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/
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/
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/
