the creative class
Singapore has long been known as a business hub. A global transit point. Renowned for its food. But over the past decade, a new generation of emerging talent has redefined what it is to be Singaporean, pushing the boundaries of the state’s creative capital through a completely unique cultural viewpoint. Now, being Singaporean and creative are not mutually exclusive.
In partnership with innovative watchmaker Swatch, on these pages we explore, celebrate and rethink what it means to be inventive in Singapore by shining a spotlight on the artists, designers, performers and entrepreneurs bringing to the world ideas and artistry never seen before.
FIRDAOS PIDAU
FOOTWEAR DESIGNER
“Art is essential more than ever right now. We need more art,” Firdaos Pidau affirms. The footwear designer is by no means a beginner in the world of fashion, and especially in luxury footwear. A scholarship graduate of London College of Fashion’s prestigious Cordwainers course, Pidau was afforded the opportunity to undergo a paid internship for a year with renowned shoe designer Charlotte OIympia, before scoring another internship with mega-brand Zara. His return to Singapore in 2018 saw him joining local footwear brand Charles & Keith, a role that sees him redirecting the brand towards more original fashion-forward designs. “Creativity to me is about creating possibilities. It is about finding the best solutions. It is about improving the quality of life in big and small ways,” he says. Having been part of a more inclusive culture where creativity and the arts are given the same standing as more professional pursuits, Pidau opines that Singapore’s art scene could do better in supporting its bevy of talented individuals and “not only when it is profit-driven or parallel to some conservative and outmoded agenda”. AJ
KATHY ANNE LIM
PHOTOGRAPHER
There are only so many cliches one can sift through before they throw up their arms in resignation or think, ‘Well, if no one will, I guess I’ll do it.’ Kathy Anne Lim opts for the latter; pushing against the grain of the tried-and-tested in a bid to bring into existence something purposeful in a feckless world. Her weapon of choice: the camera. And all about her, Lim is assailed with imagery online and through garish advertisements seen on her daily commute. With this constant bombardment of visuals, Lim has to sift through the noise and present concepts that are difficult to grapple with, have yet to be seen or are presented in a new lens. Singapore isn’t the most nurturing place for art to be appreciated or to thrive in. “Poetry is a luxury we cannot afford.” Lee Kuan Yew’s famous remark in the 1960s still resonates today with 2020’s survey, where the occupation of ‘artist’ tops the list of the most non-essential workers during the pandemic. “What we lack [are places that] allow for experimentation supporting artists and creatives to try new materials or software,” Lim says. But as the pandemic casts
