Walking into an event when I've forgotten the invite and to RSVP and they still let me in...

...no shame, when ya play the game. well.

PS: #ThisRarelyHappens #UsuallyIGetBooted #OrGetAskedtoDeliverCurryElsewhere

Been Working for X Years as a Journalist, glanced at my savings...

... God I hope I marry well. And by well, I mean into money. A mosh pit of money.

Pet Concerns; Ana R, Helena Chan and Rina Wadhwani

ANA R

My Husband has always wanted a dog he can take for walks and runs with him. Brad is a big fitness type of guy (So not like me!) We went to Hong Kong Dog Rescue adoption day that they hold at Whiskers and Paws every Sunday. I think we went about four or five Sundays till we meet Lily. Let me tell you I don't believe in love at first sight, but I witnessed it; my Husband and Lily locked eyes and that was it. To be honest Lily is scared of men, so I’m not sure why but the only man she loves is Brad. They have a very special bond that even a wife (moi!) can be a little jealous at times. Lily has changed our family and made us well rounded. Also Lily (she’s one-and-a-half) gets along very well with my two Mini Schnauzers; Gucci (15) and Angel (8). Gucci seems to be acting like a teenager and got her youth back. Angel has a buddy that she loves to play with all day.

Now that we have a new born baby in the house, its amazing how well the dogs are around Maya. Brad and I were worried at first that the dogs would not be able to manage with a new born. We were very surprised that all three managed to be very relaxed and easy-going with the baby. I was worried most about the dogs barking. Maya seems to sleep though it.

Hong Kong Dog Rescue
http://www.hongkongdogrescue.com/home/

HELENA CHAN

I have two guinea pigs (Mittens and Skittles) and two rabbits (Chaos Champion Princess VonMarshmellowsocks!), they are all rescue animals from the Hong Kong SPCA. I also have a family dog called Oscar that was adopted from Hong Kong Dog Rescue. But he lives with my family at the moment.

I only believe in adopting animals from animal shelters as Pet shops breed their pets in a very cruel way. I want to ban the bad breeder.

My rescue animals have changed my life in so many ways. They all have such amazing personalities, they make me laugh everyday. It's an amazing feeling knowing that I have changed their lives for the better, they have made me a better person. I love them unconditionally and it was the best decision in my life adopting them.

I volunteer at a charity called Sai Kung Stray Friends. We have about 100 unwanted dogs and five staff looking after them everyday. We are very short  handed and welcome volunteers!

Sai Kung Stray Friends
Www.saikungstrayfriends.net 

SPCA
http://www.spca.org.hk/

RINA WADHWANI

Anya has brought much joy to our family especially, as our children are young adults now and don’t live with us. Most of the time we experience an empty nest syndrome as my son is married and moved out. My daughter is away at college in London. It's nice to receive a huge welcome when we walk in the door and she’s always up for a cuddle! She is like a little child in the house and always up to something. Once when I returned home from a night out, she had chewed up my brand new Valentino high heel sandals and completely destroyed it! Needless to say, I was dismayed as it was beyond repair. Now I do not leave my shoes lying around!

Caring for a pet is fulfilling and brings great joy and pleasure. Anya is like a member of our family. We always look forward to Sundays when my son's dog Enzo comes over for a play date and I "babysit" them. It's fun playing with both of them together.

I do not subscribe to buying pets from a pet store as most of them are bred illegally in puppy mills. It's completely unethical and doing so will only encourage mass breeding of such puppies putting female adult dogs at great risks compromising their health. I definitely support HK Dog Rescue and Animals Asia Foundation as I love animals and abhor animal cruelty.

Hong Kong Dog Rescue
http://www.hongkongdogrescue.com/home/

Animal Asia
https://www.animalsasia.org/

Picking images and people for the Society column...

...seriously drunk with power. And tequila. On a Tuesday.

Heard my fav Fashion Editor went to an event last Friday...

