The Red Dragon
Art is a reflection of society. Buildings are built according to the ideals of the flourishing empire and paintings may portray the type of life people envision. With the rise of a new social or cultural movement, new buildings are erected and those of the past demolished. Hence, to understand the past or to know the future, we can turn to art and architecture.
With the liberalization and rapid development of the 1.3 billion people nation, China is turning heads of many around the world. China as a superpower commands respect, admiration as well as fear in the eyes of many politicians. Businessmen are now all jumping onto the Chinese bandwagon, to get their slice of the pie as the Chinese economy grows exponentially. They are not the only ones, artists and architects are looking towards the Red Dragon once again.
Chinese Art is making a comeback and it is now bigger and bolder. Contemporary Chinese interior design maintains its penchant for details but includes new and modern elements like steel. The use of bold colours—lime green, sunshine yellow, neon pink replacing the traditional wooden finishing—signifies the great leap forward for China once again. This exciting movement is certainly worth paying close attention to.
Old vs. New
Traditional Chinese architecture focuses on the delicate details of each piece of furniture. This can be seen in the elaborate wood carvings of dragons and phoenixes. The meticulous artist pays attention to all the elements then intricately crafts his art as a whole. The final product, an article that is continuous, where there is a seamless transition from lines to curves. The look is extremely polished.
While the old Chinese design may prove to be a little stuffy for most of us, contemporary Chinese architecture is exciting. A greater mix of materials and colours brings life to Chinese art, transforming it from its old fashioned self.
Traditional floral patterns are toned down by reducing its design complexity to give a slightly more neutral look. By painting these patterns on a lime green wall or lacquer it over a brown wall, an eclectic effect is created. Who would imagine that Chinese art can be combined with sleek modern edges and clean lines of steel cabinets?
By increasing the size of the Chinese daybed, yoke back armchairs and console tables, then painting them a pink panther or sunshine yellow, the contemporary Chinese furniture can bring life to any neutral tone house.
Chinese Art
Chinese Art can be divided into periods by the ruling dynasties of China and the changing technologies. Politics, education, philosophy and religion also influence the direction of art.
From the Shang Dynasty focus on the clarity of details, to Song’s emphasis on spiritual elements in subtle expressions of landscape and Ming’s perfection in colour painting, traditions were followed strictly to maintain the prestige and culture of the prevailing periods. Modern Chinese art however, is said to have departed from the avant-garde movement’s focus on social and political change. Critiques claim that many artists are dropping political or social themes altogether to create works that appeal to the aesthetic sense of wealthy buyers. Mao Ze Dong’s portraits are now created in dark and cynical hues that are incompatible with his image at the peak of his career.
This emphasis on pretty pictures in the 1990s however, reflects the change in cultural make up of the society towards the goals of wealth and economic power and the formation of a white collar and commercial culture. The likes of Xu Bing (leader of Chinese avant-garde art), Huang Yong Ping and Cai Quo Qiang among many others were thought to be disregarded by the public.
The changing economy provided contemporary artists new themes despite the foreseen demise of social commentary—the desire to get rich quickly, competitiveness, widening income gap, consumerism, leisure. The new ideology in China led to Political Pop and Cynical Realism styles.
The focus on portraits in modern Chinese art also expounds on the themes of individualism, desire and reality showing how people comprehend and reconstruct the roles amid the confusion of the city life. There is some sort of abstract qualities to the portraits with certain alien like qualities that varies from blank expressions to wide eye astonishment.
Avant-garde themes are still favoured in contemporary Chinese art; it is just that the forms are prettier, more personal and private in subject matter and more professional in technique. Social commentary is still alive.
Where to get Contemporary Chinese Art
Linda Gallery—established in 1990, specialises in contemporary Chinese art and Indonesian paintings. he gallery has held numerous exhibitions, featuring works by famous Chinese Contemporary artists, Indonesian maestros, Indo–European artists, as well as other South East Asian artists. #01-03 Block 15 Dempsey Road, Tanglin Village.
Jasmine Fine Arts—Specialises in contemporary Chinese art and holds regular exhibitions. It has exhibited works by Zeng Fangzhi (in collaboration with the Singapore Art Museum) and Yang Jinsong. 290 Orchard Road, #05-25 Paragon.
