How do you meet your makers?

We started out meeting local designers and artisans we personally liked. It was a lot of legwork, but it was fun to travel to different cities and meet good folks like Pow in Bangkok and Daisuke in Tokyo. From then on, it was a game of referring and networking.

What helps you decide on the makers to approach?

People go to Haystakt to find cool products with a story, so we look for uniquely handcrafted items made in small-batch or limited edition productions with interesting concepts. We also look for people who have promising ideas or unique backgrounds because we’re as interested in the people as we are in their products.

Where can we find the makers and shakers in Singapore?

Most of them are buried in their craft, so you’ll find them in their studios or workshops within the industrial estates of Ayer Rajah, Bedok or Kallang.

Why did the idea of a brick and mortar store not appeal to you?

Our goal is to offer the most comprehensive selection of global maker products in terms of both range and depth, more so that you could ever offer in a physical space. For us, it was also about finding the right format to articulate makers’ stories and to allow them to cross geographical boundaries and connect with people all over the world.

How would you define a successful e-commerce business?

In a saturated market, it’s about delivering commerce with value. To do that, we constantly ask ourselves questions like “do you solve both sides of the equation?” and “what will the market be like 10 years from now?”.

Where would you go if you could work remotely from anywhere in the world?

Right now it would be Singapore— both the design and startup communities are booming and there’s a new generation of makers waiting to be discovered. More importantly, there’s family, great parks, libraries and free WiFi.

2. Alicia Pan

Owner of Yoga Movement

 

 

“I like Juggernaut Fight Club (50B Boat Quay, (50B Boat Quay, 6535-2501) because as a fight gym, they don’t go light on women. We get equal treatment as the men. Is it weird that I like that?”

 

3. Arvind Lalwani (middle)

Head boxing coach at Juggernaut Fight Club

 

 

“Wrestling is a good core sport—physically demanding, but fun. The lessons conducted by the Wrestling Federation of Singapore are a good way to start and are taught by experienced national wrestlers.”

 

4. Jimmy Taenaka

Founder of Wrestling Federation of Singapore

 

 

"I like True Fitness (Great World City) because the space is clean and never overcrowded.Their outlets are all also very accessible."

 

Navigate the chain reaction: Dining / Fitness / Home & Design / Men's Fashion / Women's Fashion

What purpose do you think art serves today?
It's different for every artist, so I can only speak for myself here. I investigate how individuals and communities imagine the future, and to see if there are certain applications to this research where I can show different methods in which we can redefine our lives beyond what is told to us that will make us “happy”.   

Tell us more about your travels and how they inspire or conspire your works.
I don't see myself as a tourist and I think that is a very important position to take when I enter a certain urban situation. The point is not to want to consume everything around me, but to form certain specific relationships to people and things. For example, I'm spending a lot of time in Hong Kong and Rotterdam this year, but I don't feel the desire to assimilate anything. I spend a lot of time working in Witte de Witte Contemporary Art and Spring Workshop, where I am running a big project called Moderation(s). I meet artists and curators, we do workshops, I read a lot.

What inspires you these days here?
Random Access Memories, the latest album from Daft Punk. The third track “Giogio by Moroder” is awesome.

What can people expect from the exhibition?
You will encounter three recent works that I have produced, each revealing aspects of my use of photography. The exhibition explores the multivalent role of the camera in my practice. The main piece in the show is “A Short Story About Singapore (Volume 1)”. It is one of many works that utilizes photography to construct large-scale archives. Abandoning high-end cameras in favour of the cheap layman’s snapshot camera, I have distanced myself from the role of technician. I use a pocket-sized camera that may be used without attracting much attention from his subjects and surroundings. This new work sees me returning to photography as a means of constructing narrative.

The Part In The Story Where We Lost Count Of The Days (2) is on through Aug 31 at Future Perfect.

