The Art: The Utter Beauty of Hallways

Hallways forever intrigue me, especially particularly long ones. You can vaguely see the end, but you know it's there. And if you're a lot like me, you take your sweet damn time getting there.

Singapore Art Museum

Books Actually on Yong Siak Street

Tiong Bahru Bakery - Outside

Raffles Hotel Arcade

The Art: Warhol "Campbell Soup" Prints

Now hanging at my room after what felt like years of frantic searching. New addiction alert! 

The first of many prints I'd like to collect for an art wall in our future house!

The Art: Singapore Art Museum Collections

Some snaps from our recent visit to Singapore Art Museum where "Future Proof" and "Chimera" are currently being shown. If you love contemporary art and find yourself in Singapore, you owe it to yourself to visit. We were there for about three hours and every minute was just astonishing.

The Floating City (3D prints suspended in the air)

The Crystal City (made of flasks and bottles)

The Paper Hallway (walls lined with crumpled documents)

Inspiration: This would look great on the wall of our house someday

Blown-up version of Kanye West's Takashi Murakami-designed pendant

The hippest, most colorful tornado of all time.

Eerie interlockings of tentacles. Not for me, but art is art.

Singapore Art Museum
71 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189555
T: +65 6332 3222

The Item: Andy Warhol x Uniqlo T-Shirt

I always knew it would take a doozy of a design to get me wearing printed tees again, and boy howdy, here it is. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of pop art icon Andy Warhol's death, Uniqlo has just released a limited edition t-shirt line inspired by the uber talented artist's finest works. If you're like me, though, there's just no getting better than his famous Campbell soup can. I've been looking for a large-sized print of this for years, but fate has dictated that I wear it as a shirt instead. No complaints here. This way, more people will be able to appreciate the handiwork of a man who single-handedly challenged the world to see art differently. Yes, a doozy indeed.

Now I have a fanboy shirt to wear to the Warhol art exhibit opening here later this week!

The Art: Singapore's Night Voyage Festival

How did you guys spend your Friday night? Drinking, dancing, partying? Well, my friends and I did something a little offbeat - we went to go experience art! As part of Singapore's Night Voyage Festival, the city's finest museums were open till 2AM to host exhibits, installations, and even a quirky bazaar. I must say, not a bad way to end one of the most draining weeks ever. After being bombarded by numbers non-stop, my eyes finally got the visual treats they so rightfully deserve!

Dark room with some eerie visuals and a barely lit turntable section

Here, you can listen to several sensations amplified as the DJ spins.

Giant balloons at the Singapore Art Museum

Real-life space invaders vs. a little kid. Who you got?

Museum hallways filling up as the night goes deeper.

Vintage polaroids on sale from S$100 to S$200! Not a bad buy!

The Art: "Watch the Throne" Documentary

The hype for Kanye West and Jay-Z's joint album "Watch the Throne" just got bigger. In this short documentary, we get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the thought process and preps in making this dream LP a reality. My favorite parts? How Jay-Z gushed over Kanye's evolution from producer to game-changing artist, watching Hov rap acapella then later on hearing the verse with beats wrapped around it, and yes, that damn Russell Crowe cameo. The bar's been set real high for this one, folks. But knowing these two, they rarely leave us disappointed.

The Item: KAWS Dissected Companion

Collectible toys designed by urban artists have become quite the rage in recent years. To be totally honest, though, I never really understood all the fandom about them. They were just toys for crying out loud. But then I saw them up close and personal at Vinyl on Vinyl and everything changed. My girlfriend and I became instant fans, so much that we wanted to get sizeable ones as an accent pieces for our rooms. For the longest time, we haven't had any luck. But today, the fanboy stars aligned here in Singapore. I was able to get a KAWS OriginalFake Dissected Companion Bearbrick here at Ambush for half its original price! Quite the steal given the famed collaborator and a solid first piece to what I'm expecting to be quite the expensive hobby!

The X'd out eyes are classic KAWS. The "dissected" look is all grayed out in this version.

Can't believe I still got it! It now watches me as I sleep, standing tall in my sidetable.