Kwan Hua Art Gallery—Offers a good selection of Oriental and contemporary Chinese art, including thoe by Bai Jin Shun, Zeng Jie and Zhang Xian Ming. Prices range from 1-6k. 19 Tanglin Road, #02-61 Tanglin Shopping Centre
Ode To Art—One of the largest galleries in Singapore. 252North Bridge Road, Raffles City Shopping Centre #01-36E/F
Singapore Art Museum (SAM)—Has exhibitions featuring works of Chinese contemporary artists. Zeng Fangzhi has been featured previously. The exhibition, entitled Idealism, showcased 36 major works including his celebrated series Hospital, Meat, Mask and Portraits. 71 Bras Basah Road
Soobin Art International—One of the first local galleries to carry contemporary Chinese art. The gallery has represented some top artists like Yue Minjun, Wang Guanyi, Zhang Xiaogang, Ye Yong Qing etc. While the gallery has sold its collections by these famous artists, it continues to promote new artists from places like Szechuan and Chengdu. 140 Hill Street #01-10/11/12 MICA Building.
Luxury travel to China effectively introduces you to the trendiest art galleries, the best restaurants and insider access whilst being based in the most luxurious hotels.
The Bachelor Pad Phenomenon
Rising property prices are not deterring this whole new breed of design-conscious single heterosexual men from getting a place of their own. When it comes to living, these men expect only the best—a nice car is no longer enough— a designer apartment equivalent of a Ferrari is the way to go. The late 20s or early 30s are forking up to $3m to $4m to furnish their pads with designer pieces, high tech gadgets, sophisticated bar, leather upholstery, masculine but clean bathroom and kitchens etc.
Owning a bachelor pad confers a higher social status to the owner. Bachelor pads have been the preserve of the privileged such as P.G. Wodehouse’s Bertie Wooster who resided at Berkeley Mansions,
Sophisticated apartments are springing up to meet the demands of these males who want their pad in the shortest time possible. These men are affluent and independent, individual, self assertive and fashionable and they look for the best in life that is crafted to suit them.
Gone were the days of old food and dirty dishes sitting in the bassinette and clothing strewn about the floors. Say goodbye to the beaten down, mouldy and creaky couch picked up at a flea market, the television set that works more like a radio, the refrigerator that doubles as a heater, down to the haphazardly painted walls. The 21st century Man has evolved and it shows in his living space—Sophistication.
Accessories—Home Theatrics
Gadgets are a man’s best friends and this can be seen in their obsession for these toys in their pads. It is an alpha male thing, the need to be the first to own the latest gadget, to have the best, and to have everyone see it.
First impression counts. We have heard this all the time. The first thing one sees stepping into a bachelor pad would be the living room, and impressions of the owner are formed in first six seconds. It is no wonder why the television set and the home theatre system takes centre piece and are major obsessions of the bachelor.
From black and white to colour, the new kid on the block would be High Definition TV screens. With five times the picture quality of traditional cathode ray television coupled with Dolby surround sound, HDTV provides a cinematic view for viewer second to none.
Even though HD broadcasts are not widely available in many countries, owning one now will certainly impress your guests.
Instead of the conventional plasma and LCD screens, you can opt for HD projectors to give you a bigger image and unmatched cinematic experience. Alternatively, the living room can be converted into a movie lounge with sound proofed walls, plush sofas and carpeted floors to create the cinema experience in your own home.
A mediocre sound system can diminish the viewing experience. The Sony Home Theatre system is affordable yet provides pristine sound quality for clean listening with its wireless rear speakers. And if your credit card hasn’t been maxed out, Bose or Bang and Olufsen home entertainment system would be icing on the cake.
Accessories—Kitchen
A clean, sleek and high tech kitchen can enhance a man’s masculinity because it shows that he unafraid to embrace the traditionally feministic role of cooking yet is not effeminate.
The bare essentials in a bachelor’s kitchen would be a good coffee machine, a microwave oven and a refrigerator.
Someone once said that a cuppa a day drives the doctor away, the mantra of caffeine addicts. Most men just want their cuppa waiting for them every morning without fail, fuss free. Coffee machines now come with various degrees of automation for the skilled barrister to the average drinker. The more sophisticated machines can be programmed to produce that perfect cup on time every morning; clean itself or even warm up a cold cup of coffee should its owner oversleep, perfect for the workaholic or the party animal.
