Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Tatler Singapore

TATLER HONG KONG On the cover this month is acclaimed Hong Kong film director Ann Hui, who was recently honoured with the Golden Lion award for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. Hui’s latest film, Love After Love, is based on the 1943 short story Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier by Eileen Chang. tatlerhongkong.com TATLER INDONESIA Actor Wulan Guritno talks about her film career and her behind-the-scenes activism. She is actively involved in the Gelang Harapan movement that raises funds for many charitable causes, including the arts and performance industry affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. tatlerindonesia.com TATLER MALAYSIA Fashion designer Shaleen Cheah has returned to Malaysia after spending 14 years in Dubai, where she started her eponymous label, which is inspired by Cheah’s Malaysian heritage and her trips around…

INFRARED SAUNA Sweating it out at a sauna is a great way to lift your mood, improve blood circulation, and relieve sore or tense muscles and joints. But traditional saunas aren’t always comfortable due to its high temperatures of between 65C and 90C. That is why an infrared sauna makes for a better alternative. Instead of conventional heat that raises the temperature of your environment, full spectrum infrared technology is used to penetrate the skin up to 7cm—heating the core of your body instead of the air around you for a more effective sweat session. Pure Wellness Studio is the first dedicated infrared sauna studio in Singapore. It offers three types of 45min sauna treatments catering to different needs: the Rejuvenate cabin offers a combination of near, mid and far…

HAPPY JUBILEE Paul Smith celebrates his brand’s 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the British designer launched a capsule collection featuring archival prints from 1988 to 2002 for which the designer is known, like the now-ubiquitous spaghetti and green apple graphics. Find them on new sport jackets and velvet suits for men and women, all lined in the house’s signature rainbow colours. WALK WITH ME New season, new shape. Maria Grazia Chiuri designs another future-classic tote for Christian Dior, Dior St Honoré, named after the French Maison’s flagship store address in Paris. In a roomy size and in box or grained leather, the bag comes in subtle, easy-to-wear hues like black, blue and beige, and is meant to be so versatile it could pair with any piece from…

In 1964, Kenzo Takada arrived in Paris from Japan, only intending to stay for six months. Little did he know he’d make the French capital his home for the next 56 years and become one of the most celebrated Asian designers of the last half-century, influencing everyone from Yohji Yamamoto to Rei Kawakubo. “For me, to create is to give pleasure and happiness to others, and also the freedom to be myself,” he once said. Always seen with a smile beaming beneath rounded spectacles, Takada’s optimistic take on life and on fashion permeated his work and touched many who had the privilege of knowing him, and this joie de vivre lives on as one his greatest legacies. “His amazing energy, kindness and talent were contagious,” says Kenzo creative director Felipe…

Art is food for the soul—and this is why homemaker Coco Cai has decorated her home in Bukit Timah with various artworks such as Chinese ink and watercolour paintings and pop art sculptures to “reflect the experiences we all go through in life”. “My husband and I have chosen the art pieces to remind ourselves that life has its ups and downs,” she shares. “And that the love and warmth we have as a family is precious.” Family is important to Cai, even more so now that she is a new mother to an eight-month-old son. While caring for him keeps her busy, she also makes sure to carve out some me-time to pursue personal interests. She recently started taking private cello classes. “Learning to play the cello has not…

Hong Kong-based actress Karena Lam has been photographed wearing jewellery from Bulgari’s spectacular Heritage collection, which came to the brand’s flagship boutique in Central, Hong Kong, for an in-house exhibition. Gifted to actress Elizabeth Taylor by her on-again, off-again husband Richard Burton, an exceptional necklace set with 16 step-cut octagonal Colombian emeralds weighing an estimated total of 60.50 carats adorns Lam’s neck. The necklace’s pendant element is set with a single emerald weighing 23.44 carats and was worn as a brooch by Taylor on her wedding day in 1964.…