...but I know, what really happened. So does Abid.

Have Been Working on a Shoot for Months....

... client just made more changes and a whole new direction. Ugh.

Matters of the Art: Art Connoisseur Kate Bryan: Lifestyle

In conversation with Kate Bryan, Director of Contemporary at The Fine Art Society, P. Ramakrishnan takes a virtual roam at the hallowed gallery to discuss the Asian scene.

London’s oldest commercial dealership, The Fine Art Society is but a group of like-minded, passionate art collectors. Although it became best known for secondary dealing in Victorian and modern British material, since its founding in 1876 it has been very much about championing the artists of the day.

The former gallery director at The Cat Street Gallery in Hong Kong, Kate Bryan joined The Fine Art Society in 2011 and has reawakened its Contemporary Department. With her picture-perfect visage beaming out of art-based television programmes as a regular contributor and presenter, she’s easily one of the most well-informed and well-travelled art experts in the mix. She recently visited China to present a BBC Two The Culture Show special on Chinese painting, so we brushed up against her for a Q&A:

What’s happening in Asian art, and what makes it so interesting?
Kate Bryan: Contemporary Asian art was largely marginalised until around 2005, which marked a tipping point. Quite suddenly there was an active market for the work and very quickly this translated into big auction results and museum recognition on an international stage for a handful of artists, most of whom were Chinese. It was such a thrilling time for those involved and indeed for spectators because it was a completely new kind of art from a region the West still had little real experience of.
However, it took some time – and indeed it must be an on-going process – for this frenzied pocket of activity to settle into something more consistent and permanent. The emergence of contemporary Asian art was radical – I suppose that was its teenage phase, very hot and happening. Now that it’s an older market, it’s maturing into something more substantial that doesn’t need to rely on trends and fads. For great art to be created and understood, it needs institutional support and recognition at home. Thankfully these things are happening at a great pace now across the region.

Who are the Asian artists we should know? What makes them special?
Everyone ought to know the Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei, who is an artist of such clarity and integrity that he not only communicates truths and contradictions about life in China today, but he also taps into something much deeper about human behaviour that relates to every culture throughout history. He is China’s Picasso and will be known for centuries to come as one of the most important cultural forces in this century. It may take some time for China to fully comprehend their rebel son, but when they do I suspect he will be a national hero.

Everyone’s looking for the next art superstar. How do you spot his or her emergence?
Contrary to what most people might assume from reports in the papers and overzealous art dealers, the birth of a great artist is a very slow and unsteady process. That said, there are factors to consider when buying art which should give an indication of future status. How old is the artist? Have they got a notable mentor? Is this a solo show with a well-considered premise behind it? Is the standard of work good across the whole show? Where else have they exhibited? Who with? Have they got institutional support – are they being bought or shown at museums or private collections? Are they being written about in a serious fashion? If it’s affordable now and some of the above criteria are met, then it may well turn out to be a good investment. I just exhibited the work of a young Chinese artist called JS Tan in London and he ticked many of these boxes, which is why I gave him a show. But more importantly I think he’s a great painter.

Art as investment is not new in Hong Kong. From a non-financial point of view, is that a good or bad thing? Are the punters not appreciating the work itself as much as its resale potential?
There were a lot of people who tried to capitalise on the fast rise to fame of some of the first wave of contemporary Asian artists to be sold at auction, and ultimately they don’t do the market any favours long term. A small pocket of people pushed prices into absurd territory, and whilst some stars continue to shine brightly, others have faded, which is an alarming prospect for collectors. Thankfully we have a much broader and deeper range of people interested in the market now, who nurture it and sustain it for the future. Ultimately, art should be bought to nourish the soul, not the bank balance. If you buy something you love, you need not worry about it is an asset class, and more often than not if you bought it sensibly at a good price it will increase in value over the years while you enjoy it.

