With Pink Dot just around the corner and June being Pride Month, it’s a timely reminder that community, activism and equal representation is everything. That, and the all-important freedom to love.
Showing our solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and embracing the spirit of pride, we get to know 17 rising talents in the creative scene here who are bringing new perspectives and challenging norms with their work.
Pronouns you go by: She/They
Current Occupation: Fine arts student
About yourself and the work you do: “My work dabbles in the mythological realm, drawing references from ancient visuals such as Persian miniature drawings and Chinese myth illustrations while using symbols and concepts learned from contemporary environmental discourse.
I believe in the mystical power of nature, translated via a mythological aesthetic, in order to evoke the potency of our imagination when viewing the work. My drawings try to evoke what it means to be human or non-human, what it means to be part of a larger ecological whole and how our perception shapes our experiences of ‘Nature as the Other’. It also asks difficult questions about death and life, extinction, ancestry, and rebirth in the age of our climate crisis.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I use Instagram as the core platform for visibility of my work, and so I am looking forward to creating more pieces dealing with environmental challenges. At some point, I might start to consider the potential of curating a series of my drawings under ‘Creation Stories’, which reconsiders what it means to construct a narrative about ourselves in relation to past stories of creation, and future potentials for a new story to reinvent our beliefs and the course of our unfolding.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I wish that more people in our generation and beyond are enabled to express themselves and explore themselves with greater authenticity and diversity.
While I wish for our community to grow and strengthen, I also believe in the healing power of communicating and growing with one’s biological family. I really hope that more family members, especially siblings and parents, can begin to open themselves to the needs of their kin, and begin to openly communicate what it means to be part of a family while adapting to the possibility of redefining familial norms and environments to create a safer and more nurturing space.”
Pronouns you go by: She/They
Occupation: Singer-songwriter
About yourself and the work you do: “I spend most of my nights writing indie-R&B tunes with me and my guitar. Most of them end up being about my personal experiences as a way for me to make sense of my emotions, but there is a lot of fun to be made when writing songs for other artists too.
I love making art in general – be it in music, animating illustrations, or making a zine! Creating all sorts of things – especially with my hands – is what brings me the most joy.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I’m currently working on my album: it’ll be out later this year, and I’ve just released a couple of songs from it. I’m really excited for you to hear this one because writing it felt like a conclusion to a huge chapter in my life.
I started a YouTube series on a whim called Crying & Crafting, where I make different arts and crafts projects based on the songs that I’ve written. I talk about the stories behind them and the whole process from the idea to the finished track. And by the end of the episode, I turn my songs into something tangible.
I’ve also been writing new songs with a couple of friends, so you can look forward to a lot of collaborations dropping in the next few months.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “A good place to start, and what seems to be the root of most issues, is the lack of acceptance and inclusivity.
I would love to see a space in Singapore for the LGBTQIA+ community – not a physical space, per se (although those are welcome too), but a space in the minds and hearts of the people here.
Truth be told, it is not enough to allow us to exist once a year within the confines of a park, and then call that acceptance. Acceptance and inclusivity run all year round. It is being thought of and considered: in housing, in marriage, in religion, or in even something as casual as social situations.
I know that everyone has their own beliefs, but I think it’s time for us to start truly understanding the LGBTQIA+ community, and realising that we’re no different.”
Pronouns you go by: She/They
Current Occupation: Animator and illustrator
About yourself and the work you do: “I like making funny gifs and illustrations. My work often focuses on finding joy in the mundane and bringing some lightheartedness to sad moody days.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I’m really excited to be going back to school. I plan to take the time to develop my artistic voice further and hopefully churn out a couple of animated short films in the next two years.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I am so grateful for the spaces the LGBTQIA+ community have created here. Groups like Queer ZineFest and Inter-Uni LGBT network are so important, they create safe spaces for queer youths to explore their sexuality and find a place of belonging.
My hopes for the future is that schools will be a safe space for LGBTQIA youths as well, a place where they can find allyship and support in expressing themselves.”
Pronouns you go by: He/Him
Current Occupation: Student, freelance photographer and writer
About yourself and the work you do: “I guess I’m a bit of a joker but also a bit of a softie, a bit postmodern yet a bit never-been-modern.
