D.A.ACTIVIST 2010 by Lilia Yip and Mona Choo

Creative [SIN]ergy members Lilia Yip and Mona Choo presents,
D.A.ACTIVIST 2010
D.A.ACTIVIST 2010 is a womenswear collection of digitally printed artwork on soft structured draped clothing. In this exhibition, art and fashion combine to ask questions about human life: how we live, what impact do we have on the environment and other living beings.

A subtle and intimate form of design and art activism, which is the antithesis yet silent accomplice of the emotional barrage that overloads the urban human today.

This touring exhibition made its debut in Hong Kong in November 2009 and will be on show in London from 5th to 28th February 2010.

Exhibition details: Date : 5th - 28th February 2010
Venue : Austin Gallery, 119a Bethnal Green Road,
E2 7DG London.
Opening times: Mon-Sat 10 am to midnight, Sun till 10.30 pm

PROJECT: slingSHORT in aid of The Substation

The Substation is a non-profit organisation. It relies on financial and in-kind support from the general public, commercial organisations and foundations. They receive approximately 15% of their annual operating budget from the government. Funds received cover the costs of operating, developing programmes and producing events.

They welcome your support, feedback and participation and hope that in turn, The Substation provides you with fulfilling and extraordinary creative experiences.

Founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, The Substation is Singapore’s first independent contemporary arts centre. We are centrally located in the city’s civic district. Our venues include a black box theatre, a gallery, a dance studio,Random Room and two multi-function classrooms. We present and co-present a wide range of artists and programmes, from traditionally trained dancers to local rock bands; established visual artists to young poets; publications to international short film festivals; experimental theatre to seminal conferences on Singapore arts and culture.

Over the years, The Substation has worked with some of Singapore’s most critically acclaimed artists, writers and intellectuals; currently we are working closely with our Associate Artists. Just as importantly, younger and emerging artists are constantly approaching us to use our venues, and to get our support. We are always open to new proposals and ideas, and would like to hear from you.

The Substation’s mission is to support research and innovation in the arts by:

• nurturing and challenging Singapore artists
• providing an open space for artistic experimentation
• promoting interaction between diverse artists and audiences
• facilitating critical dialogue in the arts
• fostering regional and international arts networks

D.A.Activist

D.A.Activist, a collection of digitally printed artwork on softly structured clothing recently made a successful debut at Gallery de Vie, Central Hong Kong.

This collection is a collaboration between fashion designer Lilia Yip and print artist Mona Choo, whose work represent their interest in issues concerning the environment, society and the human psyche.

This touring exhibition will end its Hong Kong stint on 18 Dec 2009 and begin its second exhibition in the east end of London at Austin Gallery from Feb 4 2010.

The birth of 泡(pao)

The birth of 泡(pao). 泡(pao) was born on 1st January 2010. On Monday, January 11th, 2010, GMT 0, the page will be refreshed with a limited time offer. Go to the 泡(pao) is born site www.paoismyname.net, reply to heyyy@paoismyname.net with your name and postal address and you can get a freebie.

泡(pao) is a character created by Creative [SIN]ergy member Dorcas Ng.

SHOWCASE: Jun Zubillaga-Pow

Jun is currently a research postgraduate at King's College London, working in the field of Musicology and Critical Theory. After graduating from the University of Birmingham, Jun completed a Masters in Critical Methodologies and obtained an overall distinction for his work on Modern French Theory and musical reception. As an expansion of his Masters dissertation, Jun’s research thesis will be a formulation of a new theory of understanding aural perception via Lacanian psychoanalysis and Transcendental philosophy.

Other than his research interests in music psychology, Jun has presented papers on sexual politics, electronic dance culture and the contemporary history of music in Singapore, Argentina and France. He has been recognised by the National Arts Council for his ongoing research, and is also supported for two other projects: (1) a volume on the history of art music in post-Independence Singapore and (2) an assessment of Malay Traditional Music in recent Singapore.

Having been producer and organiser of various events at collegiate and national level, Jun plans to organise more events related to the historical and political aspects of Singapore. Other than being a member of the Composers Society of Singapore, Jun has participated in forums concerning issues of cultural policy, sexual discrimination and equal rights for disabled children.

