singaplural 2017 highlights

The highlight of SDW is the ever-popular Singaplural, a one-stop shop event where the works and projects of Singapore designers are showcased – while it has been held at 99 Beach Road for the past 2 editions, this year sees the anchor event moving to bigger premises on the 3rd floor of the F1 Pit Building. Opening tomorrow till Sunday (7-12 March), we take you through the highlights:

#1: Singapore design meets Japanese craft

singaplural 2017 highlights
Asylum x Asakura Senpu

It comes as no surprise that the design fiends typically adore the Japanese aesthetic but the Kyo project goes one up: pairing three prominent Singapore designers with traditional Japanese craftsmen from the Kanto region (think Tokyo, Chiba, Ibaraki, Saitama etc) to celebrate more than 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The 3 local designers are Chris Lee of Asylum, Colin Seah of Ministry of Design and Wong Mun Summ & Richard Hassell of WOHA Architects.

#2: Imagining the future

singaplural 2017 highlights
Live by Tan Cheng Siong & Sonny Liew

Ever wondered what Singapore would look like in the future? The installation,  Tomorrow: Design Stories Of Our Future, does exactly that: it pairs 10 local designers of various fields (graphic, fashion, architecture, industrial etc) with 10 local illustrators, set up in a “library” that comes with yes, librarians and old-school projectors.

#3: The next-gen artists and designers

singaplural 2017 highlights
Phase by Jay Ho

Aptly named “Platforms”, this area is a selection of promising young designers and artists to show their stuff, either in collaboration with other artists or solo, such as this work by Jay Ho, entitled Phase, a series of paintings comprising of liquid pigments suspended in air bubbles within a loosely stretched canvas.

An illustration of “space” in different forms: liquids, solids or clear resin, each bubble can represent a space, a universe or a cell. Different bubbles interact and overlap with one another, just like the social interactions of people. Light is shone from the back, creating a ethereal and celestial experience.

#4: Collaborations galore

Under the “Pop-up” corner, there’ll be plenty of your favourite local retailers and creatives, such as Supermama, Gallery & Co., Lucinda Law and Scene Shang.

Depicted here, a tea house collaboration by local tea specialist Ette Tea and famed local illustrator Messymsxi, which focuses on pandan leaves – a key ingredient in the former’s products. You may or may not be familiar with tea houses but I’ll bet you’ve never been to one adorned by pandan leaves. Look out for it!

Singaplural opens tomorrow: tickets are going at S$10 each at the door – more details here:

Like this? Check out the coolest cultural things to get into this March, why you should be heading down to the Singapore Garden Beats Festival and 6 of our favourite stylish homeware stores