As for my work, it is all about affection and I am most affectionate towards the conceptual tensions found between intersections of fetishism, queerness, contemporary appearance and post-racial neoliberalism. I enjoy putting these themes to work, to interrogate what labour, capital and desire can look and feel like in overdeveloped societies.
The medium I work with includes photography, moving images and performance. I sometimes write too, and I’m also increasingly interested in curatorial practices.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I am part of a queer collective based in London and we are holding our first physical show this June in Hampstead. I will also be showing new moving image works in a 3D group exhibition as well as in a physical version of that show this summer.
There are some other collaborative projects in the works, including a curation for a digital show about ‘cuteness’ and an experimental publication called Boys from England.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I hope for infrastructural equity and welfare for everyone, especially the marginalised. Until then, and even beyond then, my hope is that we will continue making loving memories for each other and form meaningful relationships within the community.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her/They/Them
Current Occupation: Artist and figure model
About yourself and the work you do: “I began formally making art and performances back in 2007, when I started gender transitioning. Art is my way of dealing with trauma; my voice and advocate when I felt disenfranchised and most importantly, an outlet I can feel joy and a sense of purpose in the act of creation and connection.
These days, I make paintings about bodies, queerness, transness and spirituality. I’m currently represented by Cuturi Gallery and spend my days painting in the residency studio, going for a swim after and attending support group meetings or spending time with my family when I can. I’m really grateful to be able to continue to make work and share them with my audiences.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I’m currently preparing for a duo solo exhibition with Victoria Cantons, an artist who happens to be a woman, transgender, and gay. The show is curated by John Silvis and will be presented in Cuturi Gallery in September.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I hope you will thrive and not just survive. I hope you love freely and be loved so much it sets you free. I hope Singapore can continue to work towards creating a more inclusive and diverse culture, at work, in our communities and in our homes.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her
Current Occupation: Artist, photographer, filmmaker, writer
About yourself and the work you do: “My work life consists of two main parts: my independent practice as an artist and my commercial studio, Almost June. My artistic practice is considered with the intersection of the offline and online worlds, the gendered body, and the possibility of agency and repair. I started with photography, and am now expanding to include moving images, performance, and new technologies.
My commercial communications studio was formally set up this year, and I focus on my strength: people. It’s a photography and film business that does portraiture and human-centred campaigns.”
Upcoming projects can we look forward to: “I’m presenting my new work, YOUNG BODY, at Scope by Dance Nucleus on the weekend of June 26 and June 27. Fingers crossed we’re able to do this in person.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I want the community to thrive, which means at the very least equitable lives that do not face additional barriers. This is currently not the case and won’t be until we get rid of 377(a), discriminatory media regulations, re-consider current housing policies and the nuclear family model, among others. It’s a long game.”
Pronouns you go by: He/Him
Current Occupation:Designer and multidisciplinary artist
About yourself and the work you do: “I started out in fashion but I’ve steadily seen my practice grow to include more things like art and graphic media. My practice focuses on investigating camp aesthetics in art and design and its effects against the national rhetoric of queerness.”
Upcoming projects we can we look forward to: “I’ve been dabbling in fashion again and starting a small online shop of homewares and fashion. I thoroughly enjoy the making process and my objects in the works are a mix of accent pieces and one-off clothing pieces. I’m also open to bespoke orders!”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I think as a ‘conservative’ society, we are still a large community living in secrecy to a certain extent. I hate that and I would love for it to change. The objects I create challenge that, kind of like Trojan horses of queerness, and I take immense pleasure in this deceit.”
Pronouns you go by: She/They
Current Occupation: Founder and head of marketing at Skrrrt Central
About yourself and the work you do: “Growing up, I’ve always dreamed about performing at big arenas. Singing has always been how I express myself up till I was eight years old when I discovered that songwriting was also something I could do. Ever since then, singing and songwriting have always been a big passion of mine.
Understanding how difficult it is to have that as a career in Singapore, I’ve explored various options growing up. Since I enjoyed content creation, I thought to myself, ‘Hey why not make this a career?’ That’s exactly what I did. Combining my two passions, content creation and music, I founded Skrrrt Central, a multi-media platform aimed to educate, empower and give exposure to young artists and entrepreneurs.
