Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2023 i Tatler Singapore

TATLER HONG KONG In this issue, Corey Andrew Barr, fair director of Art Central, talks about his journey to becoming the head of Hong Kong’s leading fair for emerging artists. He also shares his excitement at the return of international collectors, who were largely absent from the city in recent years due to pandemic restrictions. TATLER INDONESIA Meet Mesty Ariotedjo, a paediatrician who’s making waves in the world of philanthropy in Indonesia. She is a co-founder of WeCare.id, an online platform that raises funds for medical patients in rural areas in Indonesia with limited access to health services. TATLER MALAYSIA Influencers, entrepreneurs and power couple Jane Chuck and Han Pin Ma give us a rare look behind the glamour of their fashionable lives and get real about marriage, living authentically…

CHRISTOPHER DEWOLF Christopher DeWolf writes about cities, architecture, culture and beer; he loves nothing more than spending a day wandering around a city. In this issue, the author of Borrowed Spaces: Life Between the Cracks of Modern Hong Kong discusses the gravity-defying worlds in the metaverse that architects and designers have envisioned. (p.132) DEBBY KWONG “You have to feel good to look good”: this is the principle that guides stylist Debby Kwong, whether she’s styling celebrities, models, or the average joe. With more than a decade of experience in fashion, she founded Sortorial, a personal shopping and home organisation business to encourage conscious consumption. Kwong styled chef Kirk Westaway, who is on the cover this month. (p.116) DARREN GABRIEL LEOW A fashion and commercial photographer based in Singapore, Darren Gabriel…

You can say that Hong Kong‑based entrepreneur Kevin Poon is one of the original multi‑hyphenates, before being one was really even a thing. After interning at Interscope Records in California in the early 2000s, Poon returned to Hong Kong, where he would go on to build an empire as the co‑founder of streetwear label Clot, streetwear retailer Juice and distributor District, and finally, the founder of Woaw Gallery. “I think art has always been in the system of what I do. Early on, we were hanging out with Futura, Stash, José Parlá, Kaws … people who were in the mix doing cool stuff,” says Poon. “And as our culture started growing up, a lot of these artists were being celebrated in fine art spaces. That’s when we transitioned into becoming…

A familiar face in the local media industry, Hazlina Abdul Halim grew up in the newsroom, as an intern in her teens before ascending the ranks as a radio DJ, broadcast journalist and editor. After stints in public affairs at the foreign mission and in education at a local polytechnic, she was appointed president of the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) in 2020—the youngest one to date. Two years later, she became the CEO of Make‑A‑Wish Singapore, a non‑profit that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. Last year, PPIS released its inaugural study to shed light on the top three aspirations of Muslim women: (1) to be a better Muslim woman; (2) to be financially independent; and (3) to be fit and healthy through regular exercise and better eating…

INFINITY AND BEYOND Louis Vuitton has activated full-on Yayoi Kusama mode with a history-making collaboration. Ten years ago, then-creative director Marc Jacobs featured the avant-garde Japanese artist’s dots on a range of bag styles in a collection heralded as the house’s most significant collaboration with an artist since the Steven Sprouse collection in 2001. First teased at the label’s Cruise 2023 show, a second incarnation has been released, featuring all manner of Louis Vuitton products, from apparel to accessories, adorned with Kusama’s instantly recognisable motifs. Expect this to be one of the most covetable releases in recent memory. ROMAN HOMIN’ Fendi’s first home decor and lifestyle accessories collection, developed under the creative direction of Silvia Venturini Fendi, sees tableware, glassware, textiles and classic games ornamented in the Roman house’s codes…

My personal style is fairly boring, I have to admit,” Dries Van Noten tells Tatler over a video call from his Antwerp studio. “I’m working the whole day and nearly seven days a week on selecting colours, yarns, fabrics, shapes … the last thing I want to do in the morning is open my wardrobe and say I’m going to wear the green sweater with this and that.” The Belgian design master is wearing a navy jumper and a yellow scarf—an accessory he is almost always spotted wearing in public. “Nearly all fashion designers have their own uniform just to escape from that moment. My only thing in fact that I have changed is the scarves, which I have big piles of—and in all different colours,” Van Noten says with…

