Celebrity Life

There’s no doubt Alex Lam inherited his musical talent from his parents, his father being Cantopop legend George Lam Chi-Cheung, and his mother, Sally Yeh. Still, the singer-songwriter and actor hasn’t let privilege get to his head — he’s not afraid to explore other paths, from a stint in Los Angeles to discover yoga and becoming a yoga teacher, to dipping his toes in fashion.

Lam met Hiro Yoshikawa, founder and designer of Washi Jeans, a Japanese denim brand, a couple years back and was intrigued by the designer’s backstory. Now based in Hong Kong, Yoshikawa is the 18^th generation of a revered sake maker in Okayama, Japan, and the first to leave the family business to pursue his own passion in denim-making. By chance, Yoshikawa had found an old document that charted out his family’s history, written on washi paper. Inspired by this, he developed and patented the Washi No. 6 paper yarn, which he utilizes in his first solo collection launching this month.

Lam, who has always had an eye for detail, quickly became an ambassador and muse for Yoshikawa, and took it upon himself to bring the recognition Yoshikawa deserves by helping him stage his upcoming solo debut.

We sit down with Alex Lam and Hiro Yoshikawa at Washi Jean's studio to talk about style and the upcoming debut of Yoshikawa's solo collection Life on Earth.

Can you describe your style? What are your wardrobe essentials?

AL: My style has always been inspired by musicians. I grew up watching some of my favourite bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and today, I'm inspired by singers like Drake. For me, my summer essentials include a sleeveless vest, a good multi-functional blazer and a pair of high-quality designer jeans.

Have you always been passionate about fashion and did you want to work in fashion?

AL: I have always cared about how I look and my outfits since I was a kid. I remember there was one time when the collar of my t-shirt wasn't right and I wouldn’t wear it out until my parents fixed it for me. Having friends who are in the fashion industry allows me to execute and experiment my ideas during workshops, like the ‘marshmallow’ colourway of the t-shirt I’m wearing right now. 

How did the both of you meet?

AL: I met Hiro-san thought some of our mutual friends.

HY: have been making jeans for other brands for the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to have my own denim brand. I have always hung out with people from the fashion industry, and meeting Alex from the music and acting world has made my life more fun and exciting.

Can you tell us a bit about your project with Hiro-san?

AL: I was hanging out with a group of producers and we often talk about fashion shows, designer brands’ videos, installation art and music. Once we found out Hiro-san wanted to launch his own denim brand this year, we decided to catch this opportunity and put our ideas together. We are organising a VIP launch event with a fashion show on June 11, 2021.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this project?

AL: I think the rules of the game changed after Covid started last year. We looked at online fashion shows last year, without the tradition styles, and we knew our team needed to do it in a cleverer way. The restriction for event gathering is 30 persons at the moment, so we were not able to invite too many friends and make the event as big as before. Plus the campaign and fashion show video shoot all in one day, that’s the biggest challenge in this project.

HY:  We have been staying in our studio almost every day is the past few months, meeting different parties like our PR team, models, videographers and producers.

What else are you up to this year that you can share with us?

AL: I have released a new song and I just finished a music video for another song. I have also been working on my YouTube channel and created a few series, but it’s been slightly slowed down because I was focusing in this project.

Has the pandemic affected the way you work or changed your priorities?

AL: Before Covid, I was busy working with clients, who often prepared everything. With changes and restrictions during this period, I am able to organise and create more content by myself.

What are you currently inspired by?

AL: There are many indie musicians and young kids out there who are doing their music in their unique styles. I admire them a lot as they can release songs as long as they think it sounds good. I used think good music requires the best studio and recording equipment, but turned out a lot of indie musicians are producing high quality songs just by working at home.

You have a YouTube channel, you're into fashion, music as well as classic cars. How did you get into each of those passions and how do you balance it all?

AL: Project by project. I’m now focusing more on quantity over quality and I'll keep learning from the progress and mistakes.

Do you have a motto you live by?

Stay healthy. As I was a yoga teacher, I still practice yoga for two to three hours each day. It’s a good way to reflect on myself and find peace.

The post Wallace Chan Exhibits his Titanium Sculptures in Venice appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Public art is the lifeblood of one of the world’s foremost cultural hubs.

From 26 September to 31 December 2020, the historical and cultural heart of Shanghai, the Shanghai Jing'an Sculpture Park (JISP), brings the worlds of nature and design together by hosting the fifth edition of the Jing'an International Sculpture Project.

The city’s biennial sculpture exhibition was launched in Jing'an in 2008. Since then, sculpture has become an ever more distinguishing feature of the district’s urban landscape. Organised by the Jing'an District Government and curated with the Purple Roof Art Gallery, the project is an ongoing endeavour to introduce world-renowned international artists to the local community.

The Creative Minds

It is not typical for government-initiated public art projects to involve a creative team. In Jing’an, however, the District Government is seeking out and investing in the curatorial expertise of gallery professionals. With a keen eye on public art and sculpture, Shanghai Purple Roof Art Gallery has successfully organised the Jing'an International Sculpture Project since 2010.

Reshaping Space

In keeping with its fundamental characteristic as public art, the latest edition of the project, themed “Reshaping Space”, aims to boost public participation and interaction. The exhibition space extends from Wujiang Road Pedestrian Street Plaza, to Henglong Plaza, Fengshengli and other lively commercial areas. An exhibition area has also been set up at SISU Jing'an Foreign Language Primary School in order to inspire the creative minds of the future.

One of the indoor exhibitions, the “Floral·Art Space”, is being held in the Sculpture Park Art Center, and integrates floriculture and sculpture into a rich and colourful visual experience.

