Preview - Singapore Reportage for Sticky Institute Zine Shop August 2010

Singapore Reportage August 29. 2010
Hungry Ghosts  et. al.
By DONNA LIPOWITZ
*with additional quotes from the new publication :  ‘CERIPH’ Housing
Singaporean Thoughts: Issue Zero (pages 2 -3) by Editor HANS
WONG-JENSEN
& quotes from Illustrator/Designer of ‘Ceriph’ WINNIE GOH (*excerpt from email to me)
 ------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Its that time of year again, the most auspicious time of year for the
majority of Chinese Singaporeans of Taoist faith. This is the time of
year where the dead walk again for one month amongst the living, and
its up to the relatives of the deceased,  to appease them with
offerings of food, money and entertainment.
Random Tourist tip, don’t sit in the front two rows at the Chinese
Opera. Its reserved for the ghosts.
Its all rather complex so I’ll leave it to you to googlarise this if
you are more curious, but I can’t write anything about Singapore
without mentioning such a poignant event on the local calendar.
In other news, this month I made a serious attempt at percuring fresh
Zine worthy news.  I revisited the first shop where I came across a
real Zine in here in Singapore, at the shop “Books Actually” in Club
St, Ann Siang Hill. I was sad to find only 2 new Zines out of no more
than 10 Zines that were mostly the same ones that were there almost a
year ago now, when I first started writing this reportage. Hats off
though to the guys who run this shop. They still have their little
precious Zine corner; and in fact, it has inched its way closer to a
more frequented hard to miss part of the store which at least is
positive. The prices of the Zines are still a bit high, $10 minimum
each for each zine.; but this is because there are so few of them; and
they are all there on consignment.
I’ve spent way too many pennies on thoughts rendered toward the
negative accusations of the neglect of local artists to let down their
guard and ‘just for fun its not all about money’ come on just make a
zine ‘orreddy lah!
…so I will refrain, on most part; however, . the fact remains that
there are so few zines being made here, that those who have had the
passion to make zines here, have easily become disheartened not made
more than a couple of editions, or ‘Issues’.
Right, back to the positives and the marvellous ‘Books Actually Shop”
These guys are also independently publishing their own projects…..
which brings me to what I am settling on as… THE next best thing to
actual Zines in Singapore.
It is a little postcard size book called “CERIPH” -  Housing
Singaporean Thoughts Issue Zero . This book is 100% concieved by
Singaporeans from the creatives down to the bindings. www.ceriph.net
It is not a zine by tradition, ie, not hand photocopied and stapled;
but it is in content. “Its also published as a non-profit venture,
*“depending soley on the interests of readers and contributions from
Singaporeans that are equally passionate about the locally developing
arts and writing scene.”
“Ceriph is an independently run book publication in Singapore,. We
seek to share Singaporean creative work in the form of prose, poetry,
social commentaries, photography, and visual art. We wish to record
and share these without inhibition, to celebrate these everyday
musings”*end quote
*Quotes from Ceriph Issue Zero by Editor Hans Wong-Jensen
I love this little book, it is simple and intelligent and important.
It is also biographical, historical, reflective, and at times funny,
without any gloss or pretentiousness added. Most importantly, it seems
to capture the cream of the cusp of what it is to know Singapore as a
Singaporean; and perhaps as a new age Singaporean;  as I too, as a
temporary resident here of almost 2 years, have become fond of the
nuances and peculiarities of this tiny busy overpopulated humid island
that is in a constant state of transientness, either in observation,
or in experience.  In all its goodness, the price is also very
reasonable at only $10SGD per copy, and plans to make it even less
expensive to buy in the future.
I also contacted the Designer of the Book, Winne Goh,  who is a local
Illustrator. It was good to hear the perspective from a local here who
has strong and valid descriptions and realist perspectives of the
local subversive art culture and Zinesque culture here.
To quote her email message to me asking her about zines etc, she
replied with great insight and also some more positive clues to
finding this illustrious subversive culture in Singapore…quote to
follow:
Winne Goh: *“Sad to say, there is barely much of a zine culture over
here... Many Singaporeans feel that handmade books are unprofessional
and 'unsettling'. You can find zines at The Little Drom Store and
BooksActually, but even so, they are either very highly polished or
the prices are marked up so much -- which I think, goes against the
true spirit of zines.
Well the next thing that comes to mind is La Libreria... It's an
organisation that promotes artists books in Singapore, and it's very
'underground' I would say... not many people know of its existence --
http://www.lalibreria.com.sg/blog/index.php
I also do some work with Kult -- nothing to do with zines, but
definitely subversive in local terms. it's an agency that collaborates
with creatives with strong individual style, and sort of an art
collective as well. On top of the free quarterly publication as well
as the 3d artcade with a theme for invited artists to respond to for
every issue, Kult also curates serial exhibitions as an experimental
platform for multi-disciplinary creatives. You can check it out here:
http://www.kult.com.sg/magazine/ Quite honestly I think Kult is very
important to the scene. Everything else is so sterile over here” *end
quote.

