<<

#08 /2015 08

Contents

Editor-in-chief: Editor’s Letter Lei Chin Pang

The influence of Japanese and comics is strong Managing Editor: on Macao. Every year, there are several anime and comic Flora Shaw expos held in the city, and amateur comic artists have started emerging. Also, production houses are striving Portuguese Editor: to get themselves established in such market in Macao, José Oliveira and determined to get a foothold in the Hong Kong and Japanese markets. Can Macao grow an anime and comic Email: industry with its own character? We invite a comic publisher, [email protected] 002...... Feature comic artist and anime fans to discuss the future of the Getting Started! industry. Produced by: Can Macao Animators There are a number of artists in Macao but sometimes 100 Plus Cultural Creative and Comic Artists Succeed? we haven’t got a clue where their works are available, and Development Limited galleries are scarce in the city. IaoHin Gallery is a game 008...... Chit Chat changer and its arrival has challenged the status quo of Published by: IaoHin Gallery: Macao’s art scene. Florence Lam, director of the gallery, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Challenging the Status Quo of the Art Scene in Macao shares her vision, mission and experience with us in Chit the Macao S.A.R. Government Chat. 010...... Extravaganza Also not to be missed are our reports on the Forum on Heads Together: Forum on Cultural Industries (Macao) 2015 Cultural Industries (Macao) 2015 and activities around the world that commemorate the 125th anniversary of Vincent 012...... Around the Globe van Gogh’s death. As usual, our seven bloggers share with Van Gogh Alive us wonderful ideas about the creative industries around the world. 014...... Event Calender

Lei Chin Pang 016...... Blogs Editor-in-chief Cheong Sio Pang-Summer Art Camp Lio Chi Heng-Telling a Good Story about Macao Eugenia Lo-Scenery in the Historical Building Lam Fai-Getting Published in Taiwan SiSi Chang-Is Creativity Now Just Sales and Marketing? - The views and opinions expressed in this Mu Yu Changing a City Through Culture publication are those of the authors and the Ruby Chen-Placing a Cosmic Order interviewees, which do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao S.A.R. Government Feature

MDecomics has been well received in Hong Kong and Getting Started! Macao, and young artists from those cities are also proud to be featured in Can Macao Animators the magazine. and Comic Artists Succeed? By Joseph Leong, Tom Lei & Agostinho Jesus Liu do Castro Photo courtesy of Agostinho Jesus Liu do Castro, Hazel Ma, Ki Leong, Comic Wanderer

No discussion about animation and comics can be had without mentioning Japan, the kingdom of comic and anime, its influence felt all over the world. Among cultural and creative industries, animation and comics are also very profitable and sustainable. For example, media franchise The Chun Man Publishing: Macao need to cast their eyes beyond Macao to the and Macao, and young comic artists from those cities Pokémon Company, which has been around for Chinese-speaking battlegrounds of Hong Kong and are also proud to be featured in the magazine. “Thanks some two decades, produces films, games, toys, From Macao to the World mainland China. “What is creativity? It means thinking to , our model isn’t about nurturing comic and up to 2013 has brought in four trillion yen in out of the box, and not being constrained to the local artists, but to give them a platform where they can profit for the company. market. Only when we can achieve success overseas submit their works, without having to hire them. A Clearly, Macao cannot be talked about in Chun Man Publishing Co. Ltd.’s founder Matthew will we be noticed at home. Only then have we truly freelance system means we can keep our quality high the same breath as Japan. Up to now, there is no Fong loved comics as a kid but knew nothing about promoted local creativity,” he said. while giving comic artists the freedom to work for popular anime and comics coming out of Macao. their commercial operations. It wasn’t until 2008 when How can one break out of Macao? Chun Man’s path whom they want without being reliant on us,” added But in recent years, some production companies the Japanese comic Bakuman, about the struggles of an was a long and winding one. At the start, it focused on Fong. Chun Man also helps artists who are published in have started getting into the industry, and some aspiring comic artist, was released, that he understood children’s comics, and in 2010 published Panda Children the magazine to publish their solo comics. comic and anime fans have started to create their the ins and outs of the industry. In 2010, he established Monthly, a kids magazine, using free subscriptions to get Apart from Hong Kong and the mainland, Chun own works and organise related events. Could this Chun Man to publish and distribute comics, and its into schools. Though it was successful in breaking into Man also aims to enter the Japanese market one be a new frontier for Macao’s cultural and creative operating model was inspired by Bakuman. the children’s market, it was in dire financial straits and day. It recently successfully applied for an industries? Chun Man is based in Macao, but Fong said Macao Fong’s banker father had to help tide him over the tough interest-free loan of five million patacas is just a starting point. He thinks creative industries in times. Chun Man then changed its style and market from the Cultural Industries Fund as an strategy, focusing on young people and investing in investment into the Japanese market. Fong Hong Kong. Last year, MDecomics was successfully knows how difficult it is, and knows he must launched in Hong Kong and is now even sold on the represent the best comic artists in Macao to have mainland. a shot. Chun Man also plans to bring lesser-known Fong admitted that Macao elements are few in Japanese comic artists into Macao to provide them MDecomics, because the publication is mainly focused with a platform to develop. “Average-quality works in on markets outside of Macao, but mostly, Macao isn’t Japan will be considered very high-quality in Macao,”

Chun Man competitive. “Even world heritage sites like the Ruins said Fong. “At the current stage we have already found Publishing of St. Paul’s are not very well-known overseas. Creative partners in Japan to work with and at the end of the Co. Ltd.’s founder Matthew Fong admitted industries shouldn’t be held back by Macao. As long year we will officially operate as an online platform. that Macao elements are as the brand can make it elsewhere, and it’s a Macao Our Japanese partners will find local talent and Chun few in MDecomics, because the publication is mainly focused company, then that’s enough to make it a Macao brand,” Man will be responsible for publishing and importing on markets outside of Macao, but says Fong. those works, becoming the conduit between Japan mostly, Macao isn’t competitive. MDecomics has been well received in Hong Kong and Macao’s comic world,” said Fong.

