We’re only a day away to the opening of Art Stage Singapore 2012, and the exhibitors and organizers have been putting the final touches to the blood, sweat and tears that have gone into making this second edition of Art Stage a truly epic affair. We were fortunate to have bright eyes, healthy legs, really comfortable (and definitely stylish) footwear and a couple of smart phones walking the floor and observing the Art Stage set up as it was taking place. The sights we saw made us a trillion times more excited to walk around again on Thursday (and Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday), so we thought we’d share snippets of what we saw with the rest of you. So buy your tickets, and we’ll see you this weekend (And follow our twitter for more exclusive updates of Art Stage Singapore 2012).

Chen Wenling is recognised as one of the top ten contemporary sculptors in China today.

Born in 1969 in Anxi, a small, remote village in Fujian province, China, Chen came from humble beginnings but went on to study at the Xiamen Academy of Art and Design, and then later at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. The two main themes of Chen Wenling’s sculptures are the manifestations of extreme humanity and immaterial images in a consumptive society. Samples of his self extreme condition begins with the series of “Red Boy” (some of the pieces from these series are over 6m long), which an autobiographic work. In terms of artistic language, Chen’s recent artworks are closer to a type of surrealistic legendary language structure, like people are riding on pigs as if they were riding pre-historic mammals. Form experience is always a crucial part in Chen’s sculpture practice, so his recent works are more like an art experiment in artistic language.

The original post by Art Stage Singapore can be found here.

There’s been no question that the island has held some of the world’s best events in recent time in several different fields, and if you went to the first ever Art Stage Singapore last year, I bet you were impressed with the size, stature and the quality of art. Guess what? It’s even bigger and better this year.

Art Stage Singapore is back this weekend at the Marina Bay Sands to showcase Asia’s creativity in a big big way. 120 exhibitors from 18 diverse nations, and 50 special projects have injected a buzz into the January air here in Singapore, and we can’t wait. Works from the galleries of Victoria Miro, White Cube, Galeries Eigen+Art, and even Murakami’s Kaikai Kiki will be on display; and if the internal purveyor of art within you allows you the time and serenity to stroll from gallery to gallery we assure you that you will find pieces from lesser known artists (possibly from around this South-East Asian region) that will amaze you. Projects include the likes of the awesome Gao Brothers’ ‘World Hug Day’, which will require your participation and give you an experience that is unparalleled.

Art Stage Singapore 2012 will be opened to the public on Thursday and runs till the end of the weekend; and we are all ready for it. Get more info here.

It’s the weekend. We don’t care if you’ve had an epic Friday night tearing up the dance floors around town, you are going to wake up with both the need to chill and the want to party, and you will decide to head down to Tanjong Beach Club to satisfy both want and need. It’s the last installment of Full Moon Madness for the year boys and girls – and that means a long ass 14 hour progressional party (which would seem like an eternal amount of time to get inebriated), with good tunes, barbecue (seriously how can anyone pass up barbecue?) and a whole lot of fun. Check the flyer for details – we’ll see you there (be sure to say hi). And we’ll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not.

You know the deal – you love to travel, and the experiential notion means everything to you, so you don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. Social integration is growing increasingly key to a great urban holiday – you want to live the life, and not just see the sights. If you are clueless to what we just mentioned, then you need help – help in the form of hntbat.com. How Not To Be A Tourist preaches tips on exactly how not to be a tourist, which is a brilliant unique angle on a travel guide, assisting you act, live and look like locals in order to sidestep all gnarly irritable locals from across the globe.

The website is currently in its beta phase, but do check back for the likes of Bangkok and Beijing, en route to glocal (yes we meant glocal) domination. Check it out here.

Surrender has recently received these new Visvim Virgil Cap Okie-Folk boots. These new boots feature natural tanned cowhide leather uppers, as well as cork footbeds and a replaceable Vibram outer sole. The boots are available at Surrender now in black, brown and tan.

Surrender is located at Raffles Hotel Arcade, #02-31

If you like to read, chances are you have a whole bunch of favorites published by Penguin books. The owners of BooksActually have kept all their favorite Penguin books from the last ten years; and from this decade-long personal collection, they are organizing Singapore’s first ever Penguin books exhibition. An Ode to Penguin features some 1065 unique Penguin book cover art that spans from its humble beginnings in 1935 to present day where number of these series were unavailable in Singapore before the 1960s. In addition to this, An Ode to Penguin will also offer you the opportunity to view other Penguin memorabilia. Embark on a visual and historical journey of the vision that made the world of literature accessible to the man on the street with BooksActually in An Ode to Penguin.