Singaporeans are a quirky bunch. I find the act of “chope-ing” tables with packets of tissue quite ridiculous. I once took a tissue packet and started wiping the tables with it. I thought it was from the hawker stall but ended being scolded for not being a Singaporean.

Another is queuing up for almost everything—the longer the queue, the better the perceived value of the item that they are queuing up for.

Though I must confess I’m guilty of it too. I once stood in line hoping to get a Hello Kitty for my daughter. Not my fault: I thought it must be good if everyone is queuing, right?

I started off as a “professional beggar” with the Community Chest and it is something that I continue to do. Then I moved to an exhibition and design company and was asked to construct props for art companies like the Singapore Lyric Opera and Singapore Repertory Theatre.

Then strangely in 1994, I was posted to Pacific Theatricals, a local theater company and became the associate producer for Bugis Street: The Musical, without any inclinations of how musicals worked!

In hindsight, it was a success to a large degree as we were all part of the drive to push Singapore’s musicals abroad. But financing was almost non-existent and we ended up losing lots of money.

I wanted to be a priest at a very young age. That is, until I met my wife.

My most amazing art experience was also my first, which has left quite an indelible mark. It was the play Metamorphosis that I watched at the University of Adelaide in 1986, based on Berkoff's adaptation of Kafka's novel.

It was simply stunning watching a monologue for the first time and seeing how theater transforms and explores the inner thoughts that often lay dominant within one’s sub-conscious.

I’m rather philosophical about life and see it as a continuum. It starts at the same point and ends at the same point. The in-between are experiences to share, memories to remember and legacies to leave behind. Nothing else matters.

Strangely enough, I collect perfume bottles. I like scent. I admire the bottles for their fancy shapes and designs.

There is an association called the International Perfume Bottle Association made up of a large group of like-minded collectors who are passionate about this subject. Not sure who in Singapore might be keen to form a chapter here?

Being part of a non-profit arts group, there is no recession, because you’re always in recession. There’s no retrenchment because you’re always trying to recruit someone. And there’s no retirement, as there’s always somebody to help and you can go on and on for a long time. Anyone wants to join us?

The play is about a character haunting the Paris Opera House. Have you experienced any hauntings yourself?
I’ve had a few ghostly experiences in my time. One would be while I was doing a production at the George M. Cohan theater in New York. I was sitting in the centre set piece and felt this extremely cold wind hit me. It was late at night and my friend and I were just talking on the set. One of the poles from which were holding a string of light just fell and crushed the set piece.

What is your personal interpretation of the Phantom?
This is a man who has lived in the bowels of the opera house his whole life. He doesn’t really know society. He doesn’t go outside. His education of what people do and how they live is through opera. It’s overly dramatic. It’s what he thinks people do for love. This dark side of him probably comes from being shunned but also from how he’s been educated in his life. He’s not mentally educated like how we have been in society. He’s a different animal.

Do you relate to the character then?
I understand where he comes from. I understand why he does the things he does. When you put things into perspective, I can absolutely see how a human being who has been put into that sort of situation can come out as dark as the Phantom. What’s great is the manipulation of musical theater which actually enables audiences to empathize with the character.

But are there any personal parallels between yourself and Phantom?
It’s because I’m dyslexic and I know what it was like to be called stupid and all these things from other people so I can relate to the character. I’ve had so many letters of things that people let out—as far as their own skeletons in the closet—that they’re finally able to release because of this show.

What about your love life—any parallels there?
I don’t know how many Christines I’ve had in my lifetime, actually! That said, I don’t know if that makes the Phantom a playboy!

The Phantom of the Opera is on through Sep 1, 8pm at The MasterCard Theatre, Tickets at $55-230 from Sistic.

Dance music is... always exciting.  

The last track that blew my mind was... Lonely Boy’s “Shut Your Mouth”.

I’d like to collaborate with... Stevie Wonder. Wow, that would be amazing.

If I had a million bucks I would... buy myself the ultimate studio.