So you see there are good bits here, but these above mentioned
platforms are the only current version of zine culture here in
Singapore. I will hunt down La Libreria for next month. Also I keenly
await the next Issue of ‘CERIPH’ which will be available at Books
Actually in 2 weeks (early September).  To get a copy of the current
Issue, look here:
http://www.booksactually.com/
Books actually address: 86 Club St Singapore ph: +65 62229195
Until then, keep your karma clean, be kind to your Ghosts, and may I
suggest you make a new zine to burn as an offering to entertain the
spirits in the afterlife. ; )
X Donna

*et. al.
et al.
abbreviation for
1. (Physics / General Physics) et alibi
[Latin: and elsewhere]
2. et alii
[Latin: and others]

*will  be published here in due course: 

http://www.stickyinstitute.com/

Singapore Reportage 29/06/2010 Missing in action World Cup 2010

Singapore Reportage 29/06/2010


Missing in action World Cup 2010
Deutschland,   Deutschland, Deutschland, Deutschland  !!!!!!!
Deutschland,  Deutschland, Deutschland, Deutschland!!!!!!!Sooooo, Wie
ist das schoen , soooo, wie ist das schoen!!!!!
..would be fibbing if I said I had Zine stuffs at the forefront of my
imaginarium at present. ..very busy being proud of my German heritage
today..., however, just to top the icing of the revelry, my Target 168
zine pack arrived in the mail today, and I’ve just spent the last
couple of hours lost in Zine heaven. ...
Thus, my only commentary on Singapore + Zine culture; is that while I
am transitorily residing in Singapore, I am ever fortunate that
Australia Post and Singapore Post collectively are good mates so as to
keep me making and receiving Zines. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed
participating in the Eurovision Zinemaking  swap project. , Singapore
however , for the time being I think is too busy organising piles of
time and money to consider  the complex latency of such an incredulous
concept such as a leaflet selling nothing but  thoughts. ... Therin
I’ve answered my own riddle, obviously I have been looking in the
wrong places.... if I must delve into politics I will...tbc......


XXX Donna

IS THERE SUN OVER SKY?

IS THERE SUN OVER SKY?
Upcoming Fanzine for EUROVISION Songcontest 2010

Russian Contestant Peter Nalitch

His entry for this years Euroviosion, a ballad called 'Lost and Forgotten; but is in my opinion the following song  'GITAR' which was made famous via You Tube 2007, is truly superior and the inspiration behind my newest Zine, titled "IS THERE SUN OVER SKY" *as part of 'Sticky Institute's target 168 Zine Making Project. http://www.stickyinstitute.com/
Zine is still being made but as soon as its done I'll post a pic.
Meanwhile revel in my inspiration:






Lyrics to GITAR by Peter Nalitch

I've never been lonely
cause... me is so cool
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me

I've never been clever
because need it never
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me

Guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar,
Come to my Boudoir
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me

Guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar,
Jump to my Yaguar
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me

I put on my pyjamas
and go to Bahamas
Baby no possibility
play it with me

Guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar,
Jump to my Yaguar baby,
you have a possibility play it with me(x2)

Is there sun over sky?
{Lai, lai, lai, lai.., c'mon...,dance
yes
wola olaola gitar male
yes}

Guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar,
Come to my Boudoir
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me

Guitar, guitar, guitar, guitar,
Jump to my Yaguar Oooo
Baby you have a possibility
play it with me 