This exhibition will also see the unveiling of rare Penguin books, with copies from series dating all the way back to Penguin’s humble beginnings in 1935. A number of these series were unavailable in Singapore before the 1960s. Priced editions such as pre-war Penguin Specials (original comissioned works that discuss international affairs of the period), Pelican series (educational, social volumes and compilations), King Penguins (Penguin’s first canon of hardcover editions, complete with exquisite colour-plates), Puffin Picture Books (full-colour, twice the size of a traditional Penguin), Penguin Scores (unabridged musical scores of classic pieces) and, more recently , the priced Designer Classics featuring the hand-embroidered D. H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover designed by Paul Smith (limited to 1,000 copies worldwide.)

$6 | Concession – Students, NSFs & Senior Citizens (above 60 years old)
$9 | Premium – ticket includes privileges from event partners*
*1827, Arts House: The Shop, Beauty Emporium, Birds & Co., Earshot Café, Penguin Books Singapore, Woods in the Books

An Ode to Penguin runs from 8 July – 16 July
Tickets are now available at BooksActually, Birds & Co. and selected venues islandwide (tbc)
Guided tours in English will be provided at scheduled timings
The Arts House is located at 1 Old Parliament Lane

]]> http://www.plussixfive.com/2011/06/02/an-ode-to-penguin/feed/ 0 http://www.plussixfive.com/2010/12/22/oak-street-bootmakers-hunt-boot/ http://www.plussixfive.com/2010/12/22/oak-street-bootmakers-hunt-boot/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:31:31 +0000 Paul Christopher http://www.plussixfive.com/?p=34501

Oak Street Bootmakers Hunt Boot

Paul Christopher / December 22, 2010
Footwear / Womens Fashion

Everyone needs a pair of durable boots. Oak Street Bootmakers have been taking the cultured nation by storm with their handcrafted Horween Chromexcel leather footwear. In this latest release, the brand drops a brand new high cut hunting boot that comes in navy or brown. Get yours here.

]]>

If you’re into hiking, these boots will catch your fancy. If you don’t like hiking, these boots will also catch your fancy. The Serra is back, dressed in premium suede cowhide upper. These don’t just look like hiking boots, they are made like ‘em too. The boot is enhanced with leather welt construction and rugged outsoles, and and spots an EVA Phylon midsole for extra breathability. Available now at Surrender.

Surrender is located at #02-31, Raffles Hotel Arcade

In commemoration of its presence here in Singapore, Salvatore Ferragamo has launched a new Merlion Tie. The iconic Merlion sits alongside the Vanda Miss Joachim, another national icon, and the Traveler’s Palm, on a silk tie that the Italian luxury label is very much known for. There are only 400 pieces available in two colors of red or navy, and is exclusive to Singapore. Available now at all Salvatore Ferragamo boutiques across the nation.

Vans Vault Fall ‘10 collection is set to be launched in Singapore on December 3rd at a preview party that will be held at Limited Edt Vault. The collection includes collaboration pieces with English saddle makers Brooks England, Pendleton and Japanese artist Taka Hayashi. The store has brought in a set each of the extremely limited Vans Vault X Brooks England Saddle as well as the Vans Vault X Filson Rucksack, so purchase any pair of Vans on the day and be eligible to bid for those. The Vans Vault Spring/Summer ‘11 range will also be on preview, as well as Vans Vault sneakers from the past. DJ Koflow on the decks makes sure it’s a party for footwear fanatics to be at on a Friday night. So see you Friday, 3rd December, at 7pm.

Limited Edt Vault is located at  #04-13 , 313@Somerset

Sifr’s ankle boot is back in two new colorways. The ankle boot made its debut earlier in the year as a part of the initial Sifr Artisan Footwear collection, but has returned in good classic shades of brown and black. The shoes are handmade by craftsmen in Java, Indonesia, and are available in a short production run. Get your hands on a pair now at KIN.

KIN is located at 51 Haji Lane

Images: Streething

Yeah, you read it right, stop rubbing your eyes. After the eternal torture of speculation going back and forth about whether fast fashion house H&M was going to open on our shores or not, the official word is out – H&M is finally coming to Singapore. This will be H&M’s premier store in the South-East Asia region, and it will be located in Orchard Building, with a projected sales area of approximately 3,000 square metres. The store is planned to open during the fall ‘ 2011. Let the countdown begin. Check out the official word from the company here.

JvdF has expanded its Tie wrap bracelet to include Tartan and Suit print collections. The Tartan collection features vintage silk with contrast stitching, lizard skin tab and gold vermeil rings, whilst the Suit collection features vintage pinstripe wool and cashmere with silver rings. All Jvdf tie wraps are hand made. Available now at Surrender.

Surrender is located at #02-31, Raffles Hotel Arcade