Stiffen Phang‘s work caught my eye at Nanyang’s 2010 Design and Media Diploma Show. As a budding designer, Stiffen loves to play with both traditional and digital media. His main artistic root and origin is fine art, hence every work he produces shows an even blend between both fine art and contemporary edge. “I am a fun-loving guy who truly believes in my passion; to yield new experience and to furthermore develop both as an artist and as an individual.”

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(Top) Vivid Creatures by Li Sang Rita. (Bottom) Translating Orientalism by Linda.

LASALLE College of the Arts is the first Asian college to have its graduating students invited to the London Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) since its inception in 1991.

The event which will be held from 6 to 10 June, showcases the works of the very best BA graduate fashion design talents from 50 of the top fashion and textile universities from the UK and Europe. The four representing LASALLE – Li Sang Rita (21), Lidya Chrisfens (25), Linda (20) and Vicole Lang (22) – will present their respective collections at “The International Show” on  7 June.

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Tomorrow sees the opening of Nanyang’s Design and Media Degree Show, showcasing the works created by graduates from the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication and Multimedia courses.

Tiffany Wong is our graduate of the day. She  likes to observe, listen and absorb what is going on in her environment. Thinking and analyzing form the prelude to shaping her perspectives and opinions. “Then the artist in me takes over and frees my creative alter ego to paint a new landscape in my mind,” she adds. “Life for me is like a canvas; my experiences are like different colors, rich and varied with tone and depth. I continue to paint this canvas.”

Do You See What I See? is the title of the featured works. Tiffany in her own words: “Adults in a modern setting in Singapore are subjected to many distractions and activities. They no longer see the ‘joys’ in their lives; their thoughts are distorted by life’s events. Simple things in life are often overlooked. The local environment has impaired their ability to imagine and see beyond the obvious. The concept of a curious, open-minded approach embodies a representation of how we can look at ordinary items and see new things or perceive situations differently. The simple things are the ones that we miss every day.  For me this project inspires me to see new things, create new visions and appreciate potential realities. The works presented are my visual interpretation of imagination beyond perception. The abstract elements of the design stimulate thinking and imagination beyond the boundaries of what is visible.”

The show opens tomorrow at 7pm and runs through 29 May. Venue is the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Gallery 1 & 2, Lim Hak Tai Gallery.

Every year, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts stages a Design and Media Degree Show to showcase creative and energetic works created by graduates from the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication and Multimedia courses. The theme for this year is Be a Good Creative – We may not be perfect, but we will absolutely not let you down. We believe it is what you give to the people, and the world; and we are just trying to be as good as we can be.

I had a sneak peak a couple of days ago to bring you some teasers of what to expect.  The first creative talent for you to feast your eyes on is Peter Ong, with his work titled ‘The Joys of Parenthood’.

“The trend of falling birth rates is quite ubiquitous throughout developed countries and it is no surprise that Singapore has not been spared,” Peter explains. “The objective of this campaign is to help young couples realize the joys and importance to procreate. The concept is based on the opening ceremony of a new life, bringing joys and pleasant surprises to their parents. It is undeniable that pregnancy and raising a child are not easy tasks, but the happiness of a complete family makes it all worthwhile.”

The degree show opens on May 26 (7pm – 9pm) and runs through May 29 at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Gallery 1 & 2, Lim Hak Tai Gallery.

GRAFFITI ASIA is the first book to examine the spread of graffiti in Asia, concentrating mainly on Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as the Philippines, China and Hong Kong.

Interviews provide an insight into the life of the graffiti artist in countries far removed from the graffiti origins in the US. They discuss the most popular graffiti locations, the attitudes of each country towards the idea of graffiti, and the network of established and emerging artists across the region.

The material in the book was collected first hand by the authors, who traveled around Asia photographing pieces, throw-ups, drip tags and more, as well as interviewing the featured artists.

ARTKORE is throwing a book launch party on 27 May (8pm-10pm) at Paper People, 49 Haji Lane. There is going to be live graffiti, a mini exhib, Graff on Girls and Skope X Paper People Blackbooks. So go grab some food and booze, or get high on xylene fumes. Oh, and don’t forget to pick up a copy of the book. It retails at $38. You can also pre-order a copy via info@thekorefoundation.com.

This is our heaven, a heaven we can see.
But we’ve turned our heaven into hell.
Who’s responsible?
We selfish human beings…
I don’t want to offend any party, but if we were to talk candidly, we can clearly see…
The poisons polluting our earth are very strong.
Viruses and illnesses, they’re getting stronger and more concentrated.
Why?
Because we are the devils.
Who is the devil? Are there really devils?
WE are all devils.
God?
WE are also gods.

Vivian Wang and Leslie Low -both of The Observatory- recount childhood memories of mythological fantasy theme park called Haw Par Villa. First called Tiger Balm Garden, the odd but colorful attraction contained a strange mix of characters and familiar tales from Chinese mythology and folklore, mixed in with earthy depictions of modern life and the Chinese concept of hell. The mutual love and dread of the park is told over eight recordings. Voice, guitar, percussion and other traditional instrumentation weave a cloth of surreal bliss, eeriness and horror.

The release will be out on 29 May from Utech Records. Until then, you can sample Four Rivers of Melancholy and Dread Mountain.

Opening tomorrow is Momemtum 2010, Republic Polytechnic’s Dance Festival themed ‘Bold and Beyond. In its third year, Momentum 2010 aims at promoting dance as a form of expression, as well as showcasing the best dance talents to be found in schools and institutions of higher learning in Singapore.

Billed as being youthful, vibrant and daring, the month-long Momentum 2010 resonates the feelings of today’s youth and celebrates the love and appreciation for dance – from the traditional to the contemporary. The exciting program culminates in the Showcase – a kaleidoscope of interesting and eclectic dance pieces guaranteed to invoke diverse feelings in the audience.

The dance showcase will take place on 26 and 27 May at the TRCC Theatre. Click here for the events line-up.

Al Tan is a graphic artist and an illustrator who believes that a good designer should be versatile and creative at the same time.  “I love to explore and experiment various possibilities, challenging myself to be better and more expressive,” he adds. “Attractive visuals catch my attention, but visuals with solid concepts mark my impression.”

Al about the featured work: “For Listen to your Heart, I used two different styles in order to convey the message. The concept of this work is to be true to your passion instead of what you see, you should listen to your heart.”