Together with Indonesia, the Phillipines is the backbone of art in Southeast Asia. Silverlens’ unique vision for the region, through its exhibition program, artist representation and institutional collaborations, aims to place Philippine contemporary art within the broader framework of international contemporary art dialogue.
A new facility that will revolutionise the training and operations of newsrooms will open at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Jointly set up by NTU and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), Newsplex Asia at NTU will be an inter-disciplinary news laboratory to train journalists and news professionals to work with technologies of the future.
Newsplex Asia is the third of its kind in the world and the first in Asia. The $0.5 million centre, which spans over 160 square metres of space and features advanced facilities in a highly-connected learning environment, will let students and media professionals learn and develop, in a realistic and vibrant setting, integrated digital media and journalism skills.
Newsplex will draw on the expertise of faculty not just from the Wee Kim Wee School, but also other schools and disciplines in NTU, from communication, the humanities, design, engineering, science and medicine. The Newsplex will boost the government and industry’s aim to grow the quality and quantity of well-trained media professionals in Singapore. As media professionals from Singapore and surrounding countries will train in this facility that’s strategically located in the heart of Asia, it will have many positive spill-over effects for the rest of the region.
The 60-seat Newsplex Asia’s high-tech facilities include brand new Mac Pro workstations for print, online, tablet, radio and TV production, ten overhead screens for teaching and monitoring news channels, and a multi-purpose mini-studio for digital audio and video broadcasts and quick photography. All these are aimed at providing content on multiple channels to meet the needs of consumers who increasingly demand multimedia news and information in quickly accessible forms that match their increasingly fast-paced lifestyles.
Newsplex Asia will host professional training and workshops for the media industry in Singapore and around the Asia Pacific, focusing on media convergent journalism and the development and implementation of integrated newsroom strategies during NTU’s vacation breaks. The centre brings the various media platforms together in one convenient, collaborative space. Through carefully-considered planning and physical layout, it will allow journalists, editors, designers and developers to create and communicate in the most efficient ways possible in order to deliver content speedily and seamlessly.
Among Newsplex Asia’s first industry partners is Apple, which has made the Wee Kim Wee School its first tertiary-level education partner in Singapore with Apple Learning Environment status. Working with five faculty members at the School, Apple is supporting their journalism, mobile technology and publication design classes by lending 20 iPads, and providing advice and training on how to use the iPad as a news gathering and content creation tool.
Set right in the heart of Singapore’s bustling Orchard Road, Leica's second standalone store sets itself among the retail heaven for all discerning fashionistas: Mandarin Gallery.
At first glance, Leica looks like the kind of camera brand that is reserved just for the professional photographers, or at the very least, serious amateurs. However, the truth is, this renowned German company has everything to delight you with its impeccably made products. The only pre-requisites to owning a Leica seem to be a love of, and a passion for, photography. If you are one who relishes the fascinating experience of capturing a moment in time, a Leica will suit you beautifully.
Leica has a special culture of the picture. Our eyes have the greatest influence over how we perceive and understand our world. Leica has a long history of focusing on perception and has developed innovative instruments that afford a unique seeing experience.
Located in the heart of town, it is now more convenient than ever to find out more about Leica’s impressive range of cameras. Whether you make your living from taking pictures or simply want to preserve special moments in your life for posterity, there is a Leica for you.
The Gallery features icons from the sporting world with a dedicated area for sporting memorabilia as well as a separate display of music inspired art (album cover art work, fine art prints, photography). In this respect they are opening with an exhibition of Soundwaves by UK artist Tim Wakefield. Tim Wakefield creates dazzling sound artworks of iconic songs for his company Soundwaves Art. Using audio technology, Tim captures the digital beat of a musical track as a visual recording an energetic, multi-coloured image totally unique to the song. He listens to the music, the lyrics and the tempo of before capturing the song as a "static" soundwave.
Each soundwave is a limited-edition from only two of each print up to an edition of 50. His first collection was created to help fundraising efforts for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, which is the UK’s largest specialist music therapy charity.
Lomography is a Magazine, a Shop, and a Community dedicated to analogue photography and they have just opened their 1st store in Singapore.