Microwave ovens are the solution to fuss free eating especially for those who are short of talent in the kitchen or simply do not have the time to cook. Other than being practical, microwave ovens from Bosch promises to deliver style. Their built in microwaves blends seamlessly into the high tech theme of your kitchen and its smart sensor cooking modes enhances the taste of any microwave meals.
A sleek stainless steel refrigerator will complete the look of the high tech kitchen. Smart refrigerators can also restock themselves by connecting online to order for groceries without you having to make a trip down to the supermarket. A plumbed fridge that provides cold water and ice dispenser is also essential.
Accessories—Work from Home
What is the use of a bachelor pad if you cannot work from the comfort of your own home? Wireless networking allows for all your office equipment to be integrated and therefore giving you control over your work from a single command centre—your laptop. Wireless technology has provided us with more convenience while we stay connected to the Net from all corners of our home.
Having a Broadband hookup also allows quick transfer of huge files with large bandwidths and high speed downloads, perfect for work and even play!
Surfing the Net and talking on the phone instantaneously is another new possibility with broadband. VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) allows you to make free Internet calls using software like Skype.
The most preferred device these days would be a laptop due to its portability and infinite capabilities. When working from home, ensure that a proper docking station and stand is available as it is better for your posture and eyes. An ergonomic chair will provide you with maximum comfort whilst completing that exclusive client deal, or hunting down that last alien standing between you and world domination.
Bachelor Pad Themes
It is a wonder what simplicity can do for us, something we have all failed in comprehending as we fill our lives with labels and fancy, useless things all in the name of materialism and consumerism. Today’s bachelor pad however, indulges the modern Man without being ostentatious and caters to his basic needs with a sense of class.
Most bachelor pads revolve around the minimalist and industrial theme. Men often prefer their living space to be open, free from clutter, displaying only the bare essentials. A built-in home theatre system and a concealed television set ensues a clean look, whilst the wooden cabinet can double up as a decorative centrepiece of the living room.
David Ponting, a contemporary interior designer, designed this home using simple lines and open spaces. The ground floor has no solid walls and the glass panels help blend the interior with the garden. The top floor is zinc clad, which fits in nicely with the industrial theme; being silent yet strong, obscure yet sophisticated, all qualities appreciated by bachelors.
In this other pad, designer Anita Fljn uses a black lacquered ceiling to frame the panoramic view of this penthouse. A floor to ceiling mirrored fire also helps to create an illusion that the apartment is bigger than it really is.
Fljn also installed a large dark stained wood shelving on one wall of the living room. The built in cabinetry at one end of the unit conceals a drinks centre. The stairway to the bedrooms is also concealed by another cabinet with a mirrored lining. This reduces the focal points in the living room such that the main focus will remain on the view.
With simple yet classy furnishing, it is possible to maintain a sophisticated feel of a bachelor pad. Sometimes, simplicity is indeed the best gift we can ever receive.
The Playboy Culture
Since its launch in
Through the 1950s and 60s, Playboy highlighted a series of “Playboy Pads” which included actual buildings and blueprints all tailored to the high living, modern, affluent and independent man. Through this, Playhouse championed a world of indulgence for the new generation of wealthy and hedonistic American men. To compensate for the feminity surrounding consumerism, nude pictorials are the key to enhancing the masculinity of Playboy’s new age consumers.
Playboy rapidly became a cultural phenomenon and with that, brought about the bachelor culture—the swinging male attitudes, hobbies, dress sense and the most of all, the design of his ‘pad’.
This masculine consumerism mindset continued to develop over the years. The world wars and subsequent stock market crash did nothing to dampen this thriving masculine identity based on the pleasures of consumerism. The launch of Esquire in 1933 was indicative of this phenomenon. Then magazines like McClure’s, Munsey’s and the Saturday Evening Post joined the ranks of addressing men as their market for certain consumer goods.
Playboy’s fascination with the aesthetics of design can be seen in their features on ‘Modern Living’ which chronicles the latest in gadgets and trendy furnishing, as well as their ‘Playboy Pads’. The ‘Playboy’s Penthouse’ blueprint in 1956 brought the bachelor pad phenomenon to a greater height by displacing any hint of effeminacy. The pad is a place for a man of taste and sophistication, a place to fit his moods, suit his needs and reflect his personality.
