RCGNTN: make local your focal

Local sneaker customizer SBTG has earned recognition the world over for his over-the-top and off-the-hook customs, and after seven years, he is going back to basics. Kicking off 2010 is a new permanent range that brings the notch down from ‘loud’ to ‘low-key’ with the maiden release based around the classic white Air Force 1. Spurred by requests for custom designs that were low-key enough for everyday wear but classic enough to wear with a suit, the result is SBTG BASICS.

Keeping to the theme ‘Militarism’ as well as the label’s signature military style, the debut collection features a choice of different signature SBTG camouflage prints on the swoosh: Tiger-stripe ‘Saigon’, German ‘Flectarn’, tribal ‘Rival’, game-hunting ‘Hunter’, and desert ‘Choc’ on a white, silver, gold or red base, all with a pristine white tongue. Each of the 20 different variations includes a discreet SBTG logo on the outer side of the toe and comes with a set of gold lace buckles.

With the minimal look comes a more affordable price. The sneakers are priced at $289 for white bases and $329 for color bases and are available now at the Royalefam online store.

Local hardcore band Vermillion will be releasing their EP as promised, with possibly one of the hardest titles to remember- “8376455466“. The 7-track EP contains new compositions such as “Vermonster”, “Vermillion”, “Destroyer Destroyer”, “Choke”, “Point of No Return” as well as “Jessica Alba”.

And of course, what’s an EP launch without friends! April Morning Skies (Philippines) as well as The Padangs (Malaysia) will be playing alongside the band, promising an awesome night.

The EP launch will be a two day event from the 16th to 17th Jan 2010 at *SCAPELAB and Number One Cafe.

For one week only starting Thursday 7th January 2010 at Stamford House #01-13, fashion labels Reckless Ericka and ELOHIM by Sabrina Goh will be presenting “UNCOVERED”, a collaborative pop-up store which is a follow-up of the “Blueprint Fashion Show” at the Audi Fashion Festival 2009 in May, where both labels shared the same stage.

The pop-up store will be retailing their Spring/ Summer 2010 collections of both Reckless Ericka and ELOHIM by Sabrina Goh, “ESCAPISM” and “BOD MOD” respectively as well as past collections.

RECKLESS ERICKA
Spring/Summer 2010
“ESCAPISM”

Detached from the real world, the 2nd collection “ESCAPISM” captures the notion of an individual crossing into an ethereal state where time stands still. Moving as a flow of one’s journey through the surreal sub-consciousness, the collection exposes the intricacy of the human mind – from innocence to the curious discovery of the wilder and elaborate side, veering into the darker and sinister side of the human psyche, and then finally succumbing to ashen ambivalence.

ESCAPISM is a mind trip of distorted silhouettes as generous drapes mould the body of the wearer. Using the luxuriously soft and eco-friendly Modal fabric and Bamboo jerseys to create structural, as well as, inorganic drapery, it effectively harmonizes the form of the expressive human body.

The collection catches you in the repetitive cycle of your innermost subliminal state, where it evokes a numbing cacophony of visions and senses.
Evade from reality and indulge in the figment of your imagination.

ELOHIM by Sabrina Goh
Spring/Summer 2010
“BOD MOD”

The Spring Summer 2010 ELOHIM collection is inspired by body modification – the act of adding to, cutting and customizing the body, to extend the concept of self.
People who modify their bodies seek to recreate themselves. The body is a glove for the mind; to be studded is to be safe from harm. To lace up, to zip up, to wear courage, over and above our being.
Taking this idea to its full expression, the collection sees extruding body shapes and extended shoulder lines. The silhouette is sculpted and decorated with frills, simple cuts are oversized and prolonged. Skin, body and hair are emphasized with frontal, declarative fringe details.
The collection is an anatomy of bodily modification, with braids, studs, pads and trains in strange places that have evolved into a larger-than-life skin for a less-than-invincible self. An Edward Scissorhands get-up, an armour too big for the wearer, for the creature hiding behind the garment.
These garments amplify and conceal at the same time, as the wearer adjusts her outward expression to suit a distressed world, as strong as she is vulnerable.

