Kraftsmanship

01/02/2026

Launched El Khemie - A corporate meditation to encourage people to exchange the boardroom for the boardwalk. Now available at https://elkhemie.com/ .

17/12/2023

Many nights, midnights and weekends this year were spent at Redhill market, working through my debut attempt at mural painting. It was nothing like I expected.

Hawker uncles would shout over the hoarding to remind me to eat dinner, 加料for me because ‘吃饱饱才有力气画画’, trespass to pass me a plate of prata for supper, and offer me🍺 every now and then. I painted to classic oldies and uncles’ drunken 撕心裂肺 singing and learnt to co-exist with little creatures that crawled out from 四面八方 every night. I laughed a lot with aunties and uncles who tried to guess my age.

I got to know a team of construction workers who would pull cables to light up my work area before they knocked off, stand around to watch me paint during their breaks and share about their interests and the people they missed.

When hoarding was down, residents past and present often stopped to share their memories of Redhill with me. Kids sat around to learn to paint. And more uncles found joy in sharing with a stranger their life stories, love histories, biggest regrets, political allegiance, which candidate was their classmate, and also asking for 4digits to buy 4D.

In the middle of the night, lost souls who wandered around the neighbourhood have found a listening ear under my makeshift tentage. 👮🏻‍♂️ 👮🏻 on patrol have dropped by not to catch me but to offer encouragement.

I don’t live in Redhill, but I have lived through many surprise encounters with the Redhill community, and such is the most precious reward for an artist for just being present 🤍.

While I still have my reservations about the maintenance and appreciation for public art in the neighbourhood where cultural practices and priorities are deeply different, I was convinced along the way that the endeavour to bring art closer to communities to reach diverse audiences who do not roam around our arts, cultural and heritage districts is a step worth taking. To every stranger who has popped by to say thank you for painting the historical stories of Bukit Merah, you all made this journey hopeful.

04/11/2023

Honoured to have presented my interpretation for 'Singapore Stories 2023: Kebaya Re-imagined' at the Singapore Fashion Council's inaugural gala dinner. It's not everyday that you get to see 30 over local designers coming together for a runway show. Really enjoyed the diversity in styles and crafting techniques.

A lot of effort and thought went behind this project the past 5 months. I wanted to honour modern heritage in an honest and meaningful way, and at the same time celebrate my roots first as an artist and then an architect. Every single design detail was deliberated, and every mistake was a lesson to be learned. Also for the first time, I had to learn to source for my fabric and embrace logistical challenges from whichever city I was in, and work with a professional seamstress remotely over video calls to realise the outfit.

Thank you Singapore Fashion Council for the opportunity, Connie and team for helping me to sew up the outfit, mummy and sis who ran around and stand in on my behalf, and TaF.tc for supporting me on this journey.

More credits:
Model: Julia from Ave Management
Accessories: Peranakan star brooch and bird motif ring sponsored by Foundation Jewellers, Kerongsang and ear rings made by me
Make Up: M.A.C Cosmetics Sg
Design and styling by me

I am one grateful soul.

04/11/2023

Home-grown designers reimagined the heritage dress as contemporary couture. Read more at straitstimes.com.

04/11/2023

第6届“新加坡故事”（Singapore Stories）5位赢家，在10月12日新加坡时装协会（Singapore Fashion Council）举办的时尚晚宴上由宾客现场投票...

04/11/2023

The winning designs are set to be on display at Design Orchard from November 1 to December 31 2023.

04/06/2023

A journey worth taking :) Thank you Lendlease and co for the learning opportunity, and TaF.tc for all the support.

01/04/2023

Thank you APSN and TAf.tc team!

24/12/2022

04/12/2022

Yet another year :)

Encore screening for the winning titles on 10 Dec next Sat:
https://sgiff.com/encore-screenings/