It’s 9am in New York when Francesca Amfitheatrof logs onto Zoom to speak to me about Louis Vuitton’s new high jewellery collection, Stellar Times. She sits in the living room of her Brooklyn apartment, which she shares with her husband, who accidentally walks into frame during our interview, and their two children, who are nowhere to be seen. “Last night was a full moon,” she tells me. “I really feel its energy.” Expressive and quick-witted, there’s no doubting Amfitheatrof’s a Gemini. “I always make the time to read my horoscope,” she says, adding that she has struggled to adjust to the pandemic’s new normal. “I miss going to museums, to the cinema, to the theatre and to concerts.” As artistic director for jewellery and watches at Louis Vuitton, Amfitheatrof is…

In a new campaign by Montblanc, What Moves You, Makes You, Golden Globe-winning actor Taron Egerton, who starred in Elton John biopic Rocketman (2019), is photographed wearing the brand’s 1858 Geosphere. “Acting is about play, you know?” Egerton says about his profession. “It’s exactly the same as when you’re a kid and you’re holding an action figure or toy car or a set of cups and pretending to have a tea party. It’s all imagination and you’re performing a part. It’s just a little bit more sophisticated now than it was then.” DEM BONES For the first time, Franck Muller has housed its Revolution 3 triple-axis tourbillon movement in its signature Vanguard case. Known for complex complications, Franck Muller launched the world’s first tri-axial tourbillon in 2004. Designed to reduce…

What’s special about the new Endurance Pro? I’m an active individual, so it’s hard not to love everything about this watch. Fashion is obviously very important, and Breitling has nailed the look and evolution of this timepiece. The retro feel of this watch ties it back to its Seventies roots but it’s also been modernised. Something I must mention is how light it is. You don’t even realise it’s on your wrist—it’s brilliant. How do you wear your Endurance Pro? I’m currently wearing the yellow version because it has a strong affinity with leading bicycle races and yellow jerseys within the endurance world. I’ve also ordered the blue one. Conservative but stylish, it’s a statement piece but in a softer way. Plus, blue is my favourite colour. How has watchmaking…

Two years ago, a painting by Jenny Saville set a record at auction for the highest price paid for a work by a living female artist, but the British painter doesn’t like to think about that too much. “I try to keep my eye firmly on the art; the painting is the same painting as it was before the auction,” she says matter-of-factly, when we meet in her drawing studio in Oxford. The painting in question is the gargantuan, corpulent self-portrait, Propped, created in 1992 and one of five works by Saville to have been exhibited in the Sensation show of Young British Artists (YBAs) that caused such a stir at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1997. The seven-foot-tall canvas sold for £9.5 million. “That’s crazy money,…

JUNE 13 We haven’t even passed the city limits of Austin, Texas, our home town, before our three-year-old daughter announces, “I’m done with this trip, I want out of the car!” Fifteen minutes down, 70 hours to go. This seems daunting. It’s our first road trip with our two young children, and we’ve decided to go big, driving from Texas to Montana for two months in the middle of a global pandemic that has turned any type of travel into a risk. Our family and friends think it’s nutty. But since our kids were born, we’ve spent a chunk of each summer at a cabin in the mountains outside Missoula, Montana to escape city life and the oppressive Texas sun. Now it seems we are escaping the virus. And as…

In the effervescent world of champagne, some names have become so synonymous with luxury—thank you very much, Jay-Z—that one might wonder just what is so special about the grapes that go into the likes of Cristal, Dom Pérignon or Salon. Is each grape polished by hand; each vine watered only with Evian? In fact, in the somewhat unusual ecosystem of the region of Champagne, the origin of most grapes is not really as proprietary as you might think (though Cristal is an exception). In fact, the big “houses”, or maisons or négociants if you prefer, are actually supported by a network of co-operatives and individual grape growers who, in some cases, might also make wines of their own. These belong to a category known as “grower estates”, a term that…