Check out the Facebook event here.

Young’s ‘Love.Soul.Desire‘ album hit the stands couple months back to much delight, so there’s no reason you shouldn’t listen to this new drop from the man. Particularly enjoying the rock element in the track that got me nodding my head to the rhythm, his slick lyrics shine through yet again, making this another brilliant track.

You can check out the track here.

Danger Area(Online Promo)
Young
Mixed & Produced by Naufal Gani

Verse 1

unleash the c forces, detonating in myself
i don’t think this is right,the microphone shed it’s last breath
and i’m at war marching through terrains indescribable
when my feet touch the ground nothing is comparable
this game is pointless… swagger jackers
fuck a hustle when a hustle plays a game he knows nothing about
and i have always showed an eye of praise, but now erase
when i set horizons ablaze
embrace, i left the pace now im lifted of the ground
its a full circle, what goes around comes around

chorus

fireeeeeeee!
burn to the ground
you’re in the danjah area you know whats going down, come on
oh oh you losing your direction
hide hide looking for protection

flickering
my flames flickering in night time when its snowing
and the cold winds are blowing
guarded by the shadows of myself when night is falling

Verse 2

I’m always on the prowl til the light of the day
when the sun goes up, the darkness in me stays
and it plays on repeat looped when i come in
get off the walls, you cant walk in the shoes that im in
i see you melt melt melt like candles waxes,
critically acclaimed but you feeding on my substance
bullet holes on my body murmurs hell no
they be saying my name, middle fingers up your hello
i left the pace now i’m lifted of the ground
its a full circle, what goes around comes around

chorus

fireeeeeeee!
burn burn burn to the ground
you’re in the danjah area you know whats going down, come on
oh oh you losing your direction
hide hide looking for protection

im standing at the edge of the curb when twilight occurs
losing my desire everything is a blur
sparks start to fly from the corner of my eye
should have known that everything you said was a lie

chorus

The Darjeekas are a strange and intriguing species that exist only on Darjeeka Island near Kyushu, Japan and have been situated there for over fifty years now. Though organic much like humans, their most obvious distinction from humans are their clock heads which tell the life span of the Darjeeka by the movement of their clock hands. Communication comes in the form of morse code and blinking lights, their culture is rich, they possess an affinity with animals and they consume electricity as their diet.

So who’s behind the very mysterious Darjeekas? Conceived by equally mysterious K.0627 (aka Willy Pan) who creates imaginary stuff during times when he’s not busy being a branding designer, we applaud his attention to detail, excellent execution and most importantly, a colourful imagination- which we all need to have plenty of today.

From 12th Jan to 5th Feb 2010, the Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore (ICAS) will be paying homage to all things Melayu with Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu; the surreal, the contemporeal, the cosmoreal. The event-based exhibition will not only feature nine ‘progressive’ contemporary Malay artists of various disciplines selected by curator, Zaki Razak, but will also include free public programs for everyone to get involved.

The predecessor, Berita Harian 2003 was a seminal exhibition curated by Khairuddin Hori which is deemed at present as a ‘point of departure’ for contemporary Malay art – an avant-garde representation of Malay artists who dealt with issues of identity, the intersection of communities and ethnographical stereotypes. Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu is also an attempt to initiate a legacy of artistic platforms reflective to the study of ‘Malayness’, and on top of that aims to explore alternative means of artistic productions, convey enquiries in regards to anthropology of ‘Melayu’ and project issues that are deemed as taboos by the ‘Malay’ society.

