Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Meet Comic Book Guests Like Mike Zeck, Michael Gaydos, Ram V and Giuseppe Camuncoli

If you have attended Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) before, you know the drill! Get tickets to the show, gather your squad, attend the event and have the best geek fun of the year.

The largest pop-culture event will be back at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 7 and 8 December 2024, with over 400 exhibiting companies and 480 brands at the show that spans two floors (Level 1 and B2). All in all, there will be four exhibition halls taking up about 200,000 sq ft in space.

The show's organiser has been rolling out the guest announcements, and there are some heavy hitters in the list of comic book guests. This year, artist agency Scotts Collectables will be bringing in creators Ram V, Alessandro Cappuccio, Bjorn Barends, Dan Quintana, Fernando Blanco, Javier Fernandez, Belen Ortega, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Francesco Manna and David Messina.

Red Dot Diva is putting award-winning writer/ artist Ram V on her "die die must meet" list. Ram V has written graphic novels including GRAFITY’S WALL, THE MANY DEATHS OF LAILA STARR and BLUE IN GREEN. He has also written for iconic DC Comics and Marvel titles like Detective Comics, Swamp Thing, Venom and Carnage.

It will also be really cool to see Italian artist Giuseppe Camuncoli back on the island again. 14 years ago, he was a guest at Singapore Toy Games and Comic Convention 2010, and he was Red Dot Diva's first interview victim! Welcome back, Giuseppe!

When both RDD and Giuseppe were younger and more innocent (circa 2010)

Scotts Collectables has been making their presence felt at SGCC in the last couple of years by connecting popular comic book creators, like James Tynion IV, Lee Bermejo and Martin Simmonds, to fans in this region. The autograph lines at the booths can be quite long. So, if you are intending to get your comics signed by their creators, do arrive at the event hall early!

At SGCC 2024, fans can get to meet veteran comic book artists like Mike Zeck and Joe Rubinstein, who are co-hosted by Fat Snake and local comic book store Pink Ponk. Mick Zeck's artwork on Spider-Man and Punisher has influenced the look of these characters, creating iconic images that have been imprinted in the minds of comic book fans. He is also the creator of the black-and-white suit won by Spider-Man in Marvel's 1984 limited series, SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS.

Inker Joe Rubinstein has contributed to countless comic books with his talent. He holds a Guinness World Record of inking the most number of artists in the comic book industry - with credits in over 2,500 comic books. One of those books is the THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE, which he worked on for 20 years. Besides Marvel titles, Joe Rubinstein has worked in titles by major comic book publishers, including DC's AQUAMAN, ION: GUARDIAN OF THE UNIVERSE and GREEN ARROW/BLACK CANARY series, and Dark Horse's ARCHENEMIES.

Other guests hosted by Fat Snake and Pink Ponk are Michael Gaydos, who is the co-creator of Jessica Jones for Marvel. With over 30 years' experience in the comic book industry, Michael Gaydos has worked on mini series POWERLESS and DC Comics' PEARL. Joining him, are artists Elia Bonetti, OshRed, Emma Wu, and Indonesian Rudy Nurdiawan aka Rudy Ao. Red Dot Diva has not seen Rudy in years!!! So, she cannot wait to catch up with him again at SGCC. Rudy is such an awesome guy, and he draws uber-detailed, near hyper-realistic renditions of comic book characters.

As a pop-culture show, SGCC has also invited guests who do not work mostly on Western comic books. Announced so far are HK manhua artist Khoo Fuk-Lung 邱福龍, award-winning Japanese American illustrator Yuko Shimizu (not the Hello Kitty creator!), local illustrator Darren Tan (best known for his Star Wars and MTG art), a convention favourite and official Disney artist James C Mulligan (he's so friendly, and his booth is a popular hot spot), as well as local concept artist and illustrator Julian Kok.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Square Comics (@thesquarecomics)

Oh, and the creators of webtoons The Square Comics are special guests of the event too!

There should be more guest announcements as the show date looms nearer, but Red Dot Diva can bet your bottom dollar that one of them would be Simone Legno of the insanely popular tokidoki lifestand brand. If you haven't noticed before, Simone Legno has a legion of super-loyal fans, and they will always go all out to get to meet him whenever he makes a stop in Red Dot Island.

Last year, SGCC attendees got to meet DC Comics' Executive Editor Ben Abernathy. In the year before, Marvel's Editor-In-Chief C.B. Cebulski was back in town. Red Dot Diva wonders if fans will have the opportunity to meet ditors from the Big Two again this year?

Do the current list of guest announcements stir up some nerd excitement for SGCC 2024? Who do you think would be announced as SGCC guests next?


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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2024 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Tickets Now Available For Purchase, and Space Ranger Celebrities Announced


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Artscience Museum To Host Interactive The World of Studio Ghibli Exhibition (4 Oct 2024 To 5 Feb 2025)

Artscience Museum will be hosting THE WORLD OF STUDIO GHIBLI exhibition from 4 Oct 2024 to 2 Feb 2025. This is a show that Studio Ghibli fans simply cannot miss!

The interactive showcase which features the charming Ghibli universe was held in Bangkok last year. Previously, the exhibition delighted fans in major Asian cities, like Hong Kong and Taipei. In a couple of week's time, THE WORLD OF STUDIO GHIBLI's latest iteration will land on Red Dot Island, and Red Dot Diva (who has probably watched all of the Ghibli movies), can't wait for it!

