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Someone suggested that I should start a personal style blog. And I thought to myself, "Why not?" It could be really fun. Or not. Anyhoo, this is my little hole-in-the-wall of vintage finds, style obsessions and the sort. Let's not take things too seriously around here, shall we?

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Documentary: Jiro Dreams of Sushi
POSTED ON : Saturday, 14 September 2013

"Once you decide on your occupation... You must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success... and it's the key to being regarded honorably." - Jiro Ono

I must say, it's really a torture to watch this documentary... when you're on an empty stomach. I was initially hesitant to sit through this hour-and-a-half long video when my bud first told me about it. But it was impossible to stop once I started. You must watch to get what I mean.

In this documentary, Jiro and his son, Yoshikazu, share about the various intricacies to the otherwise simple-looking delicacy. Behind his humble 10-seat sushi bar (3 Michelin stars) - lies years and years of hard work and discipline, immense passion and dedication as well as a relentless pursuit for perfection. All which happens to be the essence of any skill/profession. I especially like how acclaimed food critic, Masuhiro Yamamoto, relates Jiro's philosophy in serving his sushi to a concerto - there is an ebb and flow to his course menu. I am truly inspired by Jiro's drive and there isn't a more beautiful tribute to an artisan and his culture than this documentary.

I guess when you love what you do and have the kind of obsession like Jiro has towards sushi, it becomes a form of expression. An art in which you constantly strive to elevate your craft. You live, breathe and dream (in this case) your passion. At his age of 87, Jiro is still continuously learning and trying to surpass himself. In comparison, it really puts us (youths today) in shame,don't you think? Well, it's definitely time for me to get my shit together. Who's with me?

Labels: art, Inspiration, Jiro, Passion, Sushi

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Gillman Barracks
POSTED ON : Saturday, 20 April 2013

A few weeks back, I was too bored and decided to dwell into a deep reflection of myself as a person. The conclusion of the reflection? I can be an oddball at times, I'm always late and I have absolutely zero cultural depth. Let's work on the easy one.

I slowly began to develop an appreciation for the arts and the commendable effort behind every piece of work. I started opening my eyes to local budding artists, exposing myself to another side of Singapore I haven't come to know about (shame on me) - its vibrant arts and cultural scene.

Talking in generalities doesn't really help here. So lets's talk about Gillman Barracks, shall we?

A former military site (how apt now that I'm in the army) preserved and transformed into a contemporary art cluster, Gillman Barracks is the answer to Singapore's bid to make art a bigger part of people's lives. It houses 17 commercial galleries (each with its own unique and distinct styles) and a Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA). And to make things even sweeter, it's free of charge.

Set amidst lush greenery, I thought it would be a cool place for an outfit shoot. So here goes:

I had a chance to speak with one of the curators at the Rodel Tapaya Exhibition. She filled me in on the many exciting events that Gillman Barracks has in plans. Despite that, she admitted the place is a ghost town.

"Not many people have actually come to know about Gillman Barracks. It can get pretty quiet around here on a daily basis. We are beefing up on our marketing efforts right now but it's all a step at a time"

We often claim that the arts scene in Singapore is lacking and inadequate. Probably due to its insane censorship regulations - Singapore is not exactly the most open society around. I totally get that, especially after the recent incident with the Sticker Lady (oh by the way, your stickers and artwork were really awesome) and disruptive art as a whole. But I feel sometimes we may either be too overly critical or just plain indifferent towards the local arts scene.

I strongly believe that support should always come from home. If we don't even have that, how do we expect our local artists/art communities to have any form of improvement, and needless to say, gain any international recognition?

So it's the weekends now. You have yet to plan anything. I say make a trip down to Gillman Barracks. Pictures really don't do justice to the amazing display of artworks and its entire aesthetic allure. Like many of the best experiences, you just have to be there.