WATCH IT HERE

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOzkN8dHnjk 

May - June Zine Reportage for Sticky Institute Melbourne

FROM OUR SINGAPORE CORRESPONDENT with Donna Lipowitz
This month:
Buddah’s Birthday & 2 new zines!
Interest in zines and zine culture in Singapore is small, however while there is indeed even just a fleeting teeny tiny bit of interest then it is still worth patiently pursuing.
Antoinette and Stanley from the Little Drom Store in Ann Siang Hill are still keen to toy with the idea of hosting a kind of zine appreciation event in their shop somewhere down the line, which is very promising.; but first we need Singaporeans to make Zines, but everyone is so busy leh. No time cannot. I’m doing my best efforts to spread the good word of the zine , perhaps I‘ll start an informal group of me and those guys and call it “The Zine Appreciation Society of Singapore” (ZASS for short) Everyone loves an acronym right?
I did find 2 new Zines at the shop “Books Actually” (in Club St round the corner from Little Drom), where I found my first ever zine in Singapore. They still have a teeny collection tucked away in the corner of the store under the staircase, but still it is there, “ZINES” . The same zines have been there since I first started writing these bits six months or so ago,. But, tad ah..... i found 2 new Zines there on my last visit, and I purchased both.
Tokyo in Pink A zine about the history Japanese erotica circa 1970’s. It was in a sealed plastic cover and had a small label on the front “ Not suitable for the young.” There are pornographic pics inside, interesting since pornography is illegal to sell in Singapore; yet this being a zine. Seems to make it a kind of legitimate artistic expression I guess.
Date King – A comic strip kind of autobiographical revelry and admission of often offensive behaviour of an ‘Ah beng” (young Singapore guy who thinks he’s a bit all that’) whose main concern at the weekends is to ‘ pick up girls’, preferable grade A hot girls, in the local Singaporean nightclubs, and the fine rules and regulations involved in attracting the opposite sex, ultimately to get laid. All very complicated and not at all making me wish I was young again. To sum up, offensive but frighteningly accurate.
In other news this is a very important time for Chinese buddist Singaporeans. Yesterday a public Holiday (28th) to celebrate Buddah’s birthday. This means the loud dancing dragon teams are in large demand. Let the drumming begin.

stickyinstitute.com

Target: 168 EUROVISION 2010 - ZINE MAKING FEST!

 EXCUSE TO MAKE A ZINE!!!
info found here:
 http://www.stickyinstitute.com/
 Theme: Eurovision 2010
TO GET INVOLVED email sticky (find it on above link) by MONDAY 24 MAY 5pm to say you want to do it
 ...and yes!, Singaporeans also can!


Target: 168 is synchronized zinemaking in extreme time constraints, run by Sticky Institute Zine Shop in Melbourne Australia. 

 following info and 'how to get involved info from sticky site (see above link): 
" In this frenzied round, you have a target of 168 hours to produce a zine with your own allocated country to celebrate EUROVISION 2010.


THE CLAUSES:

1. You have to register first.

2. You have to make a set number of copies of your zine, usually around 30 in previous rounds, in addition to your private run. You'll be told of the number once everyone is registered. This is 'cause everyone gets a copy of everyone's zine.

3. You include a proof of date somewhere within your zine, be it a torn off piece of the date from a newspaper, a bus ticket, a supermarket receipt or some kind of impressive time stamping device devised by a major institution.
In this particular round you'll also be issued with YOUR OWN GRAND FINALIST IN EUROVISION to include in your zine somehow.

TO GET INVOLVED IN TARGET: 168
This requires a minimum number of copies to be supplied to sticky
which will be redistributed amongst the participants after the event.

1) You email us at Sticky by MONDAY 24 MAY 5pm to say you wanna be
part of it. [Facebook groups etc won't count] .

Being 'part of it' includes the fact you'll need to do an
excess run of 30 or so copies on top of your usual print run. These
extras will be redistributed by Sticky to the other zinemakers taking
part. Thus everyone gets a copy of what everyone does.

2) On FRIDAY 28 MAY you will be emailed with confirmation and full
instructions, including how many excess copies you'llneed to make.

Before midday SAT 29 MAY you will be telephoned with your Grand
Finalist country. International peeps will receive this by email.

3. You now have 168 HOURS to make a zine vaguely (or specifically)
related to the experience of the next 168 hours and/or Eurovision.

4. You will need to include Proof of Date to demonstrate that you've
made the zine within the 168 hours: be it a torn off piece of the date
from a newspaper, a bus ticket, a supermarket receipt or some kind of
impressive time stamping device devised by a major institution.
You also need to include some kind of reference to your allocated
Grand Finalist country.

5. Zines are to be completed by 12pm FRI 4 JUNE and you'll be checked
off the official roll by Target:168 officials when you rock up with your
specfied zine copies should you chose to deliver them to Sticky in person.

If they are sent by post, they must be postmarked with FRI 4 JUNE on them.

6. Zines will be circulated from Monday 7 June. All Australian
zinesters will get a zinepack in the post within the week. Those
internationally will get them according to the laws that guide international post.