002 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 003 Feature

The adorableness and satire of C-La in Macau is loved by readers in Macao

C-La in Macau: A Local Comic Pioneer

During the interview, Chun Man’s Matthew Fong study related subjects. That makes Macao people less Facebook solely for fun, hoping to use it as a platform the other hand, because the market is so small now, I said that even though there’s been a big push to competitive with people in neighbouring places,” he to share his work with others, never thinking he would can enjoy the first-mover advantage if I’m successful promote cultural and creative industries in Macao in said. He compares cultural and creative industries in make a name for himself in the comic world. and open up the comic market. There could be hope recent years, it still isn’t taken seriously by the public. Macao to disabled athletes -- no matter how hard they The page now has over 3,000 fans in almost two then,” he said. “It’s like a vicious cycle now. It’s not try, they can’t be healthy athletes. years. Leong recently turned C-La in Macau into short But even if C-La in Macau has brought fame to hard to find a job with a high But is this accurate? Even though the future for animations, and has won the Jury’s Commendation Leong, it hasn’t brought in much in the way of actual salary in Macao. Cultural animation and comics is uncertain, there are still many Award (Animation) at the Macao International Film and financial gain. He has won awards and cash prizes, and creative jobs don’t people willing to enter the industry. One example is Video Festival in 2015. He thinks that comics alone are but that hasn’t helped to develop his career in pay as well as most jobs local comic artist Ki Leong, who is behind the comic C-La hard to get people’s attention, and animation is more a practical way, for example giving him the on the market, so no in Macau and said he wants to work in the industry full attractive, so using both platforms for C-La in Macau is chance to publish his comics. Even so, Leong young people are willing time. effective in attracting more readers. said he’s willing to be a pioneer in the industry. to enter the industry or C-La in Macau is an adorable depiction of a Macao However, Leong also said that the future is murky “Macao doesn’t have a representative comic housewife and average family life in Macao. Its satire is for comics in Macao because the reader base is still small work, so I hope people can get to know about loved by readers in Macao. Creator Leong is a fourth- and the industry has no scale. But he insists he will work local comics through me and C-La in Macau,” he year graphic design student at the Macao Polytechnic full time as a comic artist after graduating. “I just want to says. “As long as we raise people’s awareness of local Institute. “A lot of people think C-La in Macau’s creator is a concentrate on C-La in Macau right now and prepare to comics then we can start developing related items housewife, but sorry, it’s not,” he said. be a comic artist full time. I’ll tell myself that I can’t turn such as toys and other trinkets and open up more At first, Leong opened a personal page on back and hope to make the best out of what I can. On commercial opportunities for comic artists.”

C-La in Macau has brought fame to Macao’s emerging comic artist

004 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 005 Feature

A number of comics produced in Hong Kong have become classics among Chinese-speaking regions

Insights from the Anime and Comic Expos in Macao and Hong Kong

Organised by Macau Animation & Comic Alliance, in this 3,500 square feet venue, and the emptiness of the is, the scriptwriter is responsible for the plot, while the This tells the fact that local comics are substandard.” the second edition of Macau ACT Expo was held in space was unlikely to attract visitors. leading comic artist responsible for the storyboard and He explained that he didn’t go to the Macau ACT Expo the Venetian Macao in July. Exhibitors were composed Macao ACT Expo is partly funded by Macao character design. All assistants have their own duties like because he has never heard of such event. “I believe that mostly of the associations of self-published amateur Economic Services, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Macao creating the background and scenes, action design and if your work is solid and of high quality, it will naturally artists, anime and manga companies and advertising Foundation, so it’s never a commercial operation. The inking. The whole operation is highly industrialised. A reach its readers.” firms. There were also a few anime production houses Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong (ACGHK) in neighbouring good comic, if successfully marketed, will lead to some However, Wong explained that Macau Animation from the second/third-tier cities in the mainland. The Hong Kong may give an insightful reference to Macao. fruitful results. For example, Ma Wing Shing’s Storm & Comic Alliance is formed by different groups of number of visitors is far from perfect for this edition, and According to Xinhuanet, this five-day event in 2014 saw Riders, which he penned the series in 1989, is one of amateur comic artists. They take comic production as a the venue was quite deserted. Only the exhibition of a record-breaking attendance of 752,000. In addition the original comics produced in Hong Kong that has hobby rather than a business operation. Wong said: “We Taiwanese comic Kid Jerry attracted certain visitors. to the highly popular Japanese animation and manga, become a classic among Chinese-speaking regions. need professional comic artists to make it an industry in Michael Wong, co-founder of Macau ACT Expo, said Hong Kong comic classics like Oriental Heroes, Teddyboy Over the years the story has been adapted into other Macao. Therefore, it’s essential to promote the culture of the low rate of attendance was expected. “The focus of and Storm Riders were also in the limelight in the event. media like television, film, animation, video game and comic reading and making so as to attract more people Macau ACT Expo is to promote local creative industries, Still loved by their fans, they keep rolling out new spin- even performing art a number of times. to know about it, and even to attract talent to work in so inevitably it’s unprofitable.” Amateur comic artists off products over the years. While Hong Kong’s comics and animation are so the industry.” associations, design firms and advertising companies Hong Kong has been producing comics 20 years popular, by contrast, Macao’s situation looks grim. Leo were making use of the platform to promote rather than earlier than Macao and has already developed certain Lei, a diehard fan of Hong Kong and Japanese comics in trading. According to our reporters, the exhibition booth aesthetic styles. Comic production houses in Hong Kong Macao, said: “Okay, now there are comic artists out there This year’s Macau ACT Expo has a low rate of designs were not attractive. There were very few booths have adopted the Japanese-style assembly line, that in Macao, but none of us has ever come across them. attendance and the venue is quite deserted

006 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 007 Chit Chat

IaoHin Gallery recently featured French Florence Lam, director of IaoHin Gallery sculptor Mickaël Obrénovitch’s “Human says: “Mostly foreigners with aesthetic Roots” series as part of Le French May’s connotation are art buyers in Macao. One of programmes the reasons I founded this gallery is hoping to break down stereotypes and use the most direct way to involve more people in art appreciation.”

