District Design Dialogue is taking over the terrace houses in Holland Village for one arty block party. Here’s what to expect...
Arty types and creative creatures, listen up: If you love discovering art with a twist, District Design Dialogue has something up its sleeves. Making its debut during Singapore Design Week 2018 from 10 to 18 March, witness Chip Bee Gardens in Holland Village turn into a gathering of local talents and independent vendors across fashion, food, music, writing and craft. This is not your average design and arts event — think cosy performances in someone’s living room, interactive art installations in an unexpected setting, and craft sessions to create your own masterpieces.
Intrigued? Here are some of the spaces we’re excited to check out…
The Kitchen
It’s all about satisfying your taste buds here. Eat your way through a series of pop-up private dinners by food heroes Joeri Timmermans (Blackwattle), Kenneth Foong (Cure), Woo Wai Leong (Masterchef Asia winner), culinary-themed workshops and food vendors. Short on produce? Kabuke, Spatula & Whisk, Demochoco and more have got your back on the weekends. Don’t forget to feast your eyes on Haagen-Dazs’ cherry blossom garden installation while you cool off at the pop-up bar by Hendrick’s Gin.
Pop-up bars
What’s a block party without any booze? Explore unique cocktails and cool down with alcoholic mixes by Sunday Punch and Kimoto, as well as Hendricks Gin. Yes, you can bag a bottle at the pop-ups, too!
Closing party
If you’ve got some energy left in you after exploring all ten spaces, party on at Blackout Hangout on 18 March. Entry is free, and there are plenty of music and booze to get your rave on.
The Librar
Dedicated to prose, print and design, literary collective Sing Lit Station invites visitors to step into the space and initiate conversations, seek advice from, and witness Writer-in-Residence Daryl Yam hard at work. There will also be a pop-up loaded with a range of design and art books by indie design bookstore Basheer Graphic Books.
If you’re big on poems and plays, stay for intimate night showcases by Singapore’s very own writing talents. Guests include Pooja Nansi, Helen Oyeyemi and Deborah Emmanuel, amongst others. Expect a multi-sensory treat filled with music, scents and premium brewed tea.
Answering all your questions on the weekend sesh of ‘Locked in a Room With’ (think dialogue sessions) are Steve Lawler (formerly of Kult), Sole Superior’s Jonathan Fong, Samantha Lo (SKLO), and food anthropologist Brunch Bandits, amongst other creative personalities.
The Runwa
Fashionistas, it’s time to up your style game with Singapore’s very own under-the-radar fashion labels (and noteworthy ones, of course). Catch their distinctive designs and novel concepts that might just land in your wardrobe. There will also be a pop-up by Heads of State Millinery, as well as store-in-store concepts by biro, Waiyang, Omitir Concepts, Just Gaya’s and Hang with Dora.
The Loung
Tip: leave your kids at The Playground while you sneak into The Lounge. This lifestyle-centric space showcases beauty, home and lifestyle wares by The Gentle Label, Liz B, ves. Ceramics, Candles of Light, Pew Pew Patches, SKL0, Dabble Studio and Kydra. If you’re in need of a release, skip the shrink and head to Fragment Room’s pop-up Rage Room to smash your frustrations out. You can also keep up the tough-guy facade and get inked at Vagabond Ink.
The Stage
Music lovers, this one’s for you! Expect an audio treat over the weekends with acoustic sessions by artists such as Adia Tay, Glen Wee, Weish, Abby Simone, electronic music by Intriguant, and a music line-up curated by DJ Zig Zach. There will also be sound art installations and immersive digital art shows by Axel Serik and Ritz/Yang, as well as DJ workshops by POP Studio DJ.
say hi to_
The Parisian creative folks of say hi to_ will showcase a gallery of local designers and artists from various categories like design visual arts and product design such as Dawn Ng, DAZINGFEELSGOOD, Industry+, Jodi Tan, Jovian Lim, Olivia Lee. Studio Juju, Ripple Root, Studio Dam, and HJGHER. Besides rooms that explore diverse creative themes and visual arts, get involved in its workshops on Guerilla Marketing in the Digital Age and brand building through visual storytelling on social media.
Sole Superior
Sneakerheads will appreciate Sole Superior’s exhibition featuring artwork by Sidd Willis, Tell Your Children, Eric Foenander, Mister Tucks, as well as collabs with Novesta, New Era, Pras The Bandit, SBTG, FIN. Local labels HMTY, RSVR Apparel, Pra The Bandit will also be making a cameo with their retail showcases. Pssst… there’s also a Secret Stash Sale you won’t want to miss!
District Design Dialogue Holland Village, 10-18 March 2018, various locations in Holland Village. See website for more info.
Cool art installations
Catch Jau’s Art theft & its education at Blackout House where you’ll catch Jau’s art piece Midnight Gold Star Project being defaced. Spot the ‘TAKELAH’ sign — this is an invitation for visitors to take a piece of the artwork for real. Indulge in its backstory before heading down here. Also, get your hands on SKL0’s sticker dispenser at The Lounge where stickers are up for grabs. There are no locks on the dispenser so it’s either you pay the full-listed $12 for the stickers or not, but be mindful of the mounted security camera above (psst… no one’s telling us if it’s actually working or part of the installation).
Farmer’s Market
Bring your reusable bag down to Holland Village’s first Farmer’s Market on 17 March! #10 Blackout Hangout will be filled with local honey, frog meat, fresh oysters from Pulau Ubin, organic veggies, seafood subscription boxes, coffee-roasting and veggie-growing kits, fair-trade spices, and homemade slow-rise sourdough breads by 15 local producers including Humble Ground, Vegepod Singapore and Langit. Jurong Frog Farm will also be there with its range of minced frog meat — deboned, pre-cooked and ready to serve to your doggy pals.