Artworks featured in the exhibition include:
Durational Performance by Agitatsiya
Series of Paintings by ClogTwo.
Identity and Catalogue of exhibition by Djohan Djohari
Performance at Abdul Gafoor Mosque by Gene Sha Rudyn
Digital Print by Khairuddin Hori
Time-based Installation by Noor Effendy Ibrahim in collaboration with Ranger Mills
Floor Installation by Ryf
‘Performance Workshop’ by Siti Salihah Omar
Mural by SlacSatu

Free Public Programs

12 JAN, Tuesday
7.30 – 9.30pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

Symposium
Malay Newspapers: Shifting Functions and Representations

The symposium that will grace the exhibition involves the meeting of minds between artists and academics – a sharing session touching on the function of Malay newspapers in pre-independence and contemporary Singapore.

Moderator
Adeline Kueh (Senior lecturer of LASALLE College of the Arts)

Speakers
Zaki Razak (Co-curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu)

Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied (Co-curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu, Assistant Professor at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)

Dr Maznah Mohamad (Visiting Fellow at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)

Gene Sha Rudyn (Participating Artist; Theatre practitioner)

Khairuddin Hori (Participating Artist; Curator of Berita Harian, 2003)

16 JAN, Saturday &
23 JAN, Saturday
2 – 4pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

‘Performance Workshop’ by Siti Salihah Omar, A to Z of Malay

Siti Salihah’s performative workshop invites the audience to witness a pedagogical exchange that involves discussions and participatory exercises with invited primary/secondary school/tertiary students on the A to Z of Malays.

22 JAN, Friday
7 – 10pm
F201 Lecture Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts

Screening (Documentary)

In conjunction with Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu, the documentaries, Orang Asli, Tanah Asli (Land of Indigenous Rights) by Arul Prakkash and 10 tahun sebelum merdeka (10 years before independence) by Malaysian artist, Fahmi Reza will be screened to instill an awareness on the anthropology and history of Malays. A sharing session will also be facilitated after the screening of both documentaries.

28 JAN, Thursday
8 – 11pm
Masjid Abd Gafoor, 41 Dunlop Street

Al-Ikhlas (A monologue in 7 acts re-introducing God)

*Entry: By Registration Only (at entrance or by e-mail to keelat@gmail.com)

A common man – not a scholar nor an expert – born, raised and living in a cosmopolitan society, takes us through his eventful past and, with his limited secular education and spiritual knowledge, raises questions about God and seeks answers.

30 JAN, Saturday
2 – 6pm
Dance Studio, LASALLE College of the Arts

A performative workshop by Gene Sha Rudyn: The Theatre of Daily-Life

*Limited to 20 participants (e-mail to keelat@gmail.com)

Everyone lives through life, but not everything about life is theatrical and not everyone can present it as a theatrical performance. Day-to-day experiences can be presented in Theatre by identifying what is theatrical about them and understanding how to present it as a theatrical performance. This workshop is open to anyone who has a life and desires to present it as a performance.

3 FEB, Wednesday
7.30 – 9.30pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

A talk by the curators, Syed Mohd Khairudin Aljunied & Zaki Razak, What the F are you guys about?

The aim of the session is to reflect on the role of art in contemporary life. Why do we make art? How can art be a channel to reform society? Should art be a form of indulgence or should it be used for the betterment of society? Art, for Who’s sake? At the expense of whom?

5 FEB, Friday
7pm till late
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

Closing Reception

Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu closes with modest refreshments – possibly ‘teh tarek’ and banana fritters, a closing act by Noor Effendy Ibrahim’s Study in reading #36, the launch of the exhibition’s catalogue and a publication by Gene Sha Rudyn.

Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu is part of the ICAS programme of exhibitions showcasing contemporary art practice. This exhibition is supported by National Arts Council, Lee Foundation, National University of Singapore, Abd. Gafoor Mosque and Villains.

Free Public Programs

12 JAN, Tuesday
7.30 – 9.30pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

Symposium
Malay Newspapers: Shifting Functions and Representations

The symposium that will grace the exhibition involves the meeting of minds between artists and academics – a sharing session touching on the function of Malay newspapers in pre-independence and contemporary Singapore.