S: Macao is a city with people from the East and the West. Have S: What is the greatest challenge? you noticed any different views on arts between the Chinese and the L: Our aspirations will be to inject a new driving force into the foreigners? existing model and to be able to provide more choices for art lovers. One L: Of course they look at arts differently, so as their views on of the challenges would be to “overturn” the existing system in Macao’s cultures, food and consumer products. For foreigners, like reading, arts art scene, that is primarily made up of non-profit organisations. They satisfy their spiritual needs. They tend to dine at a nice, quiet restaurant; are well-funded and always have plans for their next shows, while we on the other hand, Chinese people pay more attention to food quality are having an entirely different operation. Balancing artistic value and and presentation. It also explains why the Chinese collectors are more market demand is important for art curation. For example, an artist with conscious about the future value of the art pieces. high artistic reputation might not be a good choice for a commercial S: Who are the art collectors in Macao? gallery because the style is too much for the viewers. Strategic planning L: Mostly foreigners with aesthetic connotation. One of the reasons are made for every exhibition, regarding themes, presentation of the I founded this gallery is hoping to break down stereotypes and use the artwork, corporate collaborations, whether all of the above factors can most direct way to involve more people in art appreciation. bring novelty, and of course, cost control. S: Do you mainly organise exhibitions for local or foreign artists? S: IaoHin Gallery was just granted over a million dollars of subsidy L: We exhibited foreign artists’ works at first as Macao people from the Cultural Industries Fund. How do you plan to use the subsidy? are curious about art from other countries and consider them with L: Part of the subsidy will be spent on improving the exhibition higher market value. Through these exhibitions, we hope to raise local space. We hope to fix the structural problems of the old building. With consumers’ interests in arts and gradually local arts can also get their the new resources, we can also improve the visual presentation and IaoHin Gallery: recognition. functionality of the exhibition room and the entrance of the gallery S: Have you worked with any local artists? by installing movable walls, in order to create a moving “route” for the Challenging the Status Quo L: Yes. Jacques Le Nantec, the bronze sculptor is the first local viewers. The new improvements will help the gallery become a better artist we worked with. We cooperated with him in 2013. He is a highly platform in promoting and selling Macao artwork. of the Art Scene in Macao accomplished artist, who has based in Macao for over ten years but kept a low profile. The exhibition received very good reviews and gave us huge encouragement. The second artist we worked with is Yuen Wai By Chan Lap Hang Ip Leo, an interior designer with unique style. Photo courtesy of Around Chao, IaoHin Gallery Yuen has great interest in paintings since he was a boy and mainly uses Macao as his theme. There is only a handful of galleries in Macao. His paintings are also metaphoric, reflecting his Founded in 2012, IaoHin Gallery is one of the sentiments regarding things happen around few commercial galleries in the city. Florence him. Lam, director of IaoHin Gallery discusses how S: Is it difficult to run a gallery in Macao? she finds a new way for the Macao arts. L: We are under huge pressure. Many people are under the perception that art galleries are only profit makers but we hope to show people that we are passionate about arts L: Florence Lam, director of IaoHin Gallery by maintaining good relationships with artists, our working 2 S: Flora Shaw, managing editor of C magazine partners and media.

French bronze sculptor Jacques Le Nantec, Macao’s long-term resident, is the first local artist IaoHin Gallery worked with. 008 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 009 Extravaganza

1 Ieng Weng Fat believes that cultural undertakings include matters commonly formed by a community, like world heritages. The government must lead the graduate civil participation. The aim is to create social effects, making these undertakings a part of the Macao culture, and residents gradually recognise these historic cultures, and establish a sense of belonging.

2 The Forum on Cultural Industries (Macao) 2015 held in May was a get-together of experts and scholars from around the world to brainstorm the future development for Macao’s creative and cultural industry

3 Ieng Weng Fat, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries, says: “A large portion of the cultural and creative industries is about ‘telling stories’. The industry is not purely 2 about commercial products.”

1

The Forum on Cultural Industries (Macao) 2015, jointly organised the stories behind the products.” gradually recognise these historic cultures, and establish a sense of by the Chinese Cultural Exchange Association and Institute for With regard to this point, many experts have raised all kinds of belonging. The culture industry refers to commercial activities that Cultural Industries, Peking University, was successfully held in May. interesting suggestions for Macao: Since we are not able to find a involve cultural contents, and they aim at generating commercial profits. Representatives from the United Nations Conference on Trade and position for Macao, why not call for proposals from the world on “What is How can cultural undertakings integrate with the cultural industry? Development, experts and scholars from around the world were invited, Macao?” At the forum, Professor Lee Yong-koo of South Korea suggested The Department for the Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries putting their heads together to brainstorm the future development for to form a “story bank”. Ieng said: “A large portion of the cultural and (DPICC, from the Portuguese acronym) under the Cultural Affairs Macao’s creative and cultural industry. creative industries is about ‘telling stories’. The industry is not purely Bureau is an important part. On the upper stream, the DPICC supports Ieng Weng Fat, member of the Committee of Cultural Industries about commercial products.” the industrialisation of cultural undertakings. The process of conversion (CIC), participated in the forum and thought the forum was a great On the other hand, Professor Xiang Yong, Vice Dean, The Institute takes place from an undertaking to an industry. I have always thought success. In-depth exchanges were facilitated, which is beneficial to the for Cultural Industries, Peking University, emphasised that Macao is a that the soul of cultural industries is literature. Macao must promote future of Macao’s creative and cultural industries. Ieng said: “One of the platform but not a market. He said: “Macao’s population is too small the development of literature substantially, and it doesn’t just happen speeches that impressed me most was that by Li Yongping, former for self-operation. Thus Macao should make good use of the selling overnight. The Macao population is limited, and it is necessary to import vice-mayor of Taipei city. She thought that Macao had to ‘return to its platforms on the internet and set up global study centres to ‘nurture a talents to develop our culture, thus strengthening our industry. Therefore, Heads Together: starting point’ to reflect on its position, and to ‘quiet down’ amid rapid batch of brains’, and attract masters from around the world with good the cultural undertaking and cultural industry must know their mutual development. For more than a decade since the handover of Macao offers.” relation, and cannot be confused.” and the booming of the gambling industry, we have been busy and a At the meetings, Xiang Yong also suggested that, “to change the Forum on Cultural lot of things we have done are rather passive. How should the overall perception of culture, one has to rationally recognise the difference planning of Macao be like? What are the goals of Macao? These need between the positions of a cultural undertaking and the cultural industry, Industries time to ponder.” and at the same time pay attention to the integration of the two”. Ieng Professor Sher Jih Hsin, director at the Centre for Asia-Pacific Weng Fat also gave his opinion on this: “Firstly, the cultural undertakings (Macao) 2015 Cultural and Creative Studies, pointed out directly: “Creative and cultural include matters commonly formed by a community, like world heritages. products in Macao lack originality, and don’t have features to touch The government must lead the graduate civil participation. The 3 By Wong Io Man people’s hearts.” According to Ieng, experts at the forum also pointed aim is mainly to create social effects, making these Photo courtesy of Flora Shaw, Chinese Cultural Exchange Association out that the design is the core to cultural and creative industries. The undertakings a part of the Macao United Kingdom, for example, attaches much importance to design. For culture. Residents the last century, all kinds of theories have been integrated with daily-use furniture in the United Kingdom, like ergonomics and allusions, forming a “double value”. “Therefore, some scholars think that the cultural and creative industries are about the experience. The audience does not need that much functionality, and this is where the cultural and creative industries’ value is demonstrated- on the spiritual level. This sort of spiritual experience is interpreted through

010 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 011 Around the Globe The life of Van Gogh was a tragedy, but his works are driving the global creative industry to thrive nowadays.