The Beat: Kanye West's "All of the Lights"

Ever since I first heard "All of the Lights" and shared it with y'all here, I started counting the days until the official music video came out. Kanye being Kanye, I expected nothing but mind-blowing visuals to equal the already explosive track. Well, methinks Yeezy did not disappoint. From the violin rendition of the song's melody to the sudden shift to a literally dangerous light show (you gotta know it was coming) to Rihanna's headlights (sorry, but they're right there!), to Kid Cudi's brief stint, it was quite the feast. Only thing missing was Sir Elton owning it, but I'm good. Just have to rest my eyes to let that weird 3D-glasses-shoved-into-my-pupils feeling go away.

The Art: Vinyl on Vinyl at the Collective

All throughout my life, I've been an admirer of art. While I'll be the first to admit that I'm not well versed when it comes to technical terms or prominent artists, I damn sure well appreciate beautiful creations. That's why it was with utmost joy that my girlfriend and I finally discovered Vinyl on Vinyl at the Collective. The gallery features some fresh artworks that owner Gabby dela Merced describes as being born of an artistic revolution, one that extends creativity from traditional mediums to toys and accessories. One of the works inside actually made me think about starting a collection of my own. Ah, a new addiction! This is not good, not good at all.

One of many Arkiv Vilmansa pieces sold there. Sadly, it's taken already!

Cassette tapes converted into modern art for the shop's first anniversary!

The Art: The "Influencers" Documentary

What makes an influencer? To me, an influencer is someone who has changed the way you and I live by doing things differently and seeing life in a different light. Here, several of them are featured - Billy Cunningham (the original street style photographer), Jay-Z, even brands that've changed an entire industry. Man, 13 minutes of pure inspiration that I just didn't want to end. Luckily, there'll be a sequel. For now though, stay tuned and stay inspired, y'all.

The Art: "Rosario" Film Trailer

I went to watch Paranormal Activity 2 alone for some brainless fun over Halloween weekend and stumbled upon something unexpected. Thank god I went early to watch the trailers or else I would have missed it too. It was this beautiful trailer for "Rosario" - an official entry to the annual Metro Manila Film Fest, which from the looks of things will be - and I say this without exaggeration - the most visually stunning Filipino movie ever made (Sorry, "Ang Panday". Sorry, "Batang X").

From the architecture, the home interiors, to the clothes (bravo, styling team!), to the cars, they perfectly portrayed what the Philippines was like in the 20s and successfully absorbed this viewer into the setting a mere 164 seconds in. Oh snap, there's a story too? Count me in for 2 tickets. "Rosario" is a once in a lifetime movie in this country where "Mano Pos" never end and Enteng is eternal. I beg you, filmmakers. More of this, please, but a little more manlier, okay?

The Art: Jacques Magazine's "Straightaway"

Now this is how you promote your erotic magazine. Fine cinematography plus scantily clad women is the the way to go, you guys. It's the friggin' future! My favorite gentleman's publication of the moment, Jacques Magazine, is getting better by the month, starting from just tasteful nude previews to this - themed short films which were shot well enough to enjoy without the tatas (although some exposure wouldn't hurt). Intrigued? Click here for more of the good stuff!

The Art: John Woo's Star Wars and Fashion

In what may possibly be the most awesome news item of the day, John Woo wondered out loud what would happen if you got two of my absolute loves - Star Wars and fashion - and banged their worlds together. The result? A quirky re-imagining of those familiar Galaxy Far, Far Away characters in more civil times, when they actually had the time to shop for some serious swankiness. Coincidentally enough, my favorite Lord Vader was decked out in my other favorite Band of Outsiders. Man, that Anakin, always getting the best of everything!

Darth Vader in Band and his loyal Stormtrooper in Thom Browne

Papa Jango in CDG and the delinquent Boba in Supreme x VisVim

The traitorous Clone Trooper in A.P.C. and the Scout in Viktor and Rolf

Jar Jar Binks in Margiela. By the way, we still hate you!

Photos courtesy of Behance.net

The Art: Miranda Kerr GQ Redux

All hail the fine folks at GQ and their annual Love, Sex, and Madness issue! My god, they've selected the incomparable Miranda Kerr for the cover yet again just months after a recent feature, but really, would any red-blooded male dare complain? This shoot's way sultrier than the last and even then, we all know what happened right?