Through it, we’ve managed to create various community events involving up and coming entrepreneurs and artists. These bi-weekly moving artist markets empowered our community and it’s definitely something I look forward to kick-start once everything is safer!
With our online magazine, we always spotlight minority up-and-coming artists in Singapore, and recently, from all over the world. It has been such a heart-warming experience to have people approach us with their new music with the trust that we will passionately speak about them. Sometimes all you need is just one person to believe in you and that’s why we seek out and prioritise up and coming artists.”
Upcoming projects we can we look forward to: “Aside from Skrrrt Central, I am currently working on my music again. With my recent release, Red Flags, I’m hoping to release more songs throughout this year. Keep a lookout for a vibey, sexy song in July!”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “Growing up visibly queer in Singapore has always been an intimidating experience when that should never be the case for anyone. My hope is that Singapore will soon be a place where people can walk around comfortably in their own skin without being questioned and judged. I truly hope that this change begins in early childhood education and that schools focus on creating a safe space for kids instead of worrying about ‘values’ that have been outdated.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her/They/Them
Current occupation: Designer and illustrator
About yourself and the work you do: “As a local illustrator and designer, I love anything that has bright colours and dynamic linework, and I have a passion for experimenting with different visual styles to make my work warm, dynamic and inviting. By exploring feelings of beauty, fear, humour and comfort through a personal lens, I hope that others may find the same things in my work too.”
Upcoming projects we can we look forward to: “I’m currently in the midst of doing freelance work, but I’m also preparing for an art show and market that will be out in a while.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “It’s been extremely tough for the community to gain a foothold in mainstream media, whether it is representation, or showcasing either queer struggles or queer celebration and love, without being stifled. I’m hoping all of us, from LGBTQIA+ individuals to allies, can help to uplift queer voices in mainstream media and normalise queerness in everyday life, so that we can build a better future for future generations of queer people.”
Pronouns you go by: She/They
Current Occupation: Creative designer at Pencil Technologies and improv coach at The Improv Company
About yourself and the work you do: “I am an artist and storyteller, currently living in Singapore. I’m a queer, gender-nonconforming, neuro-divergent brown woman – that is a mouthful to say!
My work mostly consists of digital illustrations, although sometimes I like to use paints or colour pencils, and when I’m feeling particularly experimental (and geriatric), I crochet. I also run an online shop selling prints, stickers, and digital downloads.
My inspirations come from film, video games, impressionism, and my own lived experiences, especially as a third-culture kid, and my struggles with mental illness. I want to tell authentic, evocative, and sometimes playful stories through my work, using colours and world-building to bridge the gap between the everyday and the extraordinary.
When I’m not drawing, I perform and teach improv at The Improv Company. Improv is my way of discovering narrative structures and pushing the boundaries of storytelling on the spot.
I’m currently working on my portfolio to apply for a Master’s degree in Illustration.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I’m currently working on a couple of features for an upcoming issue of Peony Zine. One of them is about mental illness and the process of constantly having to reinvent yourself. The second is a collaborative discussion of death in our cultures – why is it such a taboo subject anyway?
My shop is open, and I’ll be featured during Pasar Pink, in another slot on June 26 (there will be a sale!). I am planning a shop update as well in August, so look out for that. I currently have commissions open, so you can contact me at bhankadraws@gmail.com.
I’d also love to share that I’m working on a bunch of illustrations for my Master’s application. So, my portfolio is constantly evolving and changing!”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “Without risking asking for too much, I hope for the LGBTQIA+ community to be able to live in dignity and freedom here. I hope for queer and trans folks (especially in schools) to exist without fear and discrimination. We are a strong community and I have no doubt we will constantly stand up for what is right. Hopefully, we can help shape some very real policy changes in the future.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her/Anything
Current Occupation: Writer
About yourself and the work you do: “I am a large-beasted, supple, queer, female Chinese Singaporean writer-artist whose proclivities are promiscuous and appetites indiscriminate. My work aims to subvert, revert and pervert, and works in the obscene, lurid and visceral to disrespect respectability and reclaim power. My first child, GAZE BACK, made me the first woman poet (woet) to clinch the Singapore Literature Prize in 2020 as well as be one in a long line of many to lose a Lambda Literary Award.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “You can’t because (a) all pregnancies are secret until we’re out of the woods, and (b) I’m trying to take care of my mental health for a bit. But suffice to say there will be LESBIANS! in whatever (whomever?) I do.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I hope they’ll start being treated like human beings with equal rights to housing, jobs and resources necessary to survival. It is such a pain to have to choose between your country and living a little easier elsewhere. I hope that young queer and trans people aren’t let down by the system and the authorities that are supposed to be in charge of their wellbeing. I hope we can live, not just scrape by.