My guilty pleasure is... Coca Cola and cigarettes.

God is a DJ because.... I'm not sure he is a DJ, actually.

Tanjong Beach Club Presents Mario Basanov is on Aug 17, 4pm-midnight at Tanjong Beach Club.

How different is the menu at the Japanese outlets versus the one here?
Masahiko Teshima: In terms of taste, the ramen is almost the same. But the big difference is that in Fukuoka and Tokyo, we sell other products, and people come to the restaurants to eat yakitori and drink. Then, they end dinner with ramen.

What was the inspiration for The Sail Spin?
Alexander Linnerth: The main inspiration for The Sail Spin comes from our friends in Singapore. They all wanted to experience the fun and freedom of sailing we raved so much about in Europe, but the preparation and experience required to organize a sailing trip was usually a deterrent. Additionally, the appeal of meeting new people on shore in the evening and partying with several other sun-and-sea hedonists is not feasible in Asia where marinas and ports are not as developed as in the Mediterranean. So we thought it’s about time we make sailing getaways more accessible to young professionals in South East Asia.

Why did you choose Phuket Thailand as the destination?
Bernhard Schwarz: Phuket is a great first destination for The Sail Spin for many reasons. First, the Andaman Sea around Phuket, with its many stunning islands and secluded bays, offers a lot of variety. You can kayak into hidden caves and explore secret lagoons accessible only at specific hours of the day. We also wander picturesque long stretches of sand hidden from the masses. Another reason which makes Phuket the right choice is the accessibility of its international airport with direct connections to all the main hubs in Asia and around the world. Last but not least Thailand is, today, the only sailing destination in Southeast Asia with a developed enough yachting industry to offering the high standards we require and our customers expect.

Do you plan to expand to other destinations?
BS: Already our classic The Sail Spin Phuket Route is blessed with enough variety of anchorage options that allows us to vary the itinerary throughout the year. For special occasions such as Chinese New Year we will even make the trip one day longer and include Krabi. However, we are looking to create two more routes in Thailand for 2014: one going South to the stunning island of Koh Lipe and one going East to the area around Koh Samui.

Who is your target market?
AL: Our customers are looking to take a break from their busy schedule, share unforgettable experiences with new friends and be part of a unique travel experience.  And they are usually time starved to organize a sailing trip which requires a lot of preparation. Every cruise so far has been a melting pot of nationalities, mainly from Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok, but also from Australia and Europe. It’s an international well-travelled crowd between the ages of 25-40.

What did you do before you started Sail Spin?
BS: I was working in the telecommunication industry but already after a couple of months I realized that I wanted something else than the corporate life. I was part of the team behind a music festival in Austria called Palaverama which gathered 3,500 people per day. For six years I took care of artist line-up and bookings and this gave me insights into the event business and made me realize it was my passion.

AL: During my studies, I worked for a beach getaway event company for graduates in Austria and this gave me first-hand experience in the industry. We would take thousands of students to beach destinations in the Mediterranean coast for a week to celebrate their entry into the labor force. I enjoyed the organization as well as the interaction with guests. Aside from that, I have always taken care of organizing private parties and events for me and my friends and I always dreamed about making this my day job.

What advice do you have for young people looking to start event planning service?
Mar Pages: Before you start your own event business, clearly define your target group. Take your time to define a proper vision and where you would like to see your business in a couple of years. Then, make sure you have enough funding. Equally important: get a winning team together. The diversity and strengths of the team will be the most important element during the many ups and downs you will experience in the starting phase. Make sure you get along, you complement each other and share a common goal.

What are the biggest mistakes people make when planning parties or vacations?
MP: Forgetting to enjoy them! We get disappointed when we see people constantly on their smartphones and constantly taking pictures of everything instead of living and enjoying the moment. Thankfully, we usually succeed in “curing” people’s social media addictions and, after a couple of hours out at sea, they disconnect and start updating their happiness state rather than their status. And to ensure that all moments are captured without the need for a camera or smartphone, we have professional photographers on board.

