This week, don’t miss out on the much-anticipated debut of Andre And His Olive Tree, the documentary by Singapore director Josiah Ng focusing on celebrated chef Andre Chiang. Over at the National Design Centre and popular Japanese hair salon 1tto+Lim, two new exhibitions seek to focus on the small and overlooked things in life.
When was the last time you thought about repairing a faulty product? That’s the key question behind R For Repair, a new exhibition co-presented by feted design outfit Hans Tan Studio and DesignSingapore Council. The exhibition aims to present a counterpoint to our current consumerist culture where the idea of repairing a worn-out item has now come to be seen as something quaint or folksy, as opposed to being the norm.
The philosophy behind it is something that’s been gaining movement in recent years and at R For Repair, 10 Singaporean designers and artists were invited to interpret the idea and restore broken, faulty, worn-out objects. Among them is a familiar name: Lim Qixuan (@qimmyshimmy), who created this piece based on a shell contributed by a member of the public.
We first spoke to Lim – known for her macabre-meets-cute art – a couple of years back and she had this to say about her work ethos: “In this time, when so many things are mass-produced, I feel the need for me to create my work with my own hands, and see the process from beginning to end.” Sounds like a perfect fit.
On now till Feb 6 at the National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road
Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang shocked the Singapore gourmet scene when he announced that he would be closing his much loved two-Michelin-star Restaurant Andre back in 2017 in a bid to return to his Taiwanese roots. Now a new documentary – Andre And His Olive Tree – based around the closure of the restaurant and Chiang, is finally making its debut in Singapore after opening to rave reviews in Taiwan and becoming the island’s 2020’s highest-grossing documentary.
The documentary, lensed by award-winning Singapore director Josiah Ng, is not all just about food porn. Expect visceral images capturing the emotional process where Chiang broke the news to his staff, as well as his subsequent move back to Taiwan, where Chiang continues his work with his other restaurant, Raw. “This documentary focuses on what success means and asks if our standards for success are relevant in today’s society. It’s about what truly matter,” said Chiang in an interview with The Straits Times last year.
On now at The Projector, #05-00 Golden Mile Tower till Jan 19; get your tickets here
Japanese hair salon 1tto + Lim has in recent years become the go-to place for Singapore-based creatives and in recent months, they’ve come up with a dedicated area within the salon as an exhibition space. Their newest exhibition sees three groups of Singaporean artists (Kuukka, Someday Projects and Good Riddance/Watanabe’s) taking up residence, with nature as the common thread among all three.
Pictured here is floral and design outfit Kuukka’s installation ‘Daily Ordinaries’, in which founders Fae Lai and Sherlene Seow seek to highlight the joy of appreciating the simple commodities in life, warts and all. Their installation revolves around daily ordinary flowers we see in Singapore, and will be changed on a weekly basis. If you’re piqued by the sleek vessels they’ve used – they’re custom designs of their own – check out the full range here.
On now till Jan 31 at 1tto+Lim, 325 New Bridge Road