Inspired by Van Gogh’s famous painting The Starry Night, a lighting designer created a “Van Gogh Cycle Path” on a road that links to the town of Nuenen in southern Netherlands.

Tournesols (Sunflowers) have rooted so deeply in the public’s heart that over the century they have often been taken reference from by commercial print ads

Travelling exhibition of“Van Gogh Alive”

This year marks the 125th anniversary death, they invited a lighting designer to create since Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh’s a “Van Gogh Cycle Path” on a road that links to great painter. The Van Gogh Museum in museums and offered consultation services for death. A pioneer of expressionism from the the town. As night falls, people would come Netherlands’ capital Amsterdam needed no them, having its in-house experts to teach these 19th century, Van Gogh’s works have deeply here on their bikes and the road would light up gimmick because of its national status, and museums ways to manage famous paintings influenced the world of arts in the 20th century. in pale blue, just like the stars moving in the sky. was running comfortably just by exhibiting Van and introduce security systems. Van Gogh His masterpieces De sterrennacht (The Starry The designer said he was emulating Van Gogh’s Gogh’s famous paintings. The museum’s main Museum once provided a three-year control- Night) and Tournesols (Sunflowers) have famous painting The Starry Night. income source came from the ticket fee of its 1.5 system contract for a New York commercial rooted so deeply in the public’s heart that they Europeans are not the only ones who are million attendance annually, as well as the sales artwork warehouse. are still occasionally taken reference from by commemorating Van Gogh this year. Grande of souvenirs, which are themed by Van Gogh’s In recent years Van Gogh Museum has commercial print ads. Exhibitions in Australia is holding the “Van paintings. even got involved in the education sector, Van Gogh had a strong impact to the 20th Gogh Alive” multisensory art exhibition, and But since the volcanic eruption in Iceland in co-holding art-finance courses with business century arts with his rich and colourful palette. has toured it in places like the United States, year 2010, the number of European tourists has schools of Tilburg University and Eindhoven Van Gogh After 125 years, his works continue to infiltrate Russia and Israel. It is now showing in Shanghai decreased drastically, subsequently pluming University of Technology in the Netherlands. the world in unique and creative ways. For and Beijing in China. A number of Van Gogh’s down the established museum’s income. Van It has also entered the China market, holding example, Van Gogh used to live in the town paintings are projected to a four-metre high Gogh Museum has finally understood that it master courses in Art and Finance, or adding a Alive of Nuenen in southern Netherlands, so now it wall through a high-definition projector, or cannot rest on its laurels, and started to conceive subject of “Enterprise Culture Management” in has another name as the “Van Gogh Village”. shown at the feet of the audiences. As a result, ways to generate sources of revenue. Thus it has MBA courses. The village is located next to the industrial city viewers are able to “stand” on the petal of Van changed in recent years. The life of the genius Van Gogh was a Eindhoven, and Philips, which started off by Gogh’s Sunflowers created more than 100 years The museum saw that more and more tragedy - he suffered from mental disorders, making light bulbs, originated from here. Every ago, stand next to a century-old starry riverside, people are using art pieces as investments, but severed his left ear and committed suicide. But winter, they would hold a lighting equipment or walk on the path in front of the café. many collectors don’t know how to organise if he knew that all the effort he put in his works By Ng King Ling exhibition. A lot of places are exhibiting Van Gogh exhibitions, and lack knowledge of security are driving the global creative industry to thrive Photo courtesy of Ng Kin Ling, The National Gallery, The Art Institute of Chicago, Antonio Hence, when Van Gogh Village decided with ingenuity, using technology and creativity measures even if they do host an exhibition. nowadays, perhaps he will finally smile with Biondi to commemorate the 125th year of Van Gogh’s from the 21st century to pay tribute to the So Van Gogh Museum approached private satisfaction. 012 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 013 Event Calender Film Talk by Koh Choon Eiow “Community Discovery”: The Golden Dragon 2.0 Blademark Festival Hong Kong Handicraft and Design Exhibition Discovery Tours and Community Art Exhibition Date: 9/8/2015 Date: 1/7/2015-13/9/2015 Date: 7/8/2015-9/8/2015; Date: 5/9/2015 Date: 9/8/2015 Time: 3pm Time: Please refer to the activity schedule 12/8/2015-15/8/2015 Time: 2pm-9:30pm Time: 12pm-8pm Venue: no.47 art space, Venue: Hong Kong Time: 8pm Venue: Old Ladies House Venue: Exhibition Hall 2, Rua de Coelho do Amaral (Please refer to the activity schedule) Venue: Black Box Theatre, Fee: Free Kowloonbay International Trade & Old Court Building, Praia Grande Exhibition Centre Ticket: Free Fee: Free Details: Macao rock band Blademark Details: Malaysian theatre director and actor Details: Initiated by HKCSS – HSBC Social Enterprise Ticket: MOP150 celebrates its 10th anniversary by hosting Ticket: HK$10 Koh Choon Eiow, who also serves as co-artistic Business Centre, “Community Discovery” is a public Details: Macau Experimental Theatre 2015/2016 an extravaganza of concerts, visual arts Details: With 180 booths, this exhibition director of Approaching Theatre, is known education campaign to discover community assets Theatrical Season brings you five plays, including exhibitions and street fair in Bairro de São not only provides DIY-ers a platform to get for his consuming passion for everything and promote community culture. It combines The Golden Dragon 2.0, which has run three times Lázaro. Expect an action-packed Saturday. together and share skills, but also to showcase celluloid. This time he talks about how film has story-telling, tours and installation art that convey in Macao. Written by acclaimed German writer Organiser: Old Ladies House their talent and works. All products are either inspired him in theatrical performance and the charm and vibe of the bustling Yau Tsim Mong Roland Schimmelpfennig, this darkly whimsical made or designed in Hong Kong. Web: www.facebook.com/YCAMACAO playwriting. districts. play is loaded with theatrical panache, jump- Organiser: Jenbrial Patisserie cutting story lines, and ideas about the alienation Organiser: Step Out Organiser: Act2Change Web: www.jenbrial.com/products/hkhad endemic in contemporary culture. Web: www.facebook.com/ Web: www.facebook.com/ events/501046233392389/ events/1682460155317367/ Organiser: Macau Experimental Theatre Web: www.facebook.com/ events/383324398526126/