How did you come up with the itinerary?
BS: Before our first The Sail Spin test cruise last July Alex and I based ourselves for more than one month on Phuket to explore all the surrounding islands with a small dinghy. I think there is almost no beach or cave we haven’t been to. And this is important for us because we want to take our guest to the best spots and not just to the most popular ones. However, our experienced skippers always surprise us with new unforgettable locations to add to the list.

What are some examples of the drinks and food available on board the yachts?
AL: Every yacht will be waiting for our guests fully provisioned with fresh and assorted groceries: non-alcoholic beverages like fruit juices (orange, apple, multivitamin, cranberry) and soft drinks (Tonic, Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Redbull), cleaning supplies, as well as vegetables and fresh fruits (watermelons, papayas, mangoes, apples, bananas), meat and pasta for lunch, bread and other breakfast items (cereals, peanut butter, chocolate bars, jams, buns, coffee, milk) and fresh baked goods delivered every morning. We also take care of the liquor shopping for our guests and let them choose from a wide selection of international spirits. Fresh ice is delivered every day.

Yacht vacations in Phuket are available at The Sail Spin.

Unchalee Anantawat

31, owner of Speedy Grandma Art Gallery

Crazy People Are Crazy

What inspired your piece?
The diversity of the people here.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to walk down streets and sois that I’ve never been to. I’ll look at buildings and figure out shortcuts to different sois. I look for inspiration in new places and I think .
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love Bangkok because the laws are flexible—but I also hate that, too. People here are relaxed and not so serious, so living here enables you to be carefree. But, really, the flexibility of the law is also what’s holding our country back.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It doesn’t affect me that much, but it allows me to freely produce work in a fitting environment. If I want to be some place surrounded by people I just have to head into town, or if I want to be somewhere quiet and secluded I can head to the suburbs.

Anmom

26, freelance illustrator

Hiding Away

What inspired your piece?
My inspiration comes from Khaosan Road. I wanted to play with the idea that there’s more to it than meets the eye. With Khaosan, people usually think of the bars, dirty shows and foreigners. But there are many hidden gems to be found: culture, good food and, yes, great tattoo parlors.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I don’t have a spot I go to, but if I feel stuck, I’ll stay home and sleep. My work relies on silence and lots of time with myself just thinking.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love that we have so many types of communities here, the people are diverse and there’s lots of culture. It’s a chaotic yet beautiful city, where taxis won’t take passengers and people are always rushing to go places. But there are also places that are quiet and serene, like the suburbs. I hate places that are crowded and where people are always in a rush like the BTS and Siam.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It helps me get in contact with more customers and because I live in the suburbs and live somewhere quiet, in a way it helps me produce work more easily.

P7

Artist

Horizon BK P7

What inspired your piece?
I used lots of colors to represent the people here. I was born in Bangkok, so I wanted to use these colors to represent our lives in Bangkok from past to present. Different colors represent all the characters Bangkok has to offer, plus to me Bangkok is like a splash of color to Asia itself.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
It all starts in my head. I can work anywhere and I don’t have places I go to look for inspiration. Everything comes from the inside.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the random things, like the fact that there are places for us to go skateboarding, ride bicycles or go see a Thai boxing match at the ring. I’m also a fan of dessert stores—yep, I love cakes. I don’t really hate anything in particular about Bangkok, but if I had to name something, it would be all the protest mobs that cause trouble to so many people.
How does living here affect your work?
There’s no effect, really, because for me making a work of art comes naturally. I can work anywhere and still produce the same thing. What allows me to produce my work is my inner thoughts and ideas, not the environment. Art can be made anywhere.