In case you are not familiar with Studio Ghibli, here's a brief history of the iconic Japanese animation studio. The company was founded by directors Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki, and producer Toshio Suzuki in 1985. The studio's unique worlds and imaginative story-telling, depicted through detailed and emotive hand-drawn animation, are the key ingredients that have captivated film lovers worldwide. In a world flooded with flashy CGI effects, Studio Ghibli's hand-drawn films are exceptionally precious and special.

Studio Ghibli has received Academy Awards nominations for 7 of their films, and won Best Animated Feature for two of them - Spirited Away in 2003, and The Boy and the Heron in 2024.

Fans visiting THE WORLD OF STUDIO GHIBLI can expect to immerse themselves in 16 large and detailed theatrical sets displayed in 11 film galleries. These hail from beloved Ghibli movies, including My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and more! The upcoming show will also include the latest award-winning movie The Boy and the Heron. Needless to say, this would mean ample opportunities for your selfies and wefies. Who doesn't want to sit on a train carriage with No-Face?

You can also learn more about Studio Ghibli's intricate and creative process through 16 box art and trick-eye installations. At the end of it all - a retail store awaits you! Get prepared to be tempted by all those official Ghibli merchandise.

During the announcement of the exhibition, Vice President of ArtScience Museum Honor Harger said, "This year ArtScience Museum presents one of our largest and most ambitious exhibitions to date – The World of Studio Ghibli. It showcases the work of one of the most important cinematic production houses in the world, who have created some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated films of all time. We are incredibly honoured to host the first major exhibition by Studio Ghibli in Singapore.”

Studio Ghibli added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to hold The World of Studio Ghibli exhibition at Singapore’s prestigious ArtScience Museum – a venue which is highly esteemed by Japanese visitors and many others. This exhibition will transport visitors into the realm of Studio Ghibli, where they will get to experience the films first-hand. Whether you are a Ghibli enthusiast or a newcomer, the exhibition offers something for everyone. As a leading destination for tourism and business, Singapore welcomes people from all around the world, and we hope they will also visit the exhibition to encounter the world of Ghibli and become fans of our films.”

Tickets are already available for purchase via Klook and Marina Bay Sands box offices. The prices for non-Sands LifeStyle members range from SGD 29 to SGD 49 per adult, depending on whether you are a local or not, and also, if you are visiting during peak or non-peak hours. Sands LifeStyle members will enjoy discounts on the tickets. There are also family ticket bundles. More details can be found at the two venues mentioned above.

THE WORLD OF STUDIO GHIBLI is expected to draw in a crowd of local as well as regional fans. So, in order not to miss out on the show, do get your tickets and book your choice slots early!


Dates: 4 October 2024 to 5 February 2025
Times: 10 AM to 7 PM (last entry is 6 PM)
Venue: ArtScience Museum, MBS
Admission: Visit Klook or MBS box offices (see links above).


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gamescom asia 2024 - Meet Guests Andrew Wincott and Shihori At The Entertainment Zone (19 and 20 October 2024)

Calling all gamers! gamescom asia will return to Suntec Convention Centre from 18 to 20 October 2024. Besides the industry-only events that will happen on the 19th, gaming fans can step into the Entertainment Zone, which is open to the general public on the weekend of 19 and 20 October 2024.

Tickets to the Entertainment Zone are available for purchase at this link: https://ga.bigtix.io/

Superfan tickets cost SGD 55 each, and with that you will get 20% discount on gamescom asia merchandise, and excluxive access to the show on 18 October 2024, besides entry on 19 and 20 October.

As for single day tickets, each entry costs SGD19 online, and SGD 25 onsite.

So, what is there to see and do at gamescom asia?? Here are a few things of what to expect at the event:

CAPCOM PRO TOUR 2024 SUPER PREMIERE SINGAPORE
Capcom will be back showcasing their upcoming games, and for those gunning to compete in e-sports, you can sign up for CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 SUPER PREMIER SINGAPORE to show off your Street Fighter 6 skills! The competition is exciting to watch on the live stage with competitors flying in from different parts of the world.

More information on the competition can be found here: https://www.start.gg/tournament/capcom-pro-tour-2024-super-premier-singapore/details


COSPLAY COMPETITION
Cosplayers add colour to any geek event with their amazing costumes and showmanship. At gamescom asia, you can be on the main stage by taking part in the The Cosplay Runway Competition, organised in collaboration with Neo Tokyo Project. The judges for the competition are Charess, Vera Chimera and Angelus.

Interested cosplayers wanting to show off their talent and win amazing prizes, can sign up at this link - https://gamescom.asia/ent/b2c-cosplay. Registration ends on 1 September 2024, so hurry, if you want to join the competition!

As for the rest of us who are not cosplaying, the runway competition is super entertaining, and you get an eyeful of the level of creativity that these cosplayers have, in their attempts to bring a game character to life.

MAIN STAGE EVENTS AND SHOWFLOOR
Several main stage events are scheduled on both days to capture the attention of gaming enthusiasts. There are talks, behind the scenes panels, game teasers and more. On the showfloor itself, there are booths galore for you to explore.

Red Dot Diva recalls that a number of the booths last year was immersive and eye-catching. Ubisoft's entire booth was all about pirates because they were promoting Skull and Bones, and Capcom had a really huge screen showing off their game trailers. The showfloor itself had the best lighting and vibe that Red Dot