INKcarnation: Literary Tattoos Hong Kong International Cultural and Kavh x Raymond Chan Music Concert New Art Wave Expo Ensouler Design Festival Creative Industries Fair Date: 11/7/2015-23/8/2015 Date: 20/8/2015-23/8/2015 Date: 4/8/2015 Date: 28/8/2015-30/8/2015 Date: 31/7/2015-9/8/2015 (Closed on Mondays) Time: Please refer to activity schedule Time: 8pm Time: Please refer to activity schedule Time: Please refer to activity schedule Time: 11am-7pm Venue: Please refer to activity schedule Venue: Small Auditorium, Venue: Hall D, Cotai Expo, The Venetian Venue: 6/F, Exhibition Hall, Eslite Xinyi Store Venue: 1a Space, Cattle Depot Artist Village, Fee: Free Macao Cultural Centre Fee: Free Ticket: Please refer to activity schedule 63 Ma Tau Kok Road, Hong Kong Details: Themes of the fair include intangible Ticket: MOP140/120 Details: The first edition of New Art Wave Details: This series of multi-media exhibition Fee: Free world heritage, creative design, brand Details: Musical duos KAVH, together with Expo invites 80 art institutes from 20 countries and forums redefine what “graphic design” is, Details: Artists and writers were invited to authorisation, and anime and comics. The emerging pianist Raymond Chan, perform and regions to participate in this competition by trying to reveal the soul of the artworks pose for photos with the title of their choice regional and national pavilions showcase a series of pop music written by Macao for the “2015 New Art Wave International (and the artists) and to convey the logic of of Hong Kong literature written on their skin. original designs of respective places. Come songwriters in this concert. Proceeds of the Artist Award”. Five seminars will be held, with perfecting the designs. These 33 stunning photos are featured in this here you’ll see what’s new and what’s hot in sale of KAVH’s album Lover go to Macau Deaf themes ranging from grooming artists, art Organiser: Your Love Creative Design exhibition that brings together literature, Asia. Association. buying and collecting, to e-commerce for the and FLiPER calligraphy and photography. art market. Organiser: The Association of Chinese Culture Organiser: Macau Hot Blooded Performing Web: www.edf.com.tw Organiser: The House of Hong Kong Literature of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chapter of China Arts Association Organiser: Mention PR Consultants Web: www.hkliteraturehouse.org/ Federation of Literary and Art Circles Web: www.pianomacao.com and I-EXPO literature-tattoo/ Web: www.hkiccif.com/list-416.html Web: www.new-artwave.com

014 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 015 Research Assistant at the Department of Communications, Lio is a writer and the film adaptation of her novelDiago was Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau; Master of one of the competitors in the Official Selection Competition Public Policy, Willy Brandt School of Public Policy at the of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2010. University of Erfurt. Blogs Blogs

Cheong Sio Pang Lio Chi Heng

Summer Art Camp Telling a Good Story about Macao

Not long ago, I participated in an art the most important thing; skills are secondary. be achieved -- a state of true freedom. In these In recent years, more and more filmmakers journey of these short films about Macao transient in human life through the portrayal camp organised by Hong Kong’s Renaissance What moved me the most was the daring three interpretations of freedom, the common have come to Macao for location shooting, starting out as immature efforts, then learning of six characters. Choi Ian Sin sheds light on Foundation. Over six days, our activities included creativity of everyone there. theme is control, to varying degrees. The broad hoping to capture its dazzling Cotai Strip and to follow a more disciplined structure, from the the sisterhood of “massage girls” working in a video, literature, music and theatre workshops, In discussions with the participants, I saw historical sweep of Marxism, the individualistic unique urbanscape on film. In these movies, filming techniques to the storytelling method sensitive profession while Emily Chan tells the as well as seminars, creative activities, film how thoughtful and brave they were. One approach of Buddhism and the philosophical Macao often serves as nothing but just a in the three installments. The short stories continuing story about a light-hearted romance screenings, poetry readings, concerts, sharing point of discussions was the theme of the basis of existentialism are different ways of backdrop. that impressed viewers the most are the ones as her 40-minute short filmYesterday Once More sessions and a big arts extravaganza at the end. camp, “free.” From a sociological, class-based exploring the idea of being free, and the shifting There are certain kind of movies that that tell the story well without the trappings will be adapted into a full-length feature of 90 Each team had to create a performance for the perspective, the class warfare as described sense of individual identity in times of great possess Macao elements to a larger extent, of overblown grandiosity. It all comes down minutes. The Macao qualities present in these stage based on the theme “free.” by Marx aimed to liberate the masses from change. featuring scene after scene shot in places to having a good script— especially when we three stories cannot be “fabricated”; rather, they The participants came from Mainland the control of the capitalists until a classless During the camp, I truly felt the importance familiar to us while recounting stories about have yet to develop anything that we can call come from events happening to and around China, Hong Kong and Macao, and were largely society is achieved. But history has shown that of letting different elements of art collide the city in a serious manner. However, the city our own, telling a genuinely good story that the directors. Reading the film synopsis for a made up of university students or professionals it is extremely difficult, and cannot make us with one another. After all, an artistic sense is depicted in these films is not at all the same captures the flavour of Macao is particularly few minutes is sure to tug at your heartstrings. with an amateur or professional interest in “free.” Existentialism, which originated during present in everyone, waiting for a chemical one inhabited by us. What is captured on important. Cinema is an imaginative art form. Storylines art. As such, most of them already had a solid the Industrial Revolution, describes the way reaction to happen when a collision happens, film revolves around the titillating subjects of In May, I attended the second Guangdong– thrive on the writer’s wild imagination, but no grounding in art. Over six days and nights, humans became cogs in a giant machine and turning a creative idea into reality and laying gambling, prostitution, drug dealing, robbery, Hong Kong–Macao Film Exchange Programme matter how high and far you go with your they mixed poetry, music, video and body art, lost their own identities. Human existence is the foundation for the development of the and murder. To make such a typically intriguing where I heard more than ten directors from imagination, you have to keep your feet firmly resulting in creations that included elements of trivial in the grand scheme of history. Buddhism arts. There has been a big push in Macao in “Macao Story” film, a star-studded cast is Hong Kong and Macao recount stories about on the ground to give meaning to the fictional each of these art forms. The camp made me feel differentiates between being free, and living recent years to promote cultural and creative essential but a hefty budget is only optional. planning their shooting. To be honest, I was story. great as I realised I could still work with students an unobstructed life. Mahayana Buddhism industries. For the creators, having an interactive Though these films are capable of making aghast by the pompous and clumsy way they In other words, we need to have good even so long after I’ve left school. In addition, it teaches six paramitas, or virtues, that constrain platform to communicate with and learn from box office history, we probably will shake our expressed themselves, who seemed lost in scripts that show indigenous sensibilities. was inspiring to see the creative desire of all the one’s freedom. These include virtues of giving, others is essential. As society progresses, it heads about these directors’ take on our city. a world of their make-believe. While taking A good script means at least two things: a participants. In art, creativity is always discipline, endurance, diligence, will reach a point where it demands more in It’s not that we are not willing to come to terms a larger-than-life world view, they were not meaningful story and a strong Macao character. contemplation and wisdom. terms of spiritual fulfillment. Only through with Macao’s “dark side”, but rather that we feel capable of telling their stories well. Given strictly A story told from our own perspective comes Therefore from Buddhism’s discussions and sharing can creativity truly be an exploited Macao feels like a fake one. So, five minutes by the moderator to make their first, and turning it to a good movie next. point of view, one must accept manifested. Education also shouldn’t just be how should directors approach the subject speech, those who failed to do so blamed Only films made with such sensibilities can constraints on one’s freedom about teaching, but should involve discussions to leave us convinced that the Macao they the time for being too insufficient while three make their way to the market as a competitive to reach enlightenment. among peers. I dare say that if there was such an portray are closer to the truth? Well, it should young directors from Macao managed to contender. Only after these paramitas arts camp in Macao, it would greatly benefit the at least evoke Macao’s indigenous way of life, deliver their stories flawlessly. I couldn’t help but (Films and the development of cultural are perfected can a painless development of the arts here and nurture more for one thing. It goes without saying that our applaud their no-nonsense speech delivered and creative industries in Macao series 2) world, a state of emptiness bold and creative artists. local ethos can be summed up as “a melting with aplomb, and even more so, their down-to- pot of eastern and western cultures”, which is earth stories that the our city’s signature strength. However, as the general public can most exciting stories come from life, the cultural relate to. elements incorporated into the “melting pot Chan Ka Keong’s of East and West” can purely be perceived as a Passing Rain presents feeling or a memory, nothing more. the notion that the The Macao Stories series (almost developed impermanence of gain into a “brand name” of its own), illustrates the and loss is ultimately