Editors Pics Louis Vuitton’s Bravery Collection is true love set in stone. The Le Multipin necklace is the collection’s statement piece, stringing together a rainbow of colourful gemstones ranging from tourmalines to citrines, aquamarines to tanzanites. A 42.42-carat lagoon blue tourmaline commands the most attention, while 100 carats of gemstones aligned in three rows add to its radiance. The magnificent diamond-encrusted gem is a stylish representation of the Louis Vuitton trunk closure mechanism. PEARL CULTURE Monsieur Fred Innerlight is a collection of 24 high jewellery pieces created across six design themes that embody the personality and definition of a modern jeweller. Pinkish-white South Sea or Akoya pearls are set atop asymmetric lines of white gold and pavé diamonds to create the Dare the Unexpected high jewellery theme. A bracelet, necklace…

ARMED WITH TENACITY To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the British North Greenland Expedition, Tudor paid homage to the Ranger, a tool watch that played a vital role for members of the armed forces involved in that scientific mission in the Arctic. The watch features Manufacture Calibre MT5402, a 39mm case and a clasp with rapid adjustment system. The model rose to prominence after the expedition on account of its accuracy and reliability amid the harshest conditions on the planet. ROSE GOLD HEAVEN The New Irony Chrono by Swatch in rose gold and black is a fail-safe wardrobe staple. The black dial features three sub-dials, with the date displayed at the four o’clock mark. The quartz movement is housed in a 43mm robust case and completed with a black rubber…

Good food, like most other forms of art, connects the audience with its creator. For Kirk Westaway, the executive chef of two-Michelin-starred restaurant Jaan by Kirk Westaway, that connection is made through stories of his childhood growing up in the coastal county of Devon in southwest England. Those stories can be sensed in the design choices, as well as the food. In the newly renovated restaurant, which was unveiled in December last year, the mirrored corridor leading to the dining room is adorned with abstract artworks that hint at life in Westaway’s home town. Strokes of blue and grey represent sea spray crashing against the shore, and splashes of green denote the region’s rolling hills. Even the carpet, which shifts through gradients of blue, is a subtle nod to Devon’s…

Hunn Wai is an industrial designer, and like all industrial designers, he specialises in creating things you can touch and manipulate: real objects in the real world. That might sound obvious, except Wai also calls himself a “metarchitect”, and he is increasingly interested in designing things that don’t really exist at all, at least not in the physical sense. It’s not just digital design, or user experience design applied to virtual environments. It’s something entirely new. “It’s all in service of digital experiences,” says the Singapore designer, who runs the studio Lanzavecchia + Wai with his Italian partner, Francesca Lanzavecchia. “If we move into this new space called Web3, metaverse, spatial Internet, suddenly a lot of things in the physical world might not need to be adhered to anymore; things…

Earlier this week, my Duolingo owl said to me, “Ich liebe dich nicht, aber Ich liebe essen”, which translates to “I don’t love you, but I love food”. Brutally savage, potentially true, and very apt—this month, Tatler Singapore’s theme is centred on food and beverage. On our cover is Kirk Westaway, the executive chef of the two‑Michelin‑starred Jaan by Kirk Westaway, named Restaurant of the Year at the 2023 Tatler Dining Awards. Jaan, which promises a reimagination of British food, had shut its doors for three months for refurbishment, reopening last December to a wholly transformed space that pays homage to the British county of Devon, Westaway’s home town. Discover how the diverse terroir of the region is reflected in the evolving menu, to which Westaway and his team apply…

Singaporean actor and rapper Tosh Zhang, otherwise known as Tosh Rock, is the kind of man who sticks to his guns. “I’ve been told it’d be better if my music were ‘less Singaporean and more international’, to appeal to a wider audience, but I thoroughly disagree,” he says. “The musicians I look up to, no matter where they’re from, always proudly represent their city, culture and slang. Through that, I got to learn about their state of mind, way of life and what made them who they are. As a heartland kid, I’m proud of my Singaporean heritage and it’s important that my music reflects that.” Zhang grew up in Singapore’s northern neighbourhoods of Yishun and Woodlands, where, at 13, he fell in love with hip‑hop culture through b‑boying. Back…