When we came up with Tatler’s monthly magazine themes late last year, all of the editors in Asia agreed that November was the perfect time to have a “Best Of” issue—a chance to document the extraordinary people, places and stories ahead of the holiday season. Pre-pandemic, this meant shining the spotlight on ultra-curated travel and dining experiences, as well as outstanding art, fashion and jewellery to covet. Then 2020 arrived and dealt us a hand no one could have expected: an unrelenting pandemic, an unprecedented economic downturn, and incessant political and social unrest across the globe. This year has adversely impacted all of us, but it has also helped us change, dare I say, in some cases for the better. With social distancing and travel restrictions still in place, many…

DEDRIC WONG Assistant conductor of Ding Yi Music Company “Conducting is a career where you’ll find yourself getting better over time”— DEDRIC WONG For many musicians, getting your name in the end credits of a Hollywood film would count as a big career highlight. Dedric Wong can proudly say that he has the first one in the bag for his contribution to the soundtrack of Disney’s live-action adaptation of Mulan, which was released locally in September. Ding Yi Music Company, the homegrown Chinese chamber ensemble he co-founded in 2007 with a group of passionate music diploma course mates during their third year at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa), had collaborated with renowned British composers Harry Gregson-Williams and Richard Harvey in 2018 on Phoenix Orchestra, a music library of…

Since its inception, Tatler Singapore has always championed the very best in its pages—highlighting talented artists, designers, craftsmen and brands, both locally and internationally. Along with our sister magazine Tatler Homes Singapore, we espouse how to live the good life as well as communicate our commitment to quality on our print and digital platforms. With decades of experience in content creation, publisher Tatler Asia (Singapore) finally made its foray into making these pieces and experiences more accessible to our audience. There has always been a discussion about venturing into e-commerce eventually, and the pandemic has accelerated these plans. As more people turn to online shopping, there is a growing need for a trusted platform with tightly curated offerings, which has led to the creation of two e-commerce platforms by Tatler…

Rapid digitalisation throughout the globe, spurred on by the Covid-19 pandemic, has sparked a race among the most forward-looking businesses to innovate and disrupt the way humans live and create new possibilities for the greater good. The experts at Franklin Templeton are committed to pursuing investment excellence for their clients by identifying and investing in companies which have the potential to make a difference in the world we live in. The global investment firm celebrates 30 years in Singapore this year. It has grown its presence here from a research office in 1990 into the Asia headquarters of one of the largest asset management firms in the world. An innovative approach to asset management continues to guide the firm’s investment philosophy. The company has funds that invest in companies driving…

Before becoming the inaugural winner of Netflix’s fashion design competition Next in Fashion earlier this year, 34-year-old South Korean designer Minju Kim had long been dressing K-Pop stars, including stage costumes for BTS and Red Velvet. After the win—which earned her global recognition and a capsule collection launch on Net-a-Porter—the soft-spoken designer, known for her billowing confections, has been welcomed into the luxury e-tailer’s Vanguard programme, providing her with the resources and exposure to grow. How did you first realise you wanted to work in fashion? I studied fashion, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to become a fashion designer; I was more passionate about drawing. Then Walter Van Beirendonck, the head of the fashion department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, where I studied, became my…

Fashion designer, actress and model Hannah Quinlivan, who starred in Skyscraper (2018) and appeared in last month’s Asia’s Most Stylish feature, has announced her partnership with French luxury jewellery house Boucheron. A household name in her native Taiwan, Quinlivan has starred alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and made headlines for marrying Mandopop star Jay Chou in 2015. SIGNATURE SETTING To celebrate this month’s reopening of its Landmark Prince’s Building flagship boutique, Van Cleef & Arpels has brought several new mystery-set pieces from Paris to Hong Kong, including the breathtaking Ruby Bow ring. Crafted in white and pink gold, this elegant piece is set with carefully cut rubies and diamonds. Look closely, and you’ll see that there are no prongs or fittings holding these gemstones in place, thanks to the “mystery…