Photo courtesy of Audio-Visual CUT Association. Film still for Macao Stories 3 016 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 017 Eugenia Lo is an independent journalist and editor. She is World traveller and columnist. Author of Travel Between a Master of Criminology researching the public security Hope and Pain, co-founder and chief editor of IronShoe Travel system in Mainland China. With a strong family ties in Channel. Macao, Lo is a constant researcher of the city’s cultural and Blogs social development. Over the years, Lo works with many Blogs international corporations and institutes including the Eugenia LoUniversity of Hong Kong, British Council, Commercial Lam Fai Press (H.K.), Joint Publishing (H.K.), etc. for various editing, PR and translation projects.

Scenery in the Historical Building Getting Published in Taiwan

Recently, I travelled to Taipei with a friend, Bok Su Lao was originally built for such as art classes and reading clubs. His effort Before I embarked on the round-the- print run is 1,000 copies (some can be as few I’ve chosen Taiwan instead of China, where who is a Christian History researcher. Hence Reverend William Gauld’s as his residence is supported and appreciated by customers world trip, I already had a plan to write and as 500 copies). It’s rare to sell well enough to go the readership is larger, because of the following some of the Christianity related historical spots in 1909. After his passing in 1923, the house and artists, thus he expects to increase the sale publish travel narratives. I believe that most to a second printing or more. On the contrary, reasons. Firstly, both Taiwan and Hong Kong were included in our itinerary, including the became the residence of Reverend Hugh proportion of the creative cultural products in travellers are on the same wavelength. I kept in Taiwan, the initial print run is more than use traditional Chinese characters. Even though Aletheia University in Tamsui. When we arrived MacMillan, who served at Taipei Theological the future. writing when I was on the road, and the journal 2,000 copies and subsequent printings are not the usage sometimes can be different, most of at Buk Su Lao (The House of Reverends), a small School, then Reverend James I. Dickson at Opening a shop in a historical spot is of my travels is enough to convert into two unusual. the time we have no difficulties to understand café facing a beautiful garden at the lower floor Tamkang High School. Originally this red unique but not without obstacles. The owner books. Therefore, when my journey was more There is another reason why I opted for each other. Therefore, even a book is published of the building caught our attention. building had nothing to do with coffee, but has to follow the regulations strictly and cannot than halfway through, I started looking for a Taiwan: readers in Taiwan are more ready in Taiwan, it can be sold directly in Hong Kong This café was not in our original plan, but Kevin Lin, the owner of Bok Su Lao Café told alter the interior or exterior of the building publisher with help from friends. Finally, I found to accept serious literature and text-heavy and it’s not necessary to convert it to another my coffee addiction suddenly kicked in and me it was fate that linked the hundred-year- without permission. The simple interior design China Times Publishing Co. in Taiwan and the books. In other words, readers in Taiwan are language or version. Secondly, if a work contains I could not resist ordering a cup. We sat at the old building, coffee and himself together. of Bok Su Lao is a good solution. Lin makes use editors were happy with my work. Last year, my more willing to read different genres of books politically sensitive content, censorship in China coffee bar and watched the owner to brew our Besides, the Taiwan Government is supportive of his own creative products and artworks to debut travelogue Travel Between Hope and Pain because the number of readers in Taiwan is can be a real pain in the arse. By comparison coffee. I also took my time to appreciate the for heritage preservation and revitalisation, Lin create a sense of style and show the customers was published, which is about my journey to more and the readership is of higher quality. My with China, Hong Kong and Taiwan’s freedom interior of the café. The retro-designed copper thus took this good opportunity to convert a his passion. He involves in the operation and Central Asia and the Middle East. The sequel to book is a more serious form of travelogue and I of the press is a real advantage. espresso machine, wooden furniture and the small room in the building into a café. He is also quickly learn about the customers’ preferences it will be out in September and the focus is my believe that Taiwanese readers are more ready Having said that, the publishing industry is little angel ceramic dolls by the window all the interior and product designer of the café. and improve his service promptly. journey to Europe, Central and South Americas. to read this type of books. waning no matter in Hong Kong or in Taiwan. match perfectly with this 1909 colonial-style The main product is freshly-brewed coffee of There are shops and restaurants in some A lot of my friends asked: “As a If a writer wants to venture into the It’s difficult to publish a book with high quality building with fine pointed masonry and red course, along with over 20 specially designed of Macao’s historical buildings. The Macao S.A.R. Hongkonger, why don’t you get your book Taiwanese market, why doesn’t he or she get of content and at the same time saleable. A lot brick porch. With the cultural products and cultural products such as artwork in the shape Government and the Cultural Affairs Bureau are published in Hong Kong but opt for Taiwan the work published in Hong Kong and ship the of my friends feel pessimistic about the future of artworks in the café, we could easily spend an of coffee beans, the founder of the Aletheia generally very supportive to such revitalisation instead?” books to Taiwan instead? Apart from the quality the publishing industry. But I still believe that a afternoon here and relax myself if we did not University Reverend George Leslie Mackay projects. However, I notice that there are either With respect to travel writing, I am, in fact, of the work, promotion and sales channels are society needs good books. Perhaps the reading have other plans for later. and Christianity-related products, also photos too many or too few products in these shops, not the first Hongkonger to get published also vital to the success of the sale of a book. pattern would change, but a good writer can and drawings by Lin himself. Personally my and they usually do not have a strong tide with in Taiwan. Chow Chung Wah’s A Journey that In Taiwan, with the support of the publisher, eventually get his story told to his readers. Let’s favourite products are the coffee mugs with the building itself. The lack of personality is Starts From the End of the Silk Road, Ng Mun it’s easier to get media exposure and to keep up the good work everyone. the line drawing of Bok Su Lao and decorative somewhat a waste of the building’s potential. Mun’s Daydream Traveller, and several books by arrange book talks to promote the book. More tapes printed with the university’s buildings. It is true that similar products such as postcards Susanna Cheung Chui Yung were all published importantly, bookshops in Taiwan Apart from being creative, Lin also wants can be found and sold in most tourism cities. in Taiwan long before my book was done. This give priority to books to show his customers the spirit of service. Nevertheless, human warmth can be added year, Riki Ueda’s Quit Your Job, Hit the Road is out; published locally, and “We can save the postcards written by our to the same piece of paper in the hand of a and as far as I know some Hong Kong travellers naturally will put those customers and post them on a designated good shop owner. A good business plan is of are also planning to get their works published in books to better display date. This special service allows the course important, but the ability of observation Taiwan. I opted for Taiwan mainly because there stands and display customers and their friends afar to feel the is also essential for success. Running the are readers out there. Taiwan has a population longer. Therefore if you warmth of handwriting and also the spirit creative-cultural business is not like running a of 20 million. With a strong reading culture, target the Taiwanese of Mackay.” Speaking of human touch, Lin supermarket. The shopkeepers have to take the Taiwan naturally has more readers than Hong readership, it’s natural to also organises art exhibitions and rents initiation and understand the buying patterns Kong. This is evidenced by the size of a book’s get your book published the venue to local artists for special events and psychology of the customers. first print run. In Hong Kong, most books’ first in Taiwan.

018 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 019 Freelance writer. Masters of Arts from Taipei National A graduate of School of Chinese Language and Literature at University of Graduate Institute of Theatre Performance Peking University, Mu Yu is now working in cultural industries, and Playwriting and Graduate Institute of Architecture and and she is a literature and creative arts buff. Cultural Heritage. Chang sees travel as a discipline and learns Blogs to look at things from a different angle each time when Blogs she is in a strange place. Published works include Amazing SiSi ChangAustralia, An In-Depth Guide to Angkor and Lonely Planet Mu Yu IN Series: Taiwan.