Chef Zor Tan spent the most part of his career working alongside world‑renowned Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang, first at Jaan at the Swissotel The Stamford, then Restaurant André, Raw in Taipei, and later Sichuan Moon in Macau’s Wynn Palace, as executive chef, where he led the restaurant to secure two Michelin stars just five months after its opening in 2019—and becoming the highest new entry at No 23 in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2020. The pandemic brought Tan home to be with his young family (by then, he had been travelling back and forth between Singapore and Macau for almost two years), and last June he finally stepped out of the shadow of his mentor to set up his own restaurant, so named Born to signal his…

When it comes to creating fragrances, what does it take to push boundaries? Some brands experiment with unique ingredients, while others choose to draw inspiration from various experiences. For Bulgari, the key is to introduce something revolutionary. As such, the Italian house debuted a bold fragrance concept in 2021: Bulgari Allegra. The collection comprises a range of unique fragrances designed to be elevated with a magnifying essence so that users can create their very own personalised signature scent. The colourful line was first introduced with five different scents, alongside five magnifying essences for layering. Last year, Bulgari added two new fragrances and an essence for layering to continue the collection’s olfactive journey. BULGARI ALLEGRA SPETTACOLORE This scent calls for celebration, but not just any fete—Spettacolore is an expression of one…

POLISHED TO STUN Chopard’s white diamond choker is quickly becoming a celebrity wardrobe staple with the likes of Poppy Delevingne and Simone Ashley wearing it to A-list soirées. The necklace is made of 204.35 carats of diamonds set in 18-karat Fairmined white gold. Delevingne teamed the statement piece with two rings: one made of 6.58 carats of asscher-cut diamonds set in 18-karat Fairmined white gold, while the other featured 6.54 carats of round diamonds set in 18-karat Fairmined white gold, both from Chopard’s Haute Joaillerie collection. BRIGHT SPARK Shine bright and express yourself with the new additions to Poh Heng Jewellery’s Freestyle collection. The Bolt design features lightning bolt motifs to symbolise power and strength, while the star motif in the Bling design represents expression of style, success and aspirations.…

Last year marked the 60th anniversary since the first Bond film, Dr No, came out in 1962; and Omega launched two 007-inspired novelties to celebrate the occasion. Omega has been a part of the James Bond movie journey since Goldeneye in 1995, when the British spy freed himself from an armoured train by cutting through a steel plate, with the help of a laser built into his Seamaster Quartz Professional Diver 300M. The new Seamaster Diver 300M 60 Years of James Bond comes in two versions—stainless steel and gold—and the brand managed to incorporate movie magic into the timepiece through a rather elegant use of the central seconds hand and a sapphire disc. While the watch dial and bezel feature the design codes watch lovers have come to expect from…

During the pandemic, Korakrit Arunanondchai confirmed a suspicion he’d harboured for some time: he doesn’t deal well with isolation. “I can’t be alone,” the 36-year-old Thai artist admits. “In me is the inherent nature, a desire, to be and work with people.” To join a group and be a part of something is very much in, and the main motivation behind, his art. The idea of the collective is ever present in his visualisation of gatherings. Scenes in his films range from denim-clad youth walking the streets of Bangkok to half-naked figures emerging slowly from a lake, then dancing around a fire as if performing a ritual. The latter is from his film Songs for Living (2021), which was on display in Seoul in autumn 2022 at Art Sonje as…

In certain circles, travelling for food has long meant collecting Michelin stars rather than connecting with local culture. But increasingly, travellers of all backgrounds are focused on discovering dynamic dining scenes that show off native ingredients, celebrate diversity and let them experience the city like a local. The following destinations are on the radar of the most discerning diners—naturally, Tatler approves. BERLIN, GERMANY Berlin’s reputation as a hot dining destination is picking up speed faster than a techno beat at Berghain, thanks to an eclectic mix of street food, casual-cool eateries, vegan kitchens and fine dining. There’s an emphasis on ingredients sourced from local farmers and foragers, like at the innovative Lode & Stijn, helmed by chef Lode van Zuylen who “strictly rejects factory farming”; or the cult-favourite bistro Mrs…

1 The Watch Beloved in Chinese mythology, the dragon and the phoenix are brought to life through sculpted appliqués on the hand‑guilloché dial of Vacheron Constantin’s Traditionnelle Tourbillon Ref 6040T/000R‑B959. 2 The Bag Stand out from the crowd with Bottega Veneta’s new Sardine bag, named for its piscine top handle. 3 The Necklace This Valentine’s Day, dare to wear your heart on your sleeve—or, in the case of this Precious Lace necklace from Chopard set with a rainbow of 75 pear‑shaped sapphires, around your neck. 4 The Shoe Step into the month of love in Roger Vivier’s iconic Virgule slingbacks, which now come in blushing pink satin.…