Today’s bachelor pads still follow the steps set by Playboy decades ago. Pleasure seeking gadgetry, latest technical devices combined with modernism’s bold lines and sleek minimalism, the bachelor’s culture is all set to stay.
The desire for privacy and small, intimate retreats largely to one’s own is something that has extended to the realm of boutique hotels- from the one-room boutique hotel in Cambodia, the ultra-luxury private game reserves in East Africa to the intimate villas in South East Asia.
Via sellsiusreal estate’s blog:
The internet has a way of making us crave more aggregated information, more statistics and instant data. The rent-o-meter, currently restricted to USA, Canada and London, claims to provide an estimate of the fair value of your rental apartment.
Mirroring a 1995-1996 move, the government, despite all press releases to the contrary, seems to signal that apartment prices might be getting too hot.
Govt withdraws Deferred Payment Scheme for property purchases
By Ng Baoying, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 October 2007 1853 hrs
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SINGAPORE : The government has withdrawn the deferred payment scheme for property purchases.
This applies to all residential, commercial and industrial properties.
This is seen as the clearest move yet to cool the property market.
Amid the strong growth in the property sector, there have been calls on the government to step in.
Analysts say the latest move did not come as a total surprise.
Tay Huey Ying, Research and Consultancy Director, Colliers International, says: “Just as the government has been watching the market, the market has also been watching the government very closely to see when they will be implementing measures to cool down the market. So I would say that this is something that the market is expecting. It’s just a matter of time.”
Under the Deferred Payment Scheme, developers could offer buyers of uncompleted private properties the option to defer part of their payment for the units they buy.
When the scheme first started, buyers had to pay an initial 20 percent downpayment in full.
They were allowed to defer payment on the remaining 80 percent of the purchase price.
But subsequently, they were allowed up to half of the downpayment.
These deferred payment plans have been seen as key to driving growth in the property market.
Property watchers say withdrawing the scheme will keep speculation in check but they expect the market to remain buoyant.
Mr Tay says: “Genuine purchasers are likely to continue to carry on with their purchases. And since demand fundamentals remain healthy, I think the level of activity will remain active especially since sub-sale currently accounts for only 12 per cent of total transactions. And in the mass market, sub-sales currently only account for only 5 per cent of total transactions.”
Private home prices have risen almost 23 percent so far this year. – CNA/ch
Original story here:
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Renewed call for condo lifeguards |
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| By Teh Joo Lin | ||
A LIFEGUARD at the Ridgewood Condominium in Mount Sinai recently pulled a resident out of the pool after he suffered a fit, saving his life. In another case, a lifeguard at the same estate was on hand to attend to a guest who had mistakenly dived into the shallow end of the pool and cut his brow. Recounting both incidents, estate resident and MP for Bukit Panjang Teo Ho Pin again made the case for all condominiums to have lifeguards. The chairman of the National Water Safety Council told The Straits Times: ‘Two lifeguards on rotating shifts had rescued quite a number of people over the years.’ It was money well spent, he said, responding to some condominium managers and residents who felt that hiring lifeguards was too costly. Their grouses: Pools are not used for the greater part of the day. The fewer the number of units in a condominium, the more residents have to pay for a lifeguard. Dr Teo first suggested that condominiums and clubs hire lifeguards after a 10-year-old boy drowned in the pool of the Palm Gardens condominium in Choa Chu Kang last month. Yesterday, Dr Teo again urged them to think of ‘life and death, not dollars and cents’. Lifeguards can perform many other tasks as well, including pool maintenance, testing water hygiene and educating residents and guests. ‘They don’t just sit there and do nothing,’ he said. Smaller condominiums could also consider cross-training their facility managers or security guards in water skills. Since 1998, more than 350 people have drowned and the council, set up in April, is hoping that, in time, everyone will be able to swim and even save someone in difficulty in the water. Its members recently returned from the World Water Safety 2007 conference in Portugal. Next week, they will fly to Perth in Australia to learn how various agencies there deal with water safety. The council’s latest initiative: distributing 5,000 water safety posters to pool operators both private and public, grassroots groups and agencies with water bodies under their charge. ‘We hope they will be displayed prominently in places where people can take a look at them,’ he said. Requests for posters can be directed to contact@watersafety.sg |
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