Is Creativity Now Just Sales and Marketing? Changing a City Through Culture

Once upon a time in Taiwan, anything that It is worse in the cultural sector. Teachers are people would show up in the audience. After At a seminar on public cultural projects, built the Saadiyat Cultural District, a large area controversial. In Bilbao, deputy mayor Ibon was related to cultural education always ended up very clear that their job is to teach. Social workers submitting my report, I was inevitably summoned an official asked students in the audience, “Our encompassing the Louvre, Guggenheim and Areso faced serious opposition from the public being some kind of “activity”. In schools, teachers are very clear that their role is to support the to the Ministry of Culture and got an earful about city has no forests, no minerals, no industry, no other top international arts institutions that against the Guggenheim project. But without and students were too busy to have to meet the underprivileged in society and provide care for it. “You didn’t make charts. Where are the pie chart agriculture. What kind of economic future will could be the world’s pre-eminent cultural his wisdom and courage, Bilbao would not have goals set by the Ministry of Education. On the them. What is the work of a cultural professional? and the line chart? Where are the figures on media our youth have?” centre in the future. Most importantly, however, spawned the so-called Guggenheim Effect, and surface, they were official policy goals relating In the Ming and Qing dynasties, cultural workers exposure? What’s the relationship between media Among the few hundred students, no is the message the project sends the world -- would not have encouraged corporations to to conduct or artistic talent or some such, but in were seen somewhat pejoratively as idle people exposure and audience response? I can’t see from one wanted to say the answer that was in that Abu Dhabi has more than just oil. invest huge sums of money in urban planning the end they were reduced to simple box-ticking who worked for the rich, helping their patrons your report what the benefits of this project are. the official’s mind, but some people softly Macao has also similarly started to push afterwards. It was a highly risky investment, activities. With insufficient resources and time, with organising operas or theatre, writing We need this in order to perform our evaluation!” murmured, “Money.” cultural development since 2010 in order to and one that seriously tested the foresight and the easiest way to meet these goals seemed literature, gardening. Today, this concept is no they would say. There are few cities in the world that can diversify its economy. The difference with Abu management of urban planners. to be to organise activities such as, “four-year longer true. Culture is no longer the domain of the The key is figures. No matter how brilliant boastfully joke in that way. But do we really Dhabi, however, is that Macao already houses In fact, Macao doesn’t lack cultural plan to nurture xyz” or “e-learning projects.” rich. People of all classes have their own culture your creation is, how positive the reception, want to see our cities so impoverished that all a great deal of culture, including a UNESCO managers with vision. A decade ago, Macao Once teachers receive these instructions, they and values. Tapping into them is the basis of what how strong the foundation of your theatre that’s left is money? Is it really so implausible to World Heritage Site and four centuries of east- successfully applied to be a UNESCO World are overwhelmed with a literal mountain of we know as cultural and creative industries today. company is, it doesn’t matter. You have to use culture to kickstart development in a city? west interaction. So why can’t Macao make its Heritage Site, a very important cultural project work such as promotion campaigns, recruiting But it is a long and difficult process that requires quantify that in a set of good-looking numbers. Using culture to develop cities is not new. cultural mark on the global stage? Unlike the that placed Macao firmly on the world map. students, taking photos, and writing reports. social cohesion, strong self-identification and the Non-profit work cannot be measured in money, Cultural industries in Europe developed in old aforementioned cities, what Macao lacks is a Today, we need to revitalise Macao’s cultural Social workers too have fallen into this right historical context. And how will these people so it must be reflected in “audience”. What can industrial towns to breathe new economic life landmark cultural project that can galvanise image. But what it is? Perhaps it’s new cultural pattern. There are simply too many cases to raise money? Through organising activities. you do to be more mass-market friendly? into these places. Bilbao in Spain is one classic the entire city and stir international attention. projects that have yet to be rolled out, or it is the manage and too few social workers. Simply Every proposal has the same elements: goals, Organise activities. Quiet diligence does not example. The completion of the Guggenheim It’s something that becomes deeply ingrained annual Parade Through Macao, Latin City that fulfilling basic responsibilities is already execution, budget, prediction. Evaluations are produce benefits. So there is a proliferation Museum and progressive urban planning in people’s minds, or “iconic communication,” has been going on for years. Or maybe it’s the extremely difficult. They must handle many always written based on those original estimates. of events. Aboriginal ceremonies become helped turn the industrial backwater into an as urban planner Charles Landry calls it. A proposed Macao Biennale, inspired by Venice. other requests, for example, government In my first few years