I want us to be allowed to thrive and prosper and take root, not live in precarity. I wish a comfortable existence for queers wasn’t predicated on being a rich cis gay Chinese man. And I certainly hope they’ll stop saying they have more pressing issues to debate, or that Singapore isn’t ready to treat its people decently. Because it sure is ready to take our labour and enjoy those profits. Muacks!”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her/They/Them
Current Occupation: Student
About yourself and the work you do: “I write poetry and am involved in student activism. I am a core member of the local poetry collective /s@ber (/stop @ Bad End Rhymes) and a co-founder of SafeNUS (Students for a Safer NUS) along with running other LGBTQIA+ community groups at NUS such as tFreedom and TransNUS.”
Upcoming projects we can look forward to: “I am planning to release my first collection of poetry in the next one to two years. I do wish to contribute more political/cultural/literary essays to various journals, projects, and anthologies. Writing is a very dominant aspect of my life.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “There’s a lot less to hope and a lot more to act with regard to our LGBTQIA+ communities here. Especially since many queer/non-binary/intersex/trans people are facing constant crises, in the face of institutions and structures in society that consistently gaslights us, keeps us unsafe, and co-opts our ground-up community efforts.
Nevertheless, we have the potential to continue building power in our movements as well as the ability to demand better living conditions for all of us. It is wonderful that we have been establishing more safe spaces and developing care practices, but we also need to grow our political consciousness and organise the foundations for a strong grassroots across our communities.
Hope without criticality, without political strategy and action, can only be naivete.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her/They
Current Occupation: Game artist and theatre practitioner
About yourself and the work you do: “I’m a queer (biromantic ace) arts person who makes art for games and performs and writes for the stage. I believe in the power of interactive art, whether it’s theatre that is on the more experiential and experimental side, or interactive installation art, or even games, which are in themselves the very definition of interactive art.
My works usually revolve around death, the afterlife, mortality, the supernatural, temporality, and impermanence – which makes things pretty morbid and unpalatable sometimes because I talk about death a lot.
My art also tends to look pretty grim, like there’s something not quite right with the atmosphere and there’s a creeping sense of impending doom. I like that. I also have begun naming my pieces after classic rock and metal songs. At the moment, I’m currently working on a videogame set in a cosmic horror universe.
My current research projects include Southeast Asian mythology and folklore, the phenomenology of place in relation to loss and death, and hauntology. On the other hand, I also practice circus arts and acrobatics, so that makes me some kind of demented clown. Haha.”
Upcoming projects can we look forward to: “I have an upcoming theatre production called ANAMNESIS scheduled to go up end-July that I wrote and will also be acting in. ANAMNESIS explores the tenacity of love and its relation to the presence and absence of memory amidst circumstances of destabilising loss and psychological displacement.
It is also a response to forces of destabilisation, as well as a reflection of the importance and resilience of love against the undercurrents of transition and change as love succumbs to the aftermath of trauma, and the impermanence of things, and memory.
I am also working on creating a videogame with my partner, and it will be a cosmic horror-based one but we won’t reveal too many details yet because we’re still in the process of finalising the conceptualisation. We love games and we believe in the power of games to change the world (or at least one person’s perspective on the world, which in many cases is enough) and we have been very excited working on it and can’t wait to share it with the world.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “It isn’t easy to be part of the queer community in Singapore. While there is progress, there is still much to be done. Amongst my queer friends and myself, there is a collective sense of resignation because we are all tired of fighting to be heard not only regarding this but amidst so many other social issues.
I’d say I hope we don’t give up and that we keep fighting, but these are very trying times and we are all doing the best we can.