A WATCH FOR ALL SEASONS Four new dial colours have been introduced to Carl F Bucherer’s TravelTec series, with each representing a different season: green for spring, yellow for summer, orange for autumn and blue for winter. The TravelTec model has been around, in various iterations, for 15 years and its triple time-zone complication has become a staple in Carl F Bucherer’s line-up. Wear yours with a rubber strap. THE MECHANIC Hublot has launched two limited editions of 20 pieces each from its iconic Big Bang collection to commemorate Ferrari’s milestone participation in Formula One. To celebrate Ferrari’s 1,000th Grand Prix, a milestone in Formula One’s 70th anniversary year, the Big Bang Ferrari 1000 GP comes in white gold or Carbon Ceramic. An openworked dial gives us a sneak peek…

FIRED UP Audemars Piguet has added to its line of highly engineered ceramic chronographs. Harder than steel, ceramic withstands super-high temperatures, thermal shocks and scratches. Tatler recommends the watchmaker’s fierce Royal Oak Offshore, which now comes in numerous colours that are elevated by Méga Tapisserie dials and robust rubber straps. The classic blue and green models come in stainless steel, but this brown model comes with a distinctive pink gold case that beautifully complements the bezel’s brown ceramic, which is used for the very first time by Audemars Piguet. BEST SELLER Patek Philippe’s latest repeating watch is a newer version of the brand’s Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019 Ref 5303R-010, which was launched last year and limited to just 12 pieces. While this model isn’t a limited edition, production numbers…

Terence Lim Editor of Tatler Singapore This month, Van Cleef & Arpels might just be adding yet another award from the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) to its list of accolades. Nominated for the Jewellery category, its Frivole Secrète watch features two different-sized floral motifs—each cluster of heart-shaped petals is anchored with a diamond—on each end of the open bangle, while the larger bouquet reveals a diamond-paved dial.…

Over the past few months, many of Singapore’s hotels have reopened following the end of the two-month circuit breaker period in June and have been offering staycations to travel-starved locals. But popular boutique hotels KeSa House and Ann Siang House, which are located in vibrant heritage enclaves close to Singapore’s central business district, have remained closed. Even in October, when we met Ashish Manchharam, the man behind these two properties, for a photo shoot at KeSa House on Keong Saik Road, the hotel was still not up and running. In the few areas that we had access to, beds were wrapped in protective plastic, and utensils and kitchen equipment remained covered up. But this is not a sign that things have taken a turn for the worse. Rather, Manchharam, the…

Wendi Murdoch is passionate about a great many things—fashion, food and film among them. She’s also obsessive about technology, and can list from memory facts and figures about the hottest start-ups from Silicon Valley to Shanghai. But most of all, Murdoch loves artists—none more so than Cai Guo-Qiang. “I have many great pieces from Cai,” she says in her rapid-fire English. “They’re in my living room, my bedroom, my hallway. They’re in my home in China, my home in the US. I love to be with his art. It makes me happy.” She pauses. “I’m very honoured to have them.” Cai, sitting next to her, beams. We’re gathered around a table in Cai’s studio in New York’s East Village shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps into the city. This immaculate,…

Chinese artist Liu Wei has spent the past few months thinking about the future—and it looks bleak. “Everything in our lives is mediated by screens now,” he says, fittingly speaking over a video call from his studio in Beijing. “It was happening before, but it has been accelerated by the pandemic. The way we use our senses is changing. I think the body will disappear, eventually.” Hands will wither. Legs will shrink. Our brains will be plugged into a universal supercomputer. “It will be like The Matrix,” says Liu. “Then we will lose emotion; affection will disappear.” He pauses, looks away from the camera. “Maybe our previous definition of love will disappear. But there will be something new, a new kind of affection.” This U-turn from despair to optimism will…