After your most recent visit to Beijing, do you find that people in China appreciate its art history and want to preserve centuries-old works, or is modern China less interested in its past as it grows into the largest economy in the world?
The fact that hundreds of regional museums have opened in the past couple of years in China is testament to an increased desire to preserve and collect cultural artefacts and artwork. It’s not all positive news, though, because for such a long time culture was neglected in the country and vast swathes of material have been destroyed, lost or taken overseas. But what I’ve always been impressed by in China and Hong Kong is that even when there’s a lack of government support, people find ways of showing art, creating pop-up spaces, taking art into an alternative realm, and it really seems to have flourished in the fringes. The same thing had to happen with the birth of modern art in Europe at the end of the 19th century. There is always a precedent.

You’ve worked in Hong Kong and the London art world. What are the differences?
The major difference is the number of artists living and working in each city. When I worked in Hong Kong, all my artists were based elsewhere. It was not a viable option in 2005 when we started to show local artists, and they were so few. In London there are countless artists – I can’t move for them! – probably more than at any other time in history. There are more opportunities to go to art school, to visit hundreds of museums, and being an artist is not considered a side-line career.
With a Basel Art Fair and a world-class museum opening soon, there are big signs of change in Hong Kong. I can name several artists from the city who are doing great things, including Kacey Wong, Stanley Wong and Nadim Abbas. It’s going to take some time for it to fulfil its potential. We have an art market in place but not an art world. It’s a mental gearshift that’s needed.

In previous conversations five or six years ago, you brought up the rise in interest in Korean art. Did that trend catch on?
Very much so. Korean art for me remains one of the most robust and diverse art markets in Asia. Many artists have found a place on the international stage, including two of my favourites, Doh Huh So and Nikki S Lee. Debbie Han, an artist I championed when I was gallery director at The Cat Street Gallery, has gone on to do great things and remains a vital force.

Finally, on a personal note, what pieces have you invested in? What artwork would we find at your house?
I have some beautiful celadon heads by Debbie Han. They are at once traditional in their material but inventive in their approach. I have an awesome neon work by the British artistic duo Rob and Nick Carter. When I started to show their work in Hong Kong a few years ago, they were selling for about HK$50,000, and we just recently sold their new work for HK$1 million. They also became the first living artists to exhibit at the Frick Collection in New York. A painting that has been in pride of place in all my apartments over the years is a great modernist night-time pool scene by the young Australian painter Paul Davies. He has sold out nearly every exhibition he’s ever had. I also have a few Peter Blake silkscreens, an affordable way to collect one of the UK’s greatest artists. 

Portraits by Dino Busch

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Just a random sampling of portraits done by Dino Busch in collaboration with my columns and features in SCMP.

Play List: Jeremy Wong

What I’m listening to: my recent favourite tracks are all guitar songs, anything that makes me grab my guitar and play and sing in my room. A Step You Can’t Take Back from the film Begin Again is my top jam right now, and I’ve always loved Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton, Fast Car by Tracy Chapman, Wonderwall by Oasis and Wherever You Will Go by The Calling. My favourite Hong Kong singer is Eason Chan and my favourite band would be either Coldplay or Green Day, depending on my mood. I hate K-pop – I don’t know why it’s so popular in Hong Kong.

What I’m reading: The Rules of Life by Richard Templar, which is very inspiring. As a model, I need to know what’s happening in Hong Kong fashion, so I read Prestige HK, Men’s Uno and Esquire. Fashion magazines are littered all over my room. I don’t really have a favourite writer; it just depends on what I’m interested in at the time, whether it’s psychology, philosophy or history.

What I’m watching: my favourite TV show is Family Guy. I love cartoons. I’m also a big fan of The Avengers. My favourite movie of all time is the 1971 Oscar winner, Love Story, starring Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw.

What artists I’m following: can I say Eminem is my favourite artist? He is so talented and his lyrics are amazing. His wordplay is just too cool. I used to be obsessed with Michael Jackson and everything he did in the early days before it all got tragic. And the general, weird coolness of LMFAO. Not just their party songs and catchy tracks, but what they get up to themselves.