Activism drains us mentally and emotionally, and it’s hard to keep screaming just so people see our existence as valid. So instead, I hope we take the time to take care of ourselves. To retreat when we have to, and to hold space not just for others but for ourselves when we need rest.
I hope we unlearn the mentality that all labour must be commodified and capitalised on because sometimes we can just exist and that alone will be enough.”
Pronouns you go by: They/Them
Current Occupation: Freelancer
About yourself and the work you do: “I’m a multi-disciplinary artist and organiser. I love to explore many different mediums to express myself; to learn and unlearn things. Truly, to decolonise the meaning of art and growth along the way.”
Upcoming projects we can ook forward to: “I’m going to start putting my own prints and canvases for sale, work on more commissions and raise funds as well in whatever means I can.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “Apart from diversity and inclusion for all identities, I hope people (not just from the queer community) do more to speak out against discrimination of all sorts. We have to band together to strive towards more than just acceptance because without action there is never growth or change.”
Pronouns you go by: She/Her
Current Occupation: Musician, music marketing and PR practitioner and freelance music educator
About yourself and the work you do: “I’m a pop-rock musician and songwriter under the artist name RENE. I’m primarily a vocalist and guitarist. I just released my debut EP Something To Hide on April 30.
I also do music marketing and PR with Secret Signals, a company based in Singapore. I love my team and the work is fun because I get to experience another side of the music business that artists are rarely privy to, doing marketing in Southeast Asia for local, regional, and international artists.
I also teach vocals and guitar freelance.”
Upcoming projects can we look forward to: “I released my debut EP Something To Hide and am looking forward to live performances in the next few months – if all goes well with the Covid-19 situation! As for new music, I’m looking to release another song by the end of the year. Follow my socials for updates.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “I hope that LGBTQIA+ people are one day seen as equal to the rest of society in the eyes of the law. Acceptance can happen bottom-up and that’s fantastic, but we need a change in policy to even think about ending discrimination and inequality against the queer community. I wish every LGBTQIA+ person a very Happy Pride Month and that everyone stays safe. Sending my love to all!”
Pronouns you go by: He/Him
Current Occupation: Student
About yourself and the work you do: “My name is Isaac, but my friends call me Kinny. I’m a young, humble homosexual man coming in at 1.8m tall, with dreams of making it big in the city. I’m currently a first-year film student at the School Of Art, Design and Media in NTU.
I’m a triple Scorpio (I felt you wince), so that means I’m very emotional. I pour all that saturated feeling into the art I create, dosed with a very generous amount of gay. I released my debut single, Hold It, early this year (now streaming on all music platforms), which details the pains of a long-distance relationship. I’m an actor as well, and I recently played Ryan in NSFTV’s Monday Nights.
A big thing I hold dear is my love for stories; be it a passing anecdote in a conversation, or an extravagant motion picture on-screen. Give me a tale filled with emotions and you have me. I believe that being able to tell stories is a gift, and I constantly try ways to tell the ones I hold dear. I’m enamoured by relationships- the dance we do with the things that orbit us.”
Upcoming projects can we look forward to: “Why who knows! I want to be able to do a full split, but that’s just me being ambitious. I’m aiming to create a film series about the struggles of being gay and Christian in Singapore – two things I hold dear to my heart. So we can look forward to that.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “My hope for the queer community in Singapore is in the little things. To be able to hold my partner’s hand in public without looking around every two seconds. To say my I dos, and then take away teh-o-beng after that. To drop my child off with his dad at a primary school. To feel like I belong here too. I believe it’s on the horizon, but until then, I’m going to build a safe space for those around me, and tell their stories proudly to anyone who would listen.”
Pronouns you go by: They/Them/He/Him
Current Occupation: Musician
About yourself and the work you do: “My work is largely creating based on my lived experiences, I also document my transition online.”
Upcoming projects can we look forward to: “I’m currently on a bit of a hiatus while I settle into puberty, but I currently have a song in the works that I’m hoping to release by the end of this year.”
On the LGBTQIA+ community in Singapore: “My hope would be that healthcare is made more accessible for the people in our community, as a lot of stigmas and gatekeeping are still rampant which costs lives.”