Singapore Design Festival 2009

By Rachel Friday November 20, 2009

If you’ve ever gone for a walk along Henderson Waves at Mount Faber, you’d know why it was one of the recipients of the President’s Design Award 2009. With fluid swirls and curves, you would think you were walking through a giant rip curl wave off the coast of Hawaii.

Under a wooden rip-curl at Henderson Waves

It shares the stage with other recipients of the award, including Designers of the Year like Koichiro Ikebuchi of Atelier Ikebuchi, and Chris Lee of Asylum. They were in attendance among other designers being honoured at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Design Festival 2009, held at Ion Orchard this afternoon. We meet President SR Nathan and Adran Pang after the jump!

Designers, guests and press mingle at Ion Orchard

It was a very ‘international’ event, with people from all over the world, hobnobbing and mingling, talking design and art. I heard Japanese, snatches of Korean, Australian and American accents, and there was even a man with an awesome bushy mustache that curled at the ends like you see in cartoons. Waiters moved around, handing out glasses of pink drink and canapes that were basically local bites like chicken rice balls and chwee kway made to look pretty.

The President of Singapore was at the event to declare the opening of the Design Festival, and went around the exhibitions, mingling with designers and press.

President SR Nathan and guests at the Singapore Design Festival opening

Of course, fangirls that we Tattlers are (watch Kerrie and Laea gush over Zoe Tay and Tay Ping Hui at the Raoul opening.), we could not resist a photo opportunity with Adrian Pang, who was hosting the event. “I saw you in Blue Mansion,” said Kerrie, right after the photo was taken. “And Polo Boys,” I blurt. He laughed and turned crimson, “Yea well, thanks for all your support; I’m grateful for whatever support I can get.”

At Tattler, we hunt celebs and shoot them. With cameras lah.

The Singapore Design Festival 2009 is themed “Design2050: Possiblities for Tomorrow”, and will be held from 20 to 30 November with a wide range of design events and activities. We at Tattler scoped out the list and here are some highlights we found interesting:

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

By MOJOKO (www.mojoko.net)
Exhibition 25 Nov – 1 Dec, 11am – 8pm, Free Admission
The Substation, 45 Armenian Street
A showcase of 2D and 3D artwork inspired by the cult movie Bladerunner by Singapore’s new wave of underground and emerging artists and designers.
Click here for more info!

Strangelet’s Own

By Strangelets (www.strangelets.org)
Exhibition 20 – 30 Nov, 12pm – 7.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays, Free admission
Strangelets, 87 Amoy Street
An eclectic collection of furnishings and accessories from studios all over the world, offering new approaches to old problems. The new Strangelets collection will also be launched then.
Click here for more info!

THE_ISSUE Magazine launch

By HJGHER (www.theissuemagazine.com)
Magazine Launch Party 26 Nov 2009, 9pm onwards, Free admission
Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim Street
A bi-annual thematic magazine based in quality of life issues. We’re intrigued.
Click here for more info!

A Void Experience

By Pixel Pastry (www.pixel-pastry .com)
Exhibition 20 Nov – 5 Dec, 11am – 11pm, Free admission
Various HDB void decks (go to www.avoidexperience.com for more information)
As one who lives in a HDB, I’m all too familiar with the asocial behaviour of neighbours who pass each other by without acknowledgement. This exhibition uses void decks as showcasing platforms to open up this social issue.
Click here for more info!

Unnatural Beauty

By Trine Design Associates (www.trine.com.sg)
Exhibition 20 Nov – 4 Dec, 11am – 8pm, Free admission
The Arts House Ground Level, 1 Old Parliament Lane
A visual installation of intricate chandeliers and art pieces constructed from biodegradable cornstarch cutlery. Beautiful AND eco-friendly. We like.
Click here for more info!