Jun is preparing to put up a recital of 20th-century piano music in 2010.

Name: Jun Zubillaga-Pow
Location: London, UK
Website: N.A.
Contact: click here

creative [SIN]ergy team 2010

Brian Tan a native child of the tiny tropical island of Singapore, went to the United States to pursue a Masters of Interior Architecture from the world-renowned Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence. He then spent two years in New York City as a visual merchandiser for Hennes & Mauritz AB, better known as H&M, where he was instrumental in creating vivid brand experiences in line with H&M's seasonal campaign.

Brian made the trans-Atlantic leap from New York to London in 2005, carrying out his current role as an Event designer at Imagination Ltd. One of the world's largest and most highly regarded design and communications consultancies, which has come in 1st for 6 conservative years in DesignWeek Top 100 design groups.

During his time at Imagination, Brian was selected by C&IT (Conference & Incentive Travel) magazine, as one of the 35 future leaders of the events industry from the country's most profitable and creative event agencies. He was published in The A List, a 32-page glossy supplement published in the April 2009 edition of C&IT. This supplement shines the spotlight on the future leaders of the events industry. He was also selected as a Judge at the D&AD 29th Global Student Awards 2007 in London.

In his early formative years back in Singapore, Brian was an assistant choreographer in the annual Singapore National Day Parade (Ministry of Education Contingent) in 1998 and 1999. The mass display was performed live to an audience of 55,000 people at the Singapore National Stadium and was also televised nationwide simultaneously.

Prior to that, Brian graduated with a Diploma in Interior Architecture and Design in 1997 from Temasek Polytechnic (Singapore). In 1996, he was elected President of the Design Studies Club, where he received a Certificate of Merit in 1997 for his efforts in the Design Studies Club. He was also Valedictorian at the School of Design ceremony in 1997. His other credits include being a semi-finalist at ASPAT Manila 1996 and a finalist in the SFIC furniture design competition in 1995, where his furniture design creation was featured in ID magazine that year.

Clara Yee is a student of the universe first year stuck forever a quest for knowledge. She was awarded the Shooting Gallery Prize, Best Illustration Student in Temasek Polytechnic (Visual Communication) and is current a Graphic Design student at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

She had two collaborative exhibitions in Singapore and a wall mural in a paper factory. Illustration is the love of her life and she has had an internship at Alexandra McQueen illustrating prints. She is not fickle-minded, she just has a nettlesome habit of seeing virtue in every argument.

Clara is also the 642th dwarf planet discovered to orbit the sun.

Calvin Chua is currently deciphering the paradoxes of architecture and the city as a student at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. He takes an interest in social and political issues in the urban environment, often negotiating these boundaries through architectural works. He has previously completed an interactive urban installation at the London Architectural Biennale and an informational graphics object for re:ACT at the Venice Biennale under the Singapore Pavilion in 2008. His interest in paradoxical urban conditions has also led him in contributing articles to the Singapore Architect magazine. Calvin is also a core member in [re:ACT], a Singaporean group of visionary architecture enthusiasts concern with the development of architecture in the Asian region, developing tools for increasing community awareness and interaction with architecture and urbanism through dialogues, films, exhibitions and community based projects.



Melisa Chan knew she wanted to be a designer at the age of 4 and nothing has been able to stop her since. She arrived on British shores ten years ago to start her formal design training at Kingston University. In 2003 she graduated with first-class honours in interior architecture from the Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. She began her professional career by designing bars and restaurants for B3 Designers. She has also worked on Imagination’s Aston Martin Retail team. In 2006, a chance encounter with DesignSingapore Council earned her a post-graduate scholarship at the Bartlett School of Architecture. An internship with Space Syntax during her graduate studies opened up a world of urban-scale work and graphic-mapping analysis. Melisa now calls on her strengths in interior architecture, urban planning and the social knowledge of space in her work with Portland Design Associates on urban retail consultancy in Europe and the Middle East. Her work has recently been featured at the London Design Festival and London Fashion Week 2008 in collaboration with graphic designer, David Lee. Apart from her day job and DesignSingapore-led projects, she is currently preparing her post-graduate work for publication submission.

Singapore correspondence - David Lee and Brian Chia

creative [SIN]ergy team 2009