New writings for STICKY INSTITUTE  281009
http://www.stickyinstitute.com/
FROM OUR SINGAPORE CORRESPONDENT with Donna Lipowitz
Hello all fellow Zine enthusiasts. I'm originally a Brisbane girl
but I've been living here in sweaty Singapore for 6 months with
my boyfriend. Thanks to an old mate on the other side of the
world (aka Chica Mandita) I've been re-introduced into the
wonderful world of Zines.
This month: No Zines here – what is a Zine?, and 'what is this
crazy *Ang Moh on about?'
[*Ang Moh : red hair white skin];
Graffiti in Singapore...yes... it exists..., just;
&
Made IN China – The joy of old school Traditional Chinese paper
toys & Stationary Addicts wet dream.
Day 1: Graffiti, clothing, craft and carpets : HAJI LANE
I started my search for subversive culture in Arab Street
District close to the city centre. Behind the bustling fabric
shophouses of Arab Street, is 'Haji Lane'. I was first drawn to
it because it was the only graffiti I'd seen in Singapore.
On the surface Haji Lane would be most known to tourists as the
'place to go' to hang out sitting on carpets in the street
smoking nigeelas (Egyptian Tobacco Pipes). Haji Lane has a
history of once being the notorious Opium Den district. Nowadays
the old 2 story shophouses are home to clothing and knick knack
boutiques owned and operated by young Singaporeans...It's one of
the few places in Singapore where you can buy clothing and
accessories and chat to the designer in person.
I met one of the shop owners, Max, who he gave me an insight into
the frustration and difficulty facing Singaporean Graffiti
artists. You have to give them credit for endurance and bravery.
There is not one place in Singapore (perhaps besides Haji Lane)
where it is legal or even slightly tolerated to spray Graffiti...
If you are brave enough to risk spraying in Singapore you better
be prepared for harsh penalties in this 'no crime tolerance'
society.
In a few rare instances graffiti art may be commissioned but
there are strict guidelines on content which are more
conservative than you can imagine; and it has to be whitewashed
over after just a few hours, so the only evidence it existed is
recorded on camera.
Day 2: Chinatown, Stationary heaven, and a cool bookshop in Ann
Siang Hill
Plan: to track down a couple of bookshops after a tip-off that
there are a couple of alternative book shops around Ann Siang
Road (a small walk from Chinatown)....decision to go via
Chinatown *MRT ...and I'll just have a quick gander at the
infamous 'People's Park Complex' (an old shopping complex
escalator free with one entire floor dedicated to fabric
haberdashery and sewing shops)
[*MRT: (Mass Rapid Transit) Singapore trains]
... A heavenly but deadly distraction... Amongst the tactile
merriment I stumbled across the most wonderful, stationary shop
ever...it was one of those little 'gasp oohh , oh my god I've
found a gem' moments. Any stationary enthusiast's wet dream !
They actually had some notebooks in foolscap size.. and others in
a5ish size..you know, the ones with the hard cardboard patterned
coloured covers. There were also some great traditional Chinese
cardboard perforated folding craft activity books to make 3D
models...awesomeness.
I passed through Chinatown's tourist trap and finally arrived at
the bookshop "Asylum" www.theasylum.com.sg 22 Ann Siang Rd
Singapore. I dabbed the sweat off my face and bumbled my way into
the airconditioned abyss like some kind of urban mountaineer with
a flag in hand ready to mark my ground...or in my case a handful
of Zines.
I introduced myself with unwarranted self importance and began an
endless ramble about Zines and how great Sticky Shop is and 'do
you have Zines? Have you seen a zine? Here's some zines..and
other such creative matters.
Leila (who is also the Merchandiser/Curator) said she'd have a
chat to the owner about Zines and stuff, and showed me a cool
bookmark the shop had made independently which is made out of
super thin wood in the shape of a pair of reading glasses. She
also handed me a copy of "KULT" www.kult.com.sg/Artificial or
www.facebook.com/kult3D a free professionally printed monthly
magazine made in Singapore containing artwork from artists around
the world...not quite a Zine but a printed document of artistic
merit none the less... success. We swapped details and I
threatened my avid return in the near future.
Mission complete...feet sore, scarred from the friction of
walking in my unpractical new shiny silver thongs (you have to
have shiny thongs if you live here..its just how it is)...but it
was all worth it.
The end.
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