While there is growing demand for remote accommodation, there’s always room for a well-conceived city hotel. Here are the latest openings to book when city breaks make a comeback. The Tokyo Edition Toranomon, Japan Designed by Kengo Kuma, the celebrated Japanese architect behind Tokyo’s new Olympic Stadium, The Tokyo Edition Toranomon marks the brand’s debut in Japan and its third property in east Asia. Located in a nexus of residential neighbourhoods and entertainment areas, The Tokyo Edition is a convenient base to get to know the city; guests will even be provided with a custom Edition x Tokyobike bicycle to ease that exploration. Each of the 206 guest rooms offers sweeping views of the skyline, but none like the Edition Penthouse, which enjoys a 180-degree view. Being an Ian Schrager…

RUSSELL JAMES Russell James is an Australian fashion, beauty and celebrity photographer who has worked with the likes of Gigi Hadid, Liu Wen, Rihanna and Hugh Jackman. For Tatler, James photographed investor, film producer and art collector Wendi Murdoch and artist Cai Guo-Qiang (p.178). OLIVIER YOAN French photographer Olivier Yoan has worked with brands such as Calvin Klein, Jimmy Choo and Roger Vivier. He is also the creative director of online platform The Ené, a directory of eco-conscious businesses and retailers around Europe. For this issue, Yoan photographed the fashion shoot at Seven Sisters Country Park in the UK (p.80). RAUL DOCASAR Spanish photographer Raul Docasar began his career in his hometown of A Coruña. He is a regular contributor to the pages of international publications such as GQ, Esquire…

Even before she became a mother, a 25-year-old Roshni Mahtani, who was working as a babysitter and journalist in New York City at the time, started theAsianparent (TAP) in 2008 as an online parenting resource with an “Eastern perspective”. Now, 12 years later, the parenting portal has grown to become the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, with 35 million monthly active users from 13 countries across Asia and Africa, and also includes a mobile app. In November 2019, Tickled Media, the digital company behind TAP, where Mahtani is group CEO, raised a seven-figure sum in Series C funding from the Seoul-based Mirae Asset-Naver New Growth Fund. This was in addition to an eight-figure sum raised earlier in July the same year in another Series C round, led by…

ALL TOGETHER NOW It’s leather weather, and the statement pieces this season are made from a mosaic of our favourite fall staple. BAGS OF DESIRE Christian Dior’s Oblique print gets a velvet sheen, now found on its most popular bags in deep shades of burgundy, blue, black and brown. HOT FUZZ Don’t forget your extremities as the mercury dips. These fluffy shoes lined in shearling or faux fur are here to keep your toes toasty. BLUE CUES Eschew navy for electric blue, its high-octane cousin that pops against fall’s dark hues. PROPER CUSHIONING A bag that doubles as a pillow—now that’s what we call an investment piece. BUNDLE OF JOY Since they landed on the runways, these leather dumplings with tasseled drawstrings have been on everyone’s wish list. Hit the…

With salons closed for much of the year and restrictions on social distancing giving little reason to get dolled up, our relationship with beauty reached a kind of existential crisis in 2020. What, and who, were we doing all of this for? And who do we become when gel nails, balayage and cheekbone fillers no longer play the same role in our self-perceptions or the images we choose to paint? Hairy and poorly-groomed, we were forced to look ourselves in the mirror and reassess what beauty really means to us, and to society. Or, perhaps more importantly, we questioned the value of routines we once thought were critical and began to gravitate towards ones with a less superficial purpose. Jenni Middleton, beauty director at industry trend forecasting company WGSN, says:…

CLAIRE CHOISNE The creative director of Boucheron takes us through the brand’s new high jewellery collection, Contemplation What did you want to achieve with Contemplation? I wanted to suspend time. I wanted to capture and transform the beauty of simple moments, such as the passing of a cloud or the feel of a feather, into pieces of jewellery that will last forever. What’s your favourite piece? There’s more than just one. The Goutte de Ciel, the Nuage en Apesanteur and the Fenêtre sur Ciel necklaces really give life to the dream of wearing a piece of sky. These three pieces put technical innovation at the service of poetry. What kind of woman wears Contemplation? Our pieces are made for a woman who enjoys freedom and independence. She knows what she…