I'd say these snaps are NSFW, but by all means, go ahead. A slight peek or two will help down all that pent-up stress and will actually do you some good. Just make sure you don't happen to work in an office that gets televised a lot. But then again, having Ms. Kerr defending you herself won't be half bad too. Wish for the best and peep the Quarterly for more of the sweet pics!





Photos courtesy of GQ

The Art: The Genius of Spencer Tunick

I don't know how he came up with it and got so many people to participate, but I really can't help but marvel at the brilliance of Spencer Tunick. I've been familiar with his works for quite some time now, and if you didn't know who he is, then you've definitely been missing out, missing out on some very very good stuff I might add. You see, Mr. Tunick is known for his mass nudity installations (see: lots of people naked on the street) and if all that exposed flesh doesn't excite you, then maybe the artfulness of it all will.

Dirty thoughts aside, he uses the naked bodies as perfect elements for his installations. Whether it be in a scenic setting or just some beach in god-knows-where, he manages to orchestrate the positions of people so seemlessly that you really look at all those naked bodies more as a sum of its parts as opposed to zooming in on some naked hot chick like a perv. In many ways, he reminds us that the human body is and will forever be a work of art. That said, I still don't know how he does it, though. Such professionalism is needed to work with nude people for a living without getting "excited". Good on him. Lord knows we need more nudity in all our lives.

For more of his Mr. Tunick's works, click here!

Taken in Miami Beach. Synchronized Sunbathing.

Taken in Dublin, Ireland. By the Bay.

Taken in Buffalo, New York. The Morning Commute.

Taken in Barcelona, Spain. Road Block.

Photos courtesy of Artnet.com

The Art: Forgot Something, Darna?

Is that Anne Curtis I see? Oh sorry, it's just a painting of Darna from Manila FAME, forgetting something somewhat, scratch that, very important. Oh well, when you're a premiere superhero I guess you don't have time for things like that, you know, things like decency. You are saving people, after all. So god bless you, Filipino Wonder Woman. Keep on saving every Juan in your neighborhood and just let it all hang out from here on end.

Proof that you always, always, need nipple tape

The Art: Dekahon Carton Furniture

Chalk it up as one of the greatest ideas I've seen in a bit. Cardboard boxes molded into practical furniture? Well, color me delighted; but this new discovery of ours from yesterday's venture to Manila FAME is quite the minimalist's dream. Made of thick cardboard panels put together by easy-lock plastic bolts, these pieces of furniture make quite the eco-statement. Desks, drawers, coffee tables, chairs, shelves, even a bed - yes, all cardboard and as my girlfriend and I have agreed, beautiful pieces which will adorn our home whenever that fateful time comes.

This charming desk would be a wonderful addition to my room

Kiddies and grown-ups alike would love these little chairs

There's the bed in the foreground. The base is made of durable cardboard!

The Art: Usher's OMG

Loved 8701, absolutely adored Confessions, but I must say, none of Usher's work outside "Love in This Club" made me crazy after his two all-hit albums. Here I Stand was okay, but I'm really excited about the man's Raymond vs. Raymond album, which I regard to be his true comeback LP. If his current hit "OMG" is any indication, the Usher I've grown to love is back in a big way, baby. The song's catchy beat is subtly club-banger worthy and the addition of Will.I.Am provides a sound that just cliques with Usher's trademark smoothness. All I can say is keep at it, Mr. Raymond! Time to reclaim that R&B crown you so rightfully deserve!

The Art: Spose's I'm Awesome

My not-so-guilty pleasure for the past few weeks has been a song by a self-deprecating white rapper from Wells, Maine. Yes, I know. Of all places, Wells, Maine. No matter, though, this rapper called Spose has amused me quite a bit with his witty lyrics and a simple beat that reminds me of Eminem when he was still the shiz. You may say lowbrow, trailer park trash, and stupid, but eff you, mothereffer, I'm awesome!

The Women: Mamma Mia, Amanda!

I've been following the fine film work of Amanda Seyfried from when her boobs could tell when it was going to rain in "Mean Girls", to when she relived Abba in "Mamma Mia", to when she made out with Megan Fox in "Jennifer's Body", to when she broke up with somebody through a letter in "Dear John". Yes, what a career so far. Thus, this much deserved photoshoot in Esquire. All that talent. May her string of critically acclaimed films continue and lead her to an Oscar soon!




Photos courtesy of Esquire