, compositing and various 2D and 3D works, says that it is inevitable that most artists today dabble in multimedia. “The reason why I use different media in my works is because I’m constantly searching for the perfect form to encapsulate my ideas,” he says. “I cannot fully express myself by using one medium. Besides, people these days are bored with just seeing paintings, and they’re always on the look out for something more exciting.”

Alvin Tan, a member of :Phunk Studio (www.phunkstudio.com), one of the first few design collectives dabbling in design and multimedia works, agrees. “Technology has always been a tool for us...as we are living in an era where design is progressing to be appreciated as an art-form, and it cuts across various fields such as vector art illustrations, product designs, motion graphics, interactive media, etcetera,” he says.

Still, local artists and collectives like Tan and :Phunk Studio are not just exploring the various multimedia mediums simply because these tools are more readily available, but because technologies really do help them speed up their work and lessen mistakes in their final artworks. “The advantage of multimedia art is its flexibility to incorporate changes before its final execution,” adds :Phunk Studio’s Tan. “For example, multimedia artists can make many changes before they decide to print an artwork on canvas, or render a motion graphic movie or cast a screen to silkscreen on fabrics. With more traditional art forms, like acrylic or ink or any other mediums, artists are usually working right on the final execution, and that doesn’t allow them much leeway.”

Little Ong from design collective fFurious (www.ffurious.com), who recently organized Pause, an art event that featured solely Net-based artworks, adds that multimedia art allows more diverse and remarkable works to be created. “Back in 1983, when I first had my computer, I could only draw in large pixels using programming software,” he says. “Animation and network access were limited, and the screen color was green. Today, personal computers are a giant leap ahead of those times. With larger processing power, these machines are able to produce much more amazing art, whether it’s digital paintings or interactive animations. When you paint digitally, it is possible to mix different kinds of painting mediums in a single artwork, such as water color with oil paintings, as well as manipulate photos and video imageries.”

The result: Sleeker, bolder and more colorful artworks—from digital prints to other various multimedia art forms. Adds Tsunamii.net’s (www.virtual-marathon.net) Founder Tien Goh: “As technology becomes more affordable for the general public, more artists will see this as a medium and area which they can explore. The video camera, or the computer, is fast becoming the paint brush of the future.”

Innovate and Collaborate

More than just being able to criss-cross over different media, artists dabbling in multimedia are also able to collaborate with other artists working in a similar capacity, creating more cutting-edge works that were previously unachievable. :Phunk Studio recently collaborated with famed Irish artist Aiden Kelly to work on a silkscreen artwork “Electricity,” where both artists conceptualized an elaborate graphic design before translating it onto canvas via silkscreening. Ditto tsunamii.net’s fun Internet artwork “Virtual Marathon,” a piece that functions like a Realtime, multi-player interactive running game, involving 10 artists and designers from the US, Sweden and the Netherlands, and video artwork “Strap It On,” featuring local design collective Momorobo and Thai rock and design group Futon. Collaborations allow these talents to expand their ideas and capacities as artists and image makers.

“Collaborating...is all about merging different ideas from different collaborators and making it into one great piece of work,” says Momorobo (www.momorobo.com) designer Morris Lee. “The whole experience gives us a new insight to the whole art-making process...the freedom to gel and experiment with ideas from other collaborators, and along the way, we share, learn and refine our ideas and works. The knowledge and experience we gain in the process will definitely push our future works to the next level.”

Tsunamii.net’s Goh also states that collaborations by way of multimedia allow him “to build that sense of community among artists. I am interested in communication and the process of working with people to develop a project together, which is especially true in my projects that involve technology.” He adds: “I don’t fancy being an artist who locks himself up in a studio and painting away all day and all night. I believe art is much more than that. That is why all my projects are never done by just me, but involve a team of people.”

Collaborations also allow these artists to consistently bring new ideas to their works, assuring that their final pieces remain cutting-edge. “The different collaborations...place an importance on being radical because every artist has a desire to experience new things,” says fFurious’s Little Ong. Phunk Studio’s Alvin Tan agrees. “Trying new mediums, collaborating and exploring new ways to present an idea has always been a part of how we work, as we are living in a generation of cross-genres, where the lines between technology, art and design have been fused. Certainly, experimenting, collaborating and pushing the boundaries of any new art medium remains essential for artists to always be one step ahead.”