As a child, I spent numerous summers with my family holidaying along the Red Sea Riviera. Famous for its ancient rock art and breathtaking ruins, it’s also where you’ll find some of Egypt’s best diving hotspots, and it’s where I first discovered the weird and wonderful sea urchin. These creatures have razor-sharp teeth that chomp through stone, carving out hideaways on rocky shores. They also have spiny shells smothered in spikes to ward off predators. They look tough and aggressive, but every now and then, their brittle spines break off to reveal pastel-coloured shells that come in soothing shades of amethyst, apricot and baby blue. To me, sea urchins represent the life cycle of transformation. They repeatedly regenerate. There’s something beautifully symbolic about that, something we’ve been trying to incorporate…

ROSE GOLD Made using polished 18-karat rose gold, this timepiece also has rose gold indexes and comes with a solid rose gold bracelet or an alligator strap, which is fastened using a rose gold pin buckle. OPAL Classified as “phenomenal gems” by the Gemological Institute of America, opals are a group of gemstones that have various optical properties. This opal dial exhibits an iridescent effect and appears to gradually change colour as the wrist moves. 36 This watch’s rainbow-coloured bezel is set with 36 baguette-cut coloured gemstones that weigh a total of 3.63 carats. 5 Good luck getting your hands on this new Tonda Métropolitaine, which is limited to five pieces worldwide. Watches & Wonders Shanghai, which was held for the first time at the West Bund Art Center in…

Annie Darling Watches & Jewellery Director of Tatler Asia Over the years, Bulgari has established itself as a watchmaking pioneer. The ultra-slim Octo Finissimo is one of the most iconic new watches of the past decade, while the arrival of the new Serpenti Seduttori earlier this year saw the world’s smallest tourbillon movement. Not one to disappoint, the brand continues to experiment with its most recent releases, which include the super-sporty Aluminium Chronograph. Modern, fun and playful, this lightweight timepiece has a cool Nineties feel to it. The RM 72-01 is Richard Mille’s biggest release this year and the first watch in the brand’s history to come equipped with a flyback chronograph that is designed and assembled in-house from start to finish. A flyback chronograph enables the restarting of the…

It’s 2019 and nearly six months of anti-government protests have rocked Hong Kong, with police arresting thousands of people. Chi Hang Wong is at home, depressed, browsing the internet, when he discovers the work of LA-based artist Cleon Peterson, whose chaotic paintings show clashing figures as they struggle between power and submission. “His work spoke to me,” Wong, 31, tells me. Inescapably eccentric, he’s wearing retro, round glasses and a buttoned-up shirt. “A lot of Cleon’s work is painted in black and white and, because of what was happening in Hong Kong, it really hit home.” As fate would have it, Wong received an Instagram message from the artist several weeks later concerning a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Day-Date President about which he’d posted. Wong has two editions in yellow gold,…

The Alchemist HAN LI GUANG Han Li Guang fancies himself a free spirit. A headstrong individual who, while not quite embracing of the rebel label, concedes to being stubborn. “It’s who I am: stubborn on philosophy, stubborn on techniques,” acknowledges the chef-owner of one-Michelin-starred Labyrinth restaurant at the Esplanade Mall. The philosophy in question? A culinary lexicon that continuously challenges and reimagines the notion of Singapore cuisine—one that places the locavore in focus, as up to 90 per cent of Labyrinth’s menu features produce sourced from local farmers and fishermen. Labyrinth serves up a “new expression of Singapore cuisine” inspired by Han’s childhood memories and in which familiar Singaporean flavours are elevated and interpreted as edible art guaranteed to jolt jaded palates. “I named the restaurant Labyrinth because, like a…