working in this industry, I carnivals. Theatre performances become art important tourist spot on the continent. Even city needs to find that icon in order to make Our cultural planning blueprints are ready. The orders, corporate CSR activities, press found myself in one of these incidents. It was a festivals. Historical venues turn into artisanal in newly-wealthy cities, cultural industries itself stand out among cities in the world. next stage is to convince the public that culture conferences, finding underprivileged children children’s theatre troupe. At the time, computers markets. Rural cultural festivals become night are important. Abu Dhabi, for example, has But such projects are usually expensive and can change a city. to showcase and so on, all in the name of raising were not widespread and there was only dial- markets. Cultural workers are all in a way public money. There is a never-ending list of activities up internet. Most documents were still written relations practitioners. All these events look to organise, reports to write, donations to chase, by hand and then photocopied. I could budget bustling on the surface, but underneath, the evaluations to fulfill. NTD100,000 for something and only two hundred artistic foundation is bare.

020 ISSUE08 ISSUE08 021 Winner of the Taipei Literature Award, China Times Literary Award, Lin Rong-san Literature Award and Liang Shih-chiu Literature Award. Ruby likes poetry and essays, photography and drawing; Loves discovering the old and the new, warm Blogs humour, and finding truth in the absurd; hopes to play a role in Lou Ye’s films, and writes lyrics for singers she loves. Ruby Chen

Placing a Cosmic Order

Ever since internet access became an on their doors, they can take the initiative to get among the likes of you and me. Society6 features indispensable part of modern life, the internet what they want. As crowdfunding platforms, home décor products designed by netizens, literally turns into the greatest “wishing pond” blogging and content-sharing websites help including carpets, pillows, and shower curtains. history has ever seen. If anyone wants to “place artists maintain a high degree of independence, From a consumer’s perspective, these artworks an order to the Universe” (a mantra made artists can avoid gatekeeping from senior might be amateurish, but they come across as popular by The Secret, a bestselling guide to management while reaching out to the relatively rare with a more personalised character, spiritual growth), perhaps the faster way is to audience or customers directly and gauging which makes wearing the same outfit as someone get online. their popularity based on the number of likes else unlikely. Moreover, they are not like the mass- We’ve all heard stories about how those with and how many books they sell. produced products from major brands, which unrecognised talent wallow in a sea of misery as Founded in 2000 in the United States, tend to be superficial without giving consumers a they encounter nothing but rejection – such as Threadless was among the first wave of sense of participation. that of John Kennedy Toole, who was given the e-commerce companies that struck gold via The late spring of 2015 saw the IPO debut of brush-off by one publisher after another in his life. crowdfunding. Its operating model essentially Etsy, the world’s largest peer-to-peer e-commerce Unable to get any of his books published, Toole works like this: users can submit T-shirt designs website focused on handmade or vintage items lost his life to depression, denying him the chance anytime online for Threadless members to review (must be at least 20 years old). It took Etsy only to see his book, A Confederacy of Dunces, win the and give feedback of what they like or dislike. ten years to develop from a startup to a publicly Pulitzer Prize. The novel went on to become a Every week Threadless selects the top-scoring traded company used by buyers and sellers from wildly popular best-seller and a cult classic. or the most controversial designs and put them all over the world. Etsy owes its popularity to not If Toole were a netizen today, he could have up for sale, sharing the profits with the designers. just a highly personalised search template and his life rewritten just by sitting at the computer and While only a limited number of each design is constantly innovative features, but also perhaps posting his work onto the Amazon e-bookstore, made, sold-out designs will be reprinted if enough to its unique business approach that took the just like the way Hugh Howey did with Wool – people request a reprint. direction of fulfilling new expectations in the who was in charge of publishing his own book. As Using these websites as a marketing post-industrial era –production and consumption an e-book, Wool sold so well that it attracted the platform, designers can provide their creative patterns driven by a deeper sense of humanity attention of traditional publishers who solicited a ideas first-hand while customers can take charge and participation. book deal with Howey. of the decision-making process. How fashionable Individualism might have its limits, but we in Of course, frustrating cases of unrealised is fashionable? In the brave new world of the the 21th century have witnessed how the Internet talent won’t just disappear overnight. However, Internet, matters like this are no longer just settled can effectively fit into one’s ideology to galvanise the internet has now at least opened up by a small group of people. a sweeping, massive social movement and a windows of opportunities for aspiring artists. E-stores similar to Threadless are all the rage cultural phenomenon from the bottom up. This is Rather than waiting for luck to come knocking and they have found collaborating designers a force to be reckoned with.

022 ISSUE08