Moderator
Adeline Kueh (Senior lecturer of LASALLE College of the Arts)

Speakers
Zaki Razak (Co-curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu)

Dr Syed Muhd Khairudin Aljunied (Co-curator of Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu, Assistant Professor at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)

Dr Maznah Mohamad (Visiting Fellow at Department of Malay Studies, NUS)

Gene Sha Rudyn (Participating Artist; Theatre practitioner)

Khairuddin Hori (Participating Artist; Curator of Berita Harian, 2003)

16 JAN, Saturday &
23 JAN, Saturday
2 – 4pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

‘Performance Workshop’ by Siti Salihah Omar, A to Z of Malay

Siti Salihah’s performative workshop invites the audience to witness a pedagogical exchange that involves discussions and participatory exercises with invited primary/secondary school/tertiary students on the A to Z of Malays.

22 JAN, Friday
7 – 10pm
F201 Lecture Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts

Screening (Documentary)

In conjunction with Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu, the documentaries, Orang Asli, Tanah Asli (Land of Indigenous Rights) by Arul Prakkash and 10 tahun sebelum merdeka (10 years before independence) by Malaysian artist, Fahmi Reza will be screened to instill an awareness on the anthropology and history of Malays. A sharing session will also be facilitated after the screening of both documentaries.

28 JAN, Thursday
8 – 11pm
Masjid Abd Gafoor, 41 Dunlop Street

Al-Ikhlas (A monologue in 7 acts re-introducing God)

*Entry: By Registration Only (at entrance or by e-mail to keelat@gmail.com)

A common man – not a scholar nor an expert – born, raised and living in a cosmopolitan society, takes us through his eventful past and, with his limited secular education and spiritual knowledge, raises questions about God and seeks answers.

30 JAN, Saturday
2 – 6pm
Dance Studio, LASALLE College of the Arts

A performative workshop by Gene Sha Rudyn: The Theatre of Daily-Life

*Limited to 20 participants (e-mail to keelat@gmail.com)

Everyone lives through life, but not everything about life is theatrical and not everyone can present it as a theatrical performance. Day-to-day experiences can be presented in Theatre by identifying what is theatrical about them and understanding how to present it as a theatrical performance. This workshop is open to anyone who has a life and desires to present it as a performance.

3 FEB, Wednesday
7.30 – 9.30pm
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

A talk by the curators, Syed Mohd Khairudin Aljunied & Zaki Razak, What the F are you guys about?

The aim of the session is to reflect on the role of art in contemporary life. Why do we make art? How can art be a channel to reform society? Should art be a form of indulgence or should it be used for the betterment of society? Art, for Who’s sake? At the expense of whom?

5 FEB, Friday
7pm till late
ICA Gallery 2, LASALLE College of the Arts

Closing Reception

Berita Harian 2 – Utusan Melayu closes with modest refreshments – possibly ‘teh tarek’ and banana fritters, a closing act by Noor Effendy Ibrahim’s Study in reading #36, the launch of the exhibition’s catalogue and a publication by Gene Sha Rudyn.

HOLLACHIAM! (holla + amaciam) is a compilation of skate videos featuring local skaters Qi An and the boys of WBW (We Bleed Wood). We’re not experts on skates but we do know a good video when we see one, further proving the point that talent does not exclude our shores. Edited by Qi An, enjoy the clip like how we did!

click image to enlarge

December sees Headline’s dive into checked panels in the form of the ‘Misha’ cut-and-sew shirt as well as a cotton pocket tee. Similar to past collections, the Misha long sleeve shirt displays alternating checked panels reflective of the label’s many influences and is available in three colourways (black, red and blue). The cotton tee on the other hand comes in black and white as well as a simple check panel emblazoned across the chest, with a little pocket to give it a nice finishing touch.

Headline is located at 61 Haji Lane Level 2

Three Feet Apart (2003) by Objectifs tells an enduring love story about two people who have to stay three feet apart from each other. The film won the Best Asia Short Animation Award at the Bangkok International Film Festival in 2004 and has been screened in several film festivals worldwide.