7. Everyone rocks out enjoying each other's zine around Australia.
During the 168 hours everyone is encouraged to hunker down at Sticky where
we have the magnifient C3100, typewriters and that essential long armed stapler.
We also have textas, crayons and paper. Share the moment.

How to Make a Zine (wikibook instructions)

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Zine_making

WHAT IS A ZINE?

 

• Vocabulary: Zine is short for fanzine, a mashup of fan and magazine
• Costs little to produce
• Specific target audience
• Alternative to the mainstream
• Often photocopied and assembled by hand

• 
  
  

  A zine is a self-published collection of text and/or images, usually distributed on a small scale and aimed at a relatively specific community. Punk zines, poetry zines, political manifestos and fan fiction zines are all associated with specific factions of contemporary subculture.

  • Zine Culture grew out of the Punk scene in the 1970s and hit its stride in the 1990s, when zines like the feminist Bust and the underground graffiti zine 12 Ounce Prophet gained mainstream popularity.

  quote from site 
  http://www.mahalo.com/zine-culture
  
  

  •  
  • gRRRl zine network: History of Zines Elke Zobl (April 2004)

Singapore Reportage for Sticky Institute Zine Shop May 2010

www.stickyinstitute.com
Essential Communications from Sticky Institute for the month of May 2010
FROM OUR SINGAPORE CORRESPONDENT with Donna Lipowitz
This month: Short and sweet

The Little Dro:m (umlauts over o) Store
Finally I made my way to a new store in Singapore called The Little Dro:m Store run by Antoinette & Stanley...and.... They sell zines! , a little too polished by Sticky standards, however they are independently published zines all the same. I spoke with Antoinette at length on how to promote & encourage the concept of zine enthusiasm in Singapore. She genuinely is interested in helping to promote zine culture in Singapore by means of some kind of zine making, promotion and sharing event held in the shop. Our only hurdle is getting people who do make zines or who would like to make a zine to actually make new zines. However, the plan is set in theoretical stone, which is pretty awesome for the time being. I lent them my collection of zines to peruse and hopefully it will drum up some inspiration.
The Little Dro:m Store - 7 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069791
www.thelittledromstore.tumblr.com

Singapore Art Gallery in Chinatown:
Worth a small mention, I visited a small gallery here in Chinatown to see an exhibition of postcards including “zine like” booklets by local artists. Unfortunately I couldn’t take a look inside as all the artworks were enclosed in a plastic envelope.
The Gallery: “My Art Space”, 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd #4 – 01
Exhibition of Postcard sized works “Pameran Poskad” (till 01.05.10)
www.keyakismos.com/pameranposkad

MY ZINES

SWAN BRAND REDISCOVERED!

Welcome to my 'Pre-launch' of '5005Rainbow'!!!
I have been busy hunting out treasures from the local shops here in Singapore. I plan to make my own customisations from the t-shirts and singlets from ‘SWAN BRAND’ Chinese Clothing.
In the meantime I wish to share the fruits of my searchings in its raw form as to inspire the more financially challenged amongst us to create their own fashion masterpieces.
Following is my new trial listing on ebay...
“SWAN BRAND REDISCOVERED! Originally sold in Australia during the late 1980's as part of the oversized fashion trend by such labels as 'CHERRY LANE' and 'SPORTSGIRL'.
'SWAN BRAND' is a Chinese Traditional Basics clothing brand made in Shanghai China for Chinese locals.
Sourced by Australian clothing designer living in Chinatown Singapore. Purchased from local stall holders.
Plain 100% cotton white plain t-shirt perfect for DIY customisation projects. LIMITED STOCK pending on local suppliers.
Sizes 36 & 38 currently available (sizes sml to med)
*larger sizes available on request
http://www.ebay.co.uk

SEARCH for 'SWAN BRAND' or 'DIY CUSTOMISATION' or '5005Rainbow'
Please note that even though the products are listed on the UK site (and US and Singapore sites), they are of course available in Australia; my initial motivation for sourcing this stuff with Australian buyers in mind.
**Please also note that I am embarrassingly new to this concept of online selling so I apologise in advance for any confusion of details X )
To be continued...

5005 RAINBOW

NEW LABEL LAUNCH COMING SOON!
'5005 RAINBOW' SINGAPORE 2010
T-shirts and homewear sourced from Chinatown Singapore
Products include:
Original 'SWAN BRAND' 100% cotton T-shirts and singlets
Original 'TALENT' 100% cotton T-shirts
Original 'GOOD MORNING' teatowels iconic to Singapore
Original 'FLOWER BASKET' hand towels (5005 Rainbow towel pictured)

"FULL MOON" Singapore Reportage for Sticky Institute March 2010

FROM OUR SINGAPORE CORRESPONDENT with Donna Lipowitz

This month: FULL MOON

WAH LAU! What happened to February!
The moon is full again, hence the Lunar New Year Celebrations are
drawing to a close...
..not quietly though, with the 'Dance of the Dragon' and Drum
ensemble' guys driving all over town unseatbelted in the backs of
utes, doing the annual duty of scaring away the bad spirits with
a dragon dance and an eardrum-shattering drum beat'.