Food lies at the heart of one’s identity. As a Singapore Malay, food historian (and former maths teacher) Khir Johari embarked on a life’s mission to weave the histories, cultures and beliefs of the Singapore Malay community into stories, travelogues and recipes that make up his 624‑page tome, The Food of Singapore Malays. First released in November 2021, the book has been reprinted twice: in March and September last year. It was more than a decade in the making, Khir shares, given that “a dedicated book on Malay food like that didn’t exist at the point of its inception” in the 2000s, when he was still teaching in the San Francisco Bay Area in the US. In the book’s preface, he recalls how being far away from home made him…

Jean‑Marc Lacave is a three‑decade veteran of LVMH, with expertise in both watches and jewellery as well as champagne. Of the Frenchman’s 30 years with the luxury group, almost 10 have been spent in Asia, including in Shanghai as president and CEO of LVMH Watch & Jewelry Asia, and in Hong Kong as president and CEO of Moët Hennessy Asia Pacific. Today, he is executive vice‑president of global distribution at Moët Hennessy, a role in which he has an overview of much of the group’s business, particularly wine and spirits, and its current position in the world. And right now, LVMH’s position looks pretty good. Last December, the group’s chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault was named the world’s richest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, toppling Elon Musk from…

You can take Jackie out to a party. Or a fancy restaurant, sitting pretty next to you. You may consider bringing Jackie with you to your next business meeting, or even on a date. Of course, the Jackie in question, that all‑too‑perfect companion, can only be Gucci’s Jackie 1961 handbag. Released in 1961, as its name suggests, the bag has two defining features: its elegantly curved, half‑moon shape and the piston lock hardware that secures it. It’s that winning combination that has cemented the accessory as a Gucci signature, especially after an endorsement from former US first lady Jackie Kennedy via a famous paparazzi shot in the 1970s. Inevitably, the bag became associated with her enviable sense of style and even inherited her name. Just as Kennedy’s impeccable outfits continue…

COLOSSAL BLOOMS We know, we know: florals for spring, groundbreaking. But flower appliqué really is going to be big news this season, and the bigger, the better, as seen at Stella McCartney and Erdem. SUIT YOURSELF Classic country style gets an update for the new year in edgy yet unapologetically feminine suits and separates. Embrace your inner lady of the manor; wellies and Barbours optional. BAG IT UP Supersized totes are the gender-neutral stars of the coming season. Whether slouchy or structured, these versatile pieces will serve you through work and play. Just be sure not to overfill them; hunching over with an overweight bag is never chic. THE MIDAS TOUCH Go for gold in more than just your jewellery choices this season. Add a subtle bit of bling with…

BLACK RAINBOW The 45mm Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Polychrome is based on Tag Heuer’s celebrated Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Nanograph, and features its signature case, bezel and strap designs. The all-black case is made of ultra-lightweight, finely brushed, black PVD grade five titanium with a fixed carbon tachymeter bezel. A special engraving on the sapphire caseback indicates the watch’s release number—one of a set of 150 limited-edition pieces. The highlight of the watch is a rainbow-hued skeleton dial that adds a splash of colour to the black beauty. A matte black alligator leather strap with a rubber lining completes the look. DIVE BUDDY The Oyster Perpetual Deepsea Challenge was inspired by the experimental watch that accompanied director James Cameron on his historic descent into the Mariana Trench in 2012. It is waterproof…

VAN CLEEF & ARPELS It is springtime in Paris and love is in the air. Passion and anticipation build as two lovers move towards each other on a bridge for a kiss—a scene that plays out on the dial of this Poetic Complications watch, with the push of a button. Equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement fitted with a retrograde, the watch displays the time through the lady who marks the hours, while the gent crosses his half of the bridge in 60 minutes. CHOPARD For Chopard, love is caring and generous. The Happy Hearts collection is an ode to the woman with a big heart, who marches to the beat of her own drum. Five elements—three diamonds, a red heart and a diamond-set white gold heart—dance across the dial,…