Have Art, Will Travel

Multimedia artists are also savvy not just in terms of the media that they use, but in terms of finding platforms to showcase their works, especially on an international level. Brian Gothong Tan has had shows in Sydney, Venice and California, while Tsunamii.net will present “Virtual Marathon 2” at the new multimedia festival Impakt Festival in Utrecht, the Netherlands, later this year after its successful first installment in Tokyo.

But more importantly, it is traveling art platforms like Translate, which features local artworks by :Phunk Studio and Momorobo alongside world-renowned artists such as Rostarr (US) and Faile (US) in cities such as Auckland, Copenhagen, Dublin, and Shanghai, that will further propel our talented multimedia artists forward. “Showcasing artworks is most important if you want the rest of the world to know about it, or else the works will just be sitting in your studio, no matter how good they are,” says :Phunk Studio’s Tan. “And with platforms like Translate, the art has a chance to travel. It’s important that the works have the ability to move, reach people and cultivate awareness among art lovers.”

Lizzy Johnson, founder of Translate, explains the appeal of our multimedia artists. “We’ve carried out extensive research into worldwide trends and found that consumers are eager to know more about contemporary Asian art across various mediums. It was important for us to include multimedia, animation, music and film artists in our lineup, as they represent what is distinctively contemporary about our art world today.”

Momorobo’s Morris Lee echoes both sentiments. “The exposure generated from Translate is beneficial to the artist as it gives them a new arena to display their works and at the same time, gain valuable interaction and ideas from a whole new group of audience,” he says. “This exchange results in a new combustion of ideas and could elevate the artist’s talent to a whole new level.”

For sure, getting works showcased on an international platform can only be a good thing, as :Phunk Studio and Aiden Kelly’s “Electricity” is rumored to be worth more than US$25,000 ever since it traveled, and its value is still rising. Other traveling art showcases such as the annual multimedia arts festivals Resfest and onedotzero, and the recent Fiction@Love at Singapore Art Museum, also allow works from artists like collective fFurious to be showcased and travel, and further gain them international recognition and exposure.

But more than anything else, multimedia artists should remain at the forefront of what’s bold and relevant in today’s art world if they continuously challenge themselves to create edgy, innovative works that will set them apart. And only by consistently creating impressive works will they be able to take their concepts and ideas to the next level, and travel even further. Momorobo’s Morris Lee concedes: “Our main objective has always been about dealing with new media and expressions, and bringing our ideas to various platforms. At the end of the process, all artists want to create great works that communicates, and the new (multimedia) medium will be the transporter for us to do so.”

Getting Thai food in Singapore is pretty easy. Getting good Thai ingredients to make your own Thai food is slightly trickier. For the real stuff you need to head to Golden Mile Complex (5001 Beach Rd.), the authentic if, ahem, slightly dodgy Thai quarter of Singapore, best known as the place to catch a bus to Malaysia. We braved the corridors of Golden Mile and found these delicious food items lurking. All produce is available at the Thai supermarket on #02-64, Golden Mile Complex.

1. This ground dry shrimp and chili is suitable for almost anything. It can be added to soup, rice and noodles. being very spicy, it acts like good black pepper. $3.

2. These magic puffball mushrooms might not give you a high, but they’re the ideal ingredient for soups or for serving as an entree. $6.50.

3. Spice up your life with this Tom Yum hot and sour paste. small or large bottles, $2.50 and $5.90 respectively.

4. A sweet, spicy dip that is great for fried or steamed dishes, especially chicken. The supermarket sells the dip in bulk to restaurants, a testament to its quality. $2.50.

5. Buah salak, is like the mutant fruit—best described as a cross between a banana and a rambutan. A palm fruit, its flesh is light and juicy and tastes sweet and sour. $5.50 per kilogram.

6. Make your thai meal extra hot, hot, hot with hot basil used in curries and spicy dishes. it’s known to have medicinal value and is pretty as a garnish. $0.60 per bunch.