It is just a matter of an advance booking and a donation and you
too could have a dragon dancing round your living room.
Guaranteed to be loudest but maybe the shortest party you ever
had. (there are many evil spirits to be scared away this time of
year : )

I finally visited the "Dinky Doodles' shop in Bali lane
Singapore, and met the owner Xin. I talked to her about trying to
drum up some more local interest in Zines.
As we discussed it is very difficult in Singapore to get people
interested in printed media these days; however I proposed to her
that we try to encourage a few people we know who have made zines
in the past to actually make a new zine! If there were a larger
collection of zines she mentioned it might be more worthwhile to
sell them in her shop.

In any case, I gave her my most recent zine and she gave me one
of her old ones I hadn't seen yet. She does lovely illustrations,
kind of like a comic strip merged with a personal diary. I hope
to encourage more artists and writers to make zines in Singapore.

The general response about zines here in Singapore is that
younger generations do not actively read printed matter anymore;
all information is via the internet and TV - and Art without
financial benefits is essentially a confusing notion amongst the
prosperous conscious society that is Singapore.

Doinky Doodles 33 Bali Lane Singapore
www.doinkydoodles.com

*Wah Lau (singlish for Oh My! or Oh, My God!)

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Toyko January 2010

Singapore/ Tokyo reportage by Donna Lipowitz 11012010 * for sticky  

http://www.stickyinstitute.com/

Title : Tokyo!!!

Yes... any previous unearthings of Singapore zine happenings have been heavily overshadowed by my 9 day trip to Toyko Metropolis over the New Year period.

Tokyo.  Was.  Awesome.

There are many photographs and unforgettable memories that are perhaps not relevant to my usual reportage; however, nonetheless Tokyo was undoubtably swimming with inspiration and I’m sure I have only scratched the surface.

My favourite place was a more bohimianesque part of Tokyo called “Shimokitazawa”; a marvellous maze of alleyways – the main drawcard for me 2^nd hand clothes shops and record stores. It was in the tiny corner of one record store I happened per chance to stumble upon a little zine like book called “ murren” vol. 5 (the ‘u’ with umlauts) Now I can’t read Japanese kranji but I asked my Japanese friend to explain the general gist of it. Its basically a diary by a small group of people about ‘bird listening’ I bought it because of the pretty pictures but perhaps in a year or so I might just learn Japanese and I’ll fill you in then. It’s full of hand drawn illustrations and a few colour photographs and lots of practical tips and notes about the art of bird listening in ‘Takao’ in the Japanese mountains. Its called “ Sound of the Mountain” (those few words are in English) ...a precious little publication...

There is a web link http://www.murren612.com/staff.html

Other than this little find I have to admit that my interest in the Textile district was at the forefront of my desires. There is an entire kilometre long street in “Nippori” called ‘Fabric town’ One shop in particular aptly named “Happy” had all kinds of ribbons and lace hanging from the ceiling of the shop. I was drawn to it like a bowerbird who’s Christmases had come all at once.

Now I’m sitting here at my computer in sweaty Singapore with some kind of throat infection and I’m drinking Saki to sooth both the physical and emotional distress in result of having to depart from such a blissful experience. 

In Singapore a couple of weeks before the holiday madness I did visit the “Red Dot Design Museum”  in ‘Tanjong Pagar’.  www.maad.sg A weekend market is held here once a month showcasing various designers selling locally handmade wares, mostly clothing. Amongst it all though there was a girl sitting at a little table selling stickers of her illustrations...and she had also made a zine! After chatting to her I discovered that she has in fact been studying illustration at a university in Melbourne. She was so pleased that I wanted a copy of her zine and that I indeed knew what a zine was.

It is called ‘ A #2 Pointlessly Random Collection’ “Anne Gee illustrates” a book of cute little doodles, simple b/w photocopies with a coloured cover. annegeeneo@gmail.com

I will be keeping an eye out for her in the future and she does know about the ‘Sticky Shop’ so i’m sure she’ll check you out when she returns to Melbourne to finish her studies this year.

Happy New Year and Happy Chinese New year to all!

The End.