Monday 31 December 2012

Adieu 2012

The one and only consistent sentiment I have at this time of the year is the gratitude of a temporal state of suspension just before all hell breaks loose (again) in all conceivable situations where one can only be oneself by merely being oneself. My new year resolution is how to be less of an asshole, on the rationale that one only sees more of what one really is made of. Great read from Mark Teh.

Saturday 15 December 2012

什么是南洋风格?

All to a TV show I came across. The host from Taiwan mentioned Eric Moo having a distinctively Nanyang style of singing... and I was like (perplexed), what the hell is that suppose to mean?!? So does Stefanie Sun, Kit Chan, Fish Leong possess any Nanyang style in their music? Gosh, only if anyone can provide even the most remote possibility of what that means...

I find this deeply fascinating: What is Nanyang Style? Not particularly in the art movement (which is so conveniently associated with the likes of Liu Kang & friends) but more in the larger picture of contemporary attitude and culture and of course not forgetting the trigger of this post - music.

I googled for 什么是南洋风格? and the dismal results are mostly associated with home decor with description such as:

1) Source: 南洋风格
风格元素:芭蕉叶般的热带风情作物,纱幔,泰丝靠垫,印尼木雕,泰国锡器。

东南亚地区家装风格一般被称为南洋装饰风格。糅合多样文化的南洋装饰风格受 限于当地气候与天然环境的客观条件,总体上热闹,休闲,慵懒,香艳,舒适,明媚,室内与室外空间融为一体,充满自然气息又及其舒适,在南方地区受到人们的 欢迎。它在设计上逐步融合西方现代概念和亚洲传统文化,通过不同的材料和色彩搭配,在保留自身特色之余,产生更加丰富的变化,尤其是融入中国特色的东南亚 家具和那些具有浓郁的明代家具风格,重视细节的装饰;以波浪状,格子状,斜纹状的线条,挑起与热带文化的共鸣。运用熠熠金光,营造贵气雍容的泰式皇族空间质感,也是南洋装饰风格的设计特点。水池,SAP养身疗程的使用,则是南洋风格的另一种延伸。

色彩方面,南洋装饰风格有两种取向,一种是融合了中式风格的设计,以深色系为主,例如深棕色,黑色等,令人感觉沉稳大气;  另一种则受到西式设计风格影响,以浅色系较为常见,如珍珠色,奶白色等,给人轻柔的感觉,而材料则多经过加工染色的过程。

配 设方面,采用艳丽轻柔的纱幔,泰式绣花鞋,色彩妩媚的泰丝靠垫,流动着水中花的烛台,或者由椰子壳,果核,一粒粒咖啡豆穿起来的小饰品,再加上芭蕉叶般的 热带风情作物;印尼的木雕,泰国的锡器可以拿来做重点装饰,即使随意摆设,也能平添几分神秘气质;做工精细,设计巧妙的莲花型纸灯,给家带来宁静。浓浓的 东南亚热带风情就这样扑面而来。

2) Source: 讨论]什么叫南洋风格
南洋风格——特殊构造、图腾迷情
起源与特色:
近10年来,强调原创、原住民本味的民族风,在建筑与空间规划概念上,也对设计师提出另一个层次的省思。融合多样殖民文化的南洋风格,受限于当地气候与天 然环境的主观条件,室内与室外空间的区分不太明显。因此在格局配置方面,主要空间“凉亭”(客厅)就是整个空间重心,所以南洋风格的设计重点,主要是以打 破传统的格局配署为诉求。
材质与色彩:
把握以下3个要点,即可创造出南洋风格居家风格:
⒈将产自当地的矿业加工与手工艺品,例如:印尼的木雕、泰国的银器等,作为重点空间装饰小品。充满地方背景文化的图腾(大象、猴子等),即使随意摆设,也能平添神秘气质。
⒉以波浪状、格子状、斜纹状的线条,挑起与热带文化的共鸣。
⒊运用烁烁金光,营造贵气雍容的泰式皇族空间质感,也是南洋风格的设计元素。

The closest relevant information but still painfully archaic with an acute snarl of contemporary conflict. And just when I thought I have out-grown my identity crisis...

Wednesday 12 December 2012

PAP Letterhead ♥ (& forever be reminded of our humble beginings)

So QUAINT. A great typographic find in the midst of some political scandal ...
Source: Lee Hsien Loong