Lomography began with a fateful encounter in the early 1990s when two students in Vienna, Austria, stumbled upon the Lomo Kompakt Automat – a small, enigmatic Russian camera.
Mindlessly taking the shot from the hip, and sometimes looking through the viewfinder, they were astounded with the mindblowing photos that it produced – the colours were vibrant, with deep saturation and vignettes that framed the shot – it was nothing like they had seen before! Upon returning home, friends wanted their own Lomo LC-A, igniting a new style of artistic experimental photography that we now know as Lomography!
Following the mania that ensued upon the introduction of Lomography, they flew to St. Petersburg to work out a contract for the worldwide distribution of this fantastic little camera. Soon, the 10 Golden Rules were set up as a guide to this analogue movement, followed by exhibitions, world congresses, parties, installations, collaborations, and events.
New products, films, and accessories were developed, and Lomography.com served as the communication hub for Lomographers worldwide. At the same time, Lomography Gallery Stores were put up worldwide.
These 10 Golden Rules define Lomography's philosophy and approach towards photography. Recite them, or break all the rules – whichever way, be ready to throw all your inhibitions about photography to the wind!
Take your camera everywhere you go
Use it any time – day and night
Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it
Try the shot from the hip
Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible
Don't think (William Firebrace)
Be fast
You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film
Afterwards either
Don't worry about any rules
Today they are a globally active organisation dedicated to experimental and creative visual expression, a playful combination of lo-tech and hi-tech, and a cultural institution involved in commercial photographic and design company.
They are dedicated to the unique imagery and style of analogue photography, and will continue to contribute to its development!
The coming together of minds to spark off new ideas and movements have been the inspiration of the cafe. Comprising of 7 distinct areas, the environment hopes to provoke thoughts and inspires an action.
Coupled with good food and an array of wines and desserts, it will be an environment that is cohesive for talents to come together, collaborate and create works of art. Where photographers can collaborate with models, graphic artists with poets, chefs with artist, where emerging talents can discover their hidden potentials – the possibilities are endless.
Located on Tras Street, the 2-storey Talent Cafe not only allows professionals to gather and create but also has the flexibility of becoming a space for exhibitions or corporate events. It can be a space that only your imagination can bring to life.
Talent cafe will become home to an international cast of talents. Where stories are shared, formed and told, where networks are built, great ideas are born and lasting relationships formed forever.
With its regional head office in Singapore, Talent Cafe will provide one-stop creative solutions; bridging the often separate mediums of talent casting, photography, design, styling, production etc under one roof.
VP is a new art gallery space focused on limited edition artworks, merchandise, events and a lifestyle that is inspired by photography. It is situated in the heart of Orchard Road, Singapore's premiere retail and shopping district. The space consists of two floors of exhibition and retail area located in a 3000 sq ft pre-war Peranakan shophouse. VP maintains a regular exhibition schedule featuring the artworks of established artists in small editions. A more permanent display of limited edition prints are available starting at S$80. These are offered in edition series of 100 and 500 for artists who exhibit with VP.
It is a place you can come in, browse and walk home with a piece of art. Obtain information about current exhibitions or enquire. Subscribe to the VP's mailing list, and be updated about special promotions, exhibitions and other gallery news and happenings.
VP Gallery is also available to host private functions related to arts and culture.
Conceived in late 2009 by a group of like-minded camera enthusiasts wanting to share their love for cameras and photography, Peek! Pte Ltd eventually came into being in mid 2010. Based in sunny Singapore, the technological hub of South East Asia, Peek! Pte Ltd serves the local arts and photography scene and hopes to expand her services to other regional markets with growing photographic communities”
Peek! hopes to be able to bring unique and hard to find cameras and other photographic equipment to the local and regional arts communities, and to provide a platform for enthusiasts and collectors to meet and exchange ideas. It is Peek!’s strong believe that photographs remain the preeminent method of capturing our memories, both good and bad, for posterity. With her continued efforts, Peek! hopes to eventually recapture the romanticism of photography lost with the advent of the digital age.
Still a young company Peek! Pte Ltd hopes to continue moving from strength to strength in developing her capabilities in retail and distribution of niche and boutique brands from all over the world. Peek! hopes to not only support the local arts and photography scene but to also bring access and choice to the masses and revolutionise the way we view photography.