24_Think_even more 19/11/06 2:22 pm Page 1 SINGAPORE, DISTILLEDDISTILLED.. SINGAPORE’S FINEST ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE, EVER • WWW.THINK.CZ • ISSUE #24 24_Think_even more 15/11/06 6:08 pm Page 2 24_Think_even more 15/11/06 6:10 pm Page 3 24_Think_even more 20/11/06 7:18 pm Page 4 HUMANIFESTO Vol. III, Issue 24 held a gallery exhibition EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Jeffree Benét of large format black Tel: 9880 6520 – [email protected] and white images of SALES DIRECTOR: Darren Halls landfills in Montana. The images were beau- Tel: 9436 0249 – [email protected] tiful explorations of tex- CO-FOUNDER/AD SALES: Keith Kirchner ture, with rust, and oxi- Tel: 8205 9716 – [email protected] dation and the aging of nature over the artifices THE PARTNERS: Alvin Lim, [email protected], of man. Plus they Sion Scott Wilson, [email protected] looked damn good EDITOR AT LARGE: Darren Ho above your living room sofa. One art critic from [email protected] ARTISTRY IS OBSOLETE the local newspaper was there, soaking SENIOR WRITER Mark Koh Welcome to Think 24, the continuing up the free wine, in the corner pontificat- [email protected] saga of beer-addled minds in search of a ing about how the artist (he didn’t know creative outlet. We have seen the writ- I was there) had meant to show how EDITOR EMERITUS Alex Zaitchik ings on the walls, and were not fined for mankind despoils the environment with SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS adding our own (luckily nobody saw us.) his refuse, yet it is nature who gets the fe Joe Bodia, Darren Halls, Liz Bennett, What a strange way to start of this last laugh as she subsumes man’s cre- month’s humanifesto, in an issue featur- ations back into the bosom of her earth Sha Nayak, Laura Encarnado, ing some various aspects of the arts here (or words to that effect.) His thoughts CONTRIBUTORS in sunny Singapore. One can’t help but were interesting, and spoken with Denn Decosta, Jeanne M Lee, Becherete Adrian, ask oneself (but never out loud, people enough volume to gain a small might whisper that you’re a madman) if crowd around to hear his pronunciations. Simran Panaech, Deborah Lee, Gregg Hall “art” serves any real function in the tech- I decided to take the wind out of his art ON THE COVER “Thinking Girl” by Alvin Lim nocratic isle? I’m not talking here about critic proclamations, and coming up art for art’s sake, but as an expression of behind him, with a hearty slap on his THINK SINGAPORE a deeper human need to reorder the back said, “Hey, you guys like the pic- is published by Inkybrain world around us and somehow beautify tures I took? There was all this trash lay- Media Venures Pte Ltd, 114 Middle Rd #01- it, as if mere mortals can create anything ing on the ground and I had a few extra 11 Basement Level, Singapore 188971 more beautiful than a sunset or a rose. rolls of film left…” OFFICE NUMBER/FAX: Tel: 6336 6302 To this, I say yes, a resounding yes, for if I guess that’s why I never became a big all the monies spent on weapons of war name artist, coz I just couldn’t stand the GNEREAL ENQUIRIES: [email protected] and oppressive police states or in the game. Reminds me of a line form the ON-LINE VERSION: www.think.cz operand conditioning of entire populaces poet Daniel Kenny “Is an artist apart to be obedient yet well fed drones, then from his art, are the claps but the start, is the world would explode in colour and a fart but a part?” Copyright © is held by the publishers vibrant beauty instead of broken body So what’s in store in this issue’s look at where applicable. All rights reversed. the local art scene? Well, we’ve got an parts and cluster bombs. Reproduction in whole or in part requires So art does serve a function (and of interview with the very