Anuwat Khaomanit

27, graphic designer 

Untitled

What inspired your piece?
The picture depicts the people of Bangkok in different situations as we see them on the streets and any random thing they might do as part of their routine.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I do like to think about my work in front of the computer or at my workplace, but if I’m really stuck, I go to parks or places with lots of green space where it’s quiet.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the people here because it’s so diverse; we have so many types of people and from so many countries. I hate the traffic here; it’s so bad you can never get used to it.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
Living here makes it easier for me to produce my work because all the resources I need are here. I can’t imagine having to work from the suburbs; it would be too much for me.

Tripuck Supawattana

28, illustrator for Let’s Comic

กรุงเทพเมืองหลากหลาย (Krung-Thep-Muang-Lhak-Lhai)

What inspired your piece?
Our urban lifestyle, which is chaotic, confusing and full of social inequalities. It sounds negative but it’s also a charm of Bangkok. We see all sorts of mindboggling things here: high-rise buildings next to shophouses, the rich in the same places as the poor. Bangkok is unique, one of the few places that has everything.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to go to places with lots of people like Chinatown, Sanam Luang and Siam. You find everyone from the rich, the poor, the workers and the homeless. The juxtaposition of random subjects is amazing.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
It’s a love-hate relationship; I love this city for its diversity but also hate it. Just like most things, diversity has a positive effect on you but sometimes it’s just too much. Often times I feel like being in a place that is quiet where people live their lives in simplicity rather than racing at such a fast pace.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
Sometimes it’s in an indirect way, like the shitty transportation and traffic, which in turn affect your mood to work. But then again, we’re a capital city and everything you need to feel inspired is here. Where I am plays an important part in my work. If I were somewhere else without much going on, my work would reflect that.

Pomm Jitpratuk,

33, founder of Be Our Friend design studio

Because You Are Here

What inspired your piece?
I want to show the idea that we love Bangkok because our families and friends are here, and that without our loved ones it would be meaningless.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I don’t have a place I go to get inspired, when it happens it just does, no matter where I am. You just have to keep an open mind, learn to observe and, who knows, things might ignite.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love HM the King, that’s the only thing I love about Thailand, because without him and his sacrifices, we’d all be doomed. What I hate most are the bad living conditions. We’ve got the resources, we just don’t use them efficiently. I don’t mind the traffic or the heat, but years have passed and lots of things haven’t improved one bit. It feels like we’re always being pushed around. Choices are limited and there isn’t much of a cultural center.
How much does living here affect your work?
It gives me so many different angles to choose from due to the diversity of people here. A city is bound to affect who you are, which in turn affects how I portray people through my work.

Oat Monthien

24, freelance illustrator and writer

The Road

What inspired your piece?
The piece is titled “The Road” and is inspired by my fascination with the variety of creatures that walk Bangkok’s roads. I vividly remember that every morning when I was going to my high school in Ladprao, I would notice something new and interesting. From a lost farang or a crazy taxi driver to the tranquil monks, each had their own unique story yet blended together as cohesive, buzzing traffic, all sharing the same road. This sums up the amazingness of Bangkok for me.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired or motivated?
My local talad-nut (weekly market) or just staring at the traffic jam at night from a crossover bridge.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the surreal vibe. It’s one of the very few cities in the world where you feel anything is possible. I also love the fascinating blend of cultures, all in one place! It’s overwhelming at times, but you could live here all your life yet still learn something new every day. What I really hate, though, is that there’s no respect for your peace of mind as you travel on the MRT or BTS. Loud repetitive commercials drive me mad—no, I don’t want to be white, thank you very much!
How does living here influence your art?
I grew up in Don Mueang, so the markets, temple fairs, trains and slums have provided me with endless stories and a lively color palette to illustrate them.