Twenty nine artists from 10 countries – China, Cameroon, German, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Ukraine and United Kingdom – were invited to exhibit, bringing with them 56 sculptures, which were divided into 33 groups.

“Amelia 1, Julian, Yasmin” by Julian Opie 

Born in London, Julian Opie graduated from Goldsmiths College of Art, University of London in 1983.  His work is exhibited in many major museum collections including the Tate Modern, UK, The British Museum in London and Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His exhibit is the representative work of the artist, which takes “walking men” as creative objects. Taking portraits as the main creative form, Opie considers those “walking” movements in people’s lives are to be the most natural and common movements, reflecting different moods and colours.

However, Opie does not hold a realistic mentality in creation, but takes the concept first and regards them as a symbol of a hidden environment. “How do people participate in a public environment” is used as the starting point for thinking. Like other representative works, the forms of Opie’s exhibitions are beginning to change, calling this movement as “moving painting”. His creation is not limited to the traditional art of painting and sculpture; he comprehensively uses sound and light and computer animation and other means in his work, combining these new materials with his paintings.

[gallery ids="210642,210653"]

"Four Ways” by Richard Long  

Sir Richard Julian Long is one of the best-known British land artists. He is the only artist to have been shortlisted four times for the Turner Prize. "Four Ways" is a self-portrait of his life on earth. It represents his participation in the world through walking, and the result of the interaction between his energy and natural materials and forces.

There is a duality in his works — traveling far away and taking root in his hometown. He was made a CBE in 2013 and knighted in the 2018 Honours List for his contributions to art.

[gallery ids="210648,210650"]

"Unite" by Pedro Reyes 

This work is one of Pedro Reyes’ most renowned large scale installations. Reyes' position, the use of pick-up materials, and the negation of the corporate mentality led him to support the art of poverty and gained unprecedented international attention through his unique views on society.

As the director and curator of the art organisation Torre de Vientos (windmills), Reye held exhibition tours in Harvard University, Cambridge University, Monte Carlo, Milan, Mexico City and Shangri-La in Puerto Rico. Reyes constantly explores how individuals can be liberated in a space, or how to inspire a group of people to coordinate their work.

[gallery ids="210656,210645"]

"Arbre à palabres" by Pascale Marthine Tayou 

Since the beginning of the 1990s, Pascale Marthine Tayou’s participation in Documenta 11 (2002) in Kassel and at the Venice Biennale (2005 and 2009) has introduced him to a broad international public. In some African traditions, “Arbre à Palabres” (a talking tree) is often a metaphor for everyday popular mass gatherings in which everyone can speak about the social, economic or political life of his or her community. Such a place is a city that matures based on the needs and experience of its residents.

[gallery ids="210644,210649"]

"Moon Bay" by Liang Shaoji

For nearly 30 years, Liang Shaoji has worked in domains spanning art and biology, installation and sculpture, new media and critical points of behaviours. “Moon Bay” is forged in stainless steel, crimping and destructing the oil fume pipe into the shape of a conch. Bathing under the gentle moonlight, surfing in the breeze, the sculpture sings lightly and plays a poetic imagination of environmental protection.

[gallery ids="210647,210646,210643"]

"Ever Time Gate" by Juan Garaizabal 

The work reproduces many of the lines with Chinese architectural elements that Juan Garaizabal has studied. Each element has its own greatness until now, not only in its own time.

[gallery ids="210657,210651"]

Purple Roof Art Gallery

After successfully hosting the Jing'an International Sculpture Project on four previous occasions, Julia Mao and Peter Zhao, founder of Purple Roof Public Art, believe the sustainability of the Project is a result of the close collaboration of professionals from multiple sectors, the benefits reaped by the local community and role the Project plays in boosting Shanghai’s reputation as a center for cultural exchange.

Founded in 2006, the Purple Roof Art Gallery is a fascinating public art space, as well as a multi-functional institute which features expressions of creativity through productions and exhibitions. Passionate about artistic creation and practice, the Gallery advocates the concept of “art is life” and provides strategic planning and innovative execution for public art events.

The post A Living Museum: Reshaping Space at the Jing’an International Sculpture Project appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The hollow yet solid artworks that trick the eye, appearing as plastic bags of water, are sure to be a conversation starter in any home.

The post Whimsical glass sculptures to add fun touch to interior decor appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

The hollow yet solid artworks that trick the eye, appearing as plastic bags of water, are sure to be a conversation starter in any home.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

"The Simple Things" will be offered on November 23 as part of the house's inaugural Hi-Lite evening auction.

The post Takashi Murakami and Pharrell Williams’ sculpture to go under the hammer at Christie’s appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

"The Simple Things" will be offered on November 23 as part of the house's inaugural Hi-Lite evening auction.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Japanese artist Takanori Aiba creates entire miniature kingdoms around bonsai trees.

The post Incredibly detailed sculptures built around bonsai trees appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Japanese artist Takanori Aiba creates entire miniature kingdoms around bonsai trees.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Exploring life and its duality in the purest form, Appriou's sculptures engulf the transitional framework of the last days of harvest in a corn field.

The post Walking With Jean-Marie Appriou Through The Field Of Life appeared first on LUXUO.

By Melissa Sorge The holiday season glistens, festive with decor and lights–a winter wonderland wrapped in ribbon, drenched in the scent of fir and cloves, and fondly reminiscent of childhood memories and the excitement of feeling utterly alive. It is this time of year when ice sculpture art catches our eye and captures our heart. […]

The post Fleeting Beauty: The Fine Art of Ice Sculpting appeared first on VUE magazine.