7. Add some sweetness to your tahi tang with this sweet basil. $0.60 per bunch.

8. Jump into an instant source of protein with these hoppers and crawlers. like beer nuts, they’re ready to be washed down with a cold Thai beer. $2 per packet.

9. You might thing we’re hopping mad, but these Dried frogs are meant to be Fried or thrown on the barbecue for a crispy finish. $1.80 small, $2 big.

10. Crack open a pack of crispy fried shrimps, the literal Prawn cracker. $5 per packet.

11. For a more portable version of the pungent king of fruit, try this Freeze-dried Tasty top crispy durian. Each pack contains a whole durian. $9.80.

12. If this all sounds too weird and wonderful, Wash it down with this array of brewed-in-Thailand thirst quenchers. Prices for coolers and beers range from $2.90 to $5 per bottle.

Fuel Up

Sweet Thai Café, #1154, 15-03 (odd unit number, but it’s what the owner gave us)

If you don’t mind the squeeze, then squish into one of the three tables at this joint—each of which seats four. The Singaporeans, Thais and Malaysians who frequent the cafe order an assortment of house favorites, including green papaya salad ($8), Thai beef salad ($8) and seafood soup ($5). Open daily 9am-8pm.

Nong Khai Beer House, #01-73

Donsuda Inmeeyuen is heralded as the best papaya salad maker in the vicinity. The cozy outlet can accommodate 30 people and serves mainly Thais and some locals. Signature dishes include grilled chicken ($5/$10) and grilled fish ($8). Open daily 11am-10pm.

Sin Lai Lai Snack House, #01-29/29/30/31

This eatery specializes in Chinese and Thai cuisine and serves a lot of locals. Dishes come in three sizes and cost from $4 to $12, and include Nham fried rice, Singapore fried bee hoon, Thai fried omelette and Hong Kong rice, to name a few. If you’re trying Thai food for the first time and are not sure if you will take to it, this is a safe bet, with familiar local dishes to retreat to. Open daily 9:30am-10pm.

Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant, #01-67/68/69

With a seating capacity of 120, this is easily the largest restaurant in the complex. People from the cross-country buses that stop at Golden Mile, locals and Thais haunt the place everyday. With dishes like fried chicken in red wine sauce ($7), deep fried frog legs salad ($10), and Thai seafood otak on hot plate ($8) hailing from Northern and Central Thailand, this restaurant makes a great pit stop. Open daily 8am-10pm.

Technology trends move so fast that one is barely begun before the next one encroaches. Even though hi-def is fairly new in the market, it is already primed to go to the next level—and the technology that will take it there is Blu-ray.

So, what is Blu-ray anyway? The name is derived from the blue-violet laser used to write discs, as opposed to the red laser used by the DVD format. The blue-violet laser has a shorter wavelength than its red counterpart, which means that it’s more precise and packs information more tightly. The result is that the Blu-ray offers up to 25GB worth of storage. That’s five times more than the DVD.

The obvious benefit of this is that the Blu-ray format is better suited for the hi-def lifestyle. The big name studios seem to realize this; companies like Warner Brothers, Disney and Fox have already announced that they’ll be releasing a whole slew of titles for Blu-ray, and Samsung and Sony are rolling out these cool products.

Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Player

This is one of the big guns of the hi-def movement, and Samsung wisely got in on the ground floor when they announced recently that their BD-P1000 Blu-ray Disc Player will be tentatively available in the fourth quarter of 2006. When placed against the resolution of a normal DVD player, it becomes fairly obvious that there’s no competition here; the BD-P1000’s picture quality stands remarkably tall over its predecessor. Audio output for the BD-P1000 is also noticeably better. All in all, this is a remarkable machine that’s poised to make heads turn.

Playstation 3

Although there’s no set release date for the local market just yet, the hype over the revolutionary Playstation 3 alone is astounding—and with just cause. The latest addition to the PS family will be sporting Blu-ray technology which will certainly give the Xbox 360 a run for its money, as far as graphics quality is concerned. The PS3 also features The Cell processor, which will help handle the console’s workload, and even offers compatibility between older PS models, including the Playstation Portable.

Check out some of the hi-defination gear on the market now.