talented 2006 course I’m not talking here about my NAC Arts Award winner Francis Ng, as permission of the authors. PRINTED BY favourite function of art, the revolution- well as with Edmund T. Shern, one of the Time Printers Pte. Ltd. ISSN: 8593893 109803 founders of Imaginary Friends studio, ary aspects), the power of an image or • MICA (P): 267/05/2005 a word to bring about sweeping change who create art that fires the imagination (and isn’t it ironic that the voters in the yet rarely is seen in the gallery. He US handed Bush his ass on the anniver- laments that art isn’t taken seriously THE FINE PRINT: Think Magazine is an here, but perhaps he doesn’t know about sary of the first day the Berlin wall came Entertainment Information Periodical estab- down?). the groups of migrants here who take lished in Prague, c. 1996 by a team of vision- Who knows what change art could their art very seriously… and find expres- bring upon Singapore? Or is that a strictly sion with the help of Migrant Voices. aries dissatisfied with the current state of the no-go area, and the artists here are only – Jeffree Benet free press market. Think Magazine is brought allowed safe subjects which look nice, yet to you by the principles of freedom; of say nothing? But who says art has to Send your thoughts, rants, expression, of thought, of potential and of life foment change? Why can’t it be just a raves, gripes and personal views to pretty picture to match your couch and [email protected]. We’ll dig up prizes in all of it’s many manifest forms and shapes. bring a focus to your living room? for the most crack-inspired letter. If Think Magazine is brought to you by all of Screw that. I want my art to say some- you want Think Singapore to turn up our volunteers, supporters and advertisers thing, however subtly, however oddly. in your mailbox every month, an Th But one thing an artist must never do is annual subscription is available for who make this endeavour possible. To them take him or herself too seriously. Once I $30. Email [email protected] for details. we give thanks. 4 www.think.cz What force is more potent than love? 24_Think_even more 18/11/06 6:50 pm Page 5 pick up your copy of think at these hot joints… ALLEY BAR 2 Emerald Hill Road, BAR NONE Marriott Hotel, BAR SA VANH AND INDOCHINE RESTAURANT 47 Club Street, BARRIO CHINO 60 Club Street, BEAVER’S AMERICAN PUB 33 Liang Seah Street, BEDROOM BAR 68 Circular Road, BEER CELLAR 01-02 Capital Square, BIS- SOUS Capital Square, BREWERKS Riverside Point, CABLE CAR 1890’S SALON Cuppage Terrace, APORE CATHAY CINEMA 8 Grange Road, CEDELE Great World City Mall, Republic Plaza, CHANGING APPETITES Far East Square, CHEEKY MONKEYS 262 / 264 River Valley Road, CLARKE QUAY: ASY- LUM, ATTICA , BAIZE CHINE ONE, BB BAR, CRAZY ELEPHANT, ESTE The Club, FORBIDDEN CITY, GOTHAM PENTHOUSE, HOOTERS, MINISTRY OF SOUND, TAPAS TREE, THE 1NITESTAND, VIA VENE- TO, COASTES BEACH BAR 50 Siloso Beach Walk, COCCO LATTE 76 Robertson Quay, COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF: Centrepoint SC, Great World City, Paragon SC, House #01-02, Scotts SC, Boat Quay , 79 Robinson Road, #01-0, Forum Mall, Fuji Xerox Towers, Int’l Plaza, 10 Anson Road, Parco Bugis, Republic Plaza, Ngee Ann City, Wheelock Place, COFFEE CARTEL Plaza Singapura, COFFEE CONTENT CLUB No 7, Raffles Place, CREAM BISTRO Pacific Plaza, DAN RYAN’S CHICAGO GRILL 91 Tanglin Road, #B1-01 Tanglin Place, DAYBEDLOUNGE 15 Mohamed Sultan Rd, DBL O, O BAR, POOL ROOM BAR 11 Unity St. #01-24 Robertson Walk, DELIFRANCE: Great World City Mall, Centrepoint Shopping Centre, International Plaza, 10 Anson Road, Parco Bugis Junction, Robinson ures Towers, DESIRE 39 Circular Road, DXO Esplanade Mall, EN LOUNGE UE Square, ENOTRIA China feat Sq. 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