Rukkit Kuanhwate

34, freelance illustrator

HEARTBK

What inspired your piece?
I wanted to focus on animals. We’re a city that is not so green or ecological, so I wanted to play with that idea and focus on nature to give people something that they lack in real life.
What are your favorite spots to get inspired?
The TCDC and libraries in general. I love looking at old books, not necessarily just stuff about graphics and arts.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love Bangkok’s contradictions: lots of things here don’t really go together, like expensive, fancy places located down dark sois. What I hate are the conflicts between people, especially those who speak out violently or disrupt the lives of others. Some people are so narrow-minded; they don’t know how to listen.
How does living here influence your art?
It definitely plays a part in my growth as an artist, in the sense that I get more jobs here. But I have to admit that I’m more inspired working in other provinces that are more liberating in terms of surroundings and ambience. Bangkok is very confined and it does sometimes get difficult to produce something new.
 

Pairoj Teeraprapa

48, typography designer

นารีผล ’๕๖ (Na-ree-pol ‘56)

What inspired your piece?
The idea of using Thai arts to make this country more beautiful. I feel that people are too excited about modernization, especially the newer generations. I want to display Thai arts, as seen in temples, in a more modern medium. Everything will be communicated through the use of Thai fonts newly designed just for this purpose. I feel that people can identify with this.

What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
Anywhere as long as it’s quiet. Anywhere from the woods, a waterfall or even on an airplane, whenever it feels right I’ll start sketching.

What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the fact that Bangkok, being the capital city, gets the best of all Thai arts, which is very inspirational. I feel like there’s always more to learn and observe about Thai arts. I hate Bangkok for the big gap between the rich and the poor—it’s sad that there’s not much empathy for those in need.

How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
It’s harder for your career as an artist to start here since people don’t appreciate Thai arts. Most established Thai artists are famous due to displaying their work abroad or to foreigners. In Bangkok, Thai artists blend together, no one really gets credit for their work and they don’t stand out from the crowd. Here, people don’t pay for individuality and quality in each artwork—they pay for quantity.

Somyot Kumsang 

46, art teacher at Poh Chang Academy of Arts

กรุงเทพ (Krung-Thep)

What inspired your piece?
I was inspired by traditional Thai art. I am Thai and quite conservative, to be honest. I value the beauty of traditional Thai arts such as sculptures seen at temples because it’s our roots. I feel like we might not be able to compete with others on certain things, but when it comes to art we’re up there.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like to go to temples and avoid malls in particular. Temples offer you shelter and cool your heart down, but malls take away your money and only cool down your body.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love museums and temples. I’m pretty traditional in my way of life, so these two places keep me focused. I hate the traffic; we lose precious time to it.
How does living in Bangkok influence your art?
For me, it doesn’t matter where I live, I feel like the place I live in is only partly reflected in my work. In the end, though, my work will always reflect my Thai roots.

Kathy MacLeod

28, freelance illustrator

MBK

What inspired your piece?
I’ve been planning a series of drawings of different places around Bangkok—bustling areas where lots of different narratives and social circles come together. I chose to start with MBK because there’s no place where more wacky characters congregate. And everyone is on their own mission. Also, if you look at all the things that are sold in MBK—all the souvenirs and T-shirts with rude sayings and fake luxury brands—it paints a very unique portrait of Bangkok as seen through a tourist’s eyes. The city to them is represented by a pirated Iron Man DVD and a shirt with an elephant on it.
What’s your favorite spot to get inspired?
I like going to the TCDC to work. I like how quiet it is (no blasting of popsanova music, here), and the big windows bring in the best natural light along with a great view of Bangkok. It feels like everyone around you is working diligently on something creative.
What do you love and hate most about Bangkok?
I love the people. Bangkok pulls a lot of interesting characters into its orbit and I’m lucky to call some of them my best friends. I’m lucky to have found an amazing creative community here, without whom Bangkok would be totally intolerable. As for the people I don’t “love” exactly, like sexpats, I still love that they exist, because it’s what makes this place hilarious and full of good stories. What I dislike most about Bangkok is the endless construction of new malls. I find myself in a mall at least three times a week and I hate myself for it.