Where I’m surfing: Instagram is important to me. I’m amazed at the number of followers I have and the number is constantly growing. I update it daily. It was great when I was promoting my book G.Y.M. Get Yourself Moving (a fitness book). I shop online a lot, so Hypebeast, Mr Porter, Asos, End Clothing and Ssense are on top of my history list.

As told to P. Ramakrishnan
Portraits by Lim Tse Wei - 林子伟

Playlist: Wilfred Wong Kam Yuen, Actor/Model

What I’m listening to: I like the classics like California Dreaming by The Mamas & The Papas, the  soundtrack to the film Chungking Express and Sealed with A Kiss by Brian Hyland. If I saw you in Heaven by Eric Clapton, Let Her Go by Passenger and Maps by Maroon 5 are my top played songs on IPod.  Under the Fuji Mountain by Eason Chan is a perennial favourite. In fact, my favourite Hong Kong singers are Leslie Cheung and Eason Chan. My favorite band is Beyond;  the most successful and influential rock band from Hong Kong; they were my only reason for learning guitar!

What I’m reading: The Little World of Liz Climo by Liz Climo, a book with a quirky, charming animal kingdom, with lots of amusing anecdotes. Magazines litter my apartment like GQ and L'Officiel Homme. My favorite novelist is still J.K. Rowling, after all, I grew up with the Harry Potter series. Where is my Howgarts letter?!

What I’m watching: My favourite TV show is Slam Dunk by Takehiko Inoue. I am a big fan of basketball shows. My favourite TV show is The Greed of Man by Wai Ka-fai (1992). My favorite Hong Kong movies are Farewell My Concubine (with Leslie Cheung and Gong Li in 1993), Chungking Express by Wong Kar-wai and Echoes of the Rainbow (2010) by Simon Yam and Aarif Rahman.

With Hollywood movies, although the critics didn't love it, I really enjoyed The Walk with Joseph Gordon Levitt. Based on the story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974, the visuals were incredible. I enjoyed Interstellar, Moulin Rouge, Midnight in Paris - Woody Allen movies are a hit and miss, this was quite wonderful, especially as Paris was beautifully captured.

What artists I’m following: Wyman Wong - the DJ, author, sometime-actor and fashion columnist. He is well known for being one of the most important Cantopop lyricists in Hong Kong. His word play is always very cool, hip but accessible. I have been reading his fashion columns since my University years.

Where I’m surfing: Instagram - particularly during fashion weeks when real time updates are a must. I don't really like to evaluate others based on the numbers of followers or likes on their posts. It's really not important - either I like it or don't, statistics aren't for me. I frequently visit fashioncopious.com and models.com for the industry updates. I have also subscribed to Athlean-X and Fit Men Cook on YouTube, since you are what you eat and the only shortcut to a sculptured body is to eat and train properly.

As told to P.Ramakrishnan
Portrait by Ivan Ho

See archive of past Play List columns here and here

Look Book Shoot: Lenka Korbova

Shot by Samantha Sin, for Tina Lee's look book.
Hair and makeup by
Model: Lenka Korbova (now Oshry).

Shot in 2014, in Hong Kong.

I hang out with the same folks all weekend cause....

...he's right you know. 

PS: Watch Comedians in Cars getting coffee - its awesome.

When the bestie hangs out with others instead of moi

...well yeah.

As Society Editor I'm Drunk with Power...

...when writing the column and editing out people I dislike. Which is one person so far.

Fav quote thrown at me, "You are not important."

I KNOW!

When CK comes back from a trip with food and asks Does anyone wanna try...

... no matter what it is.

PS: I also think this is how she sees me!

Saw my ex-roomie after long last night. She's seen me dance, she's seen me in my undies...

...so basically...

When PRs send images with no captions...

...and expect me to just 'know' who the guests are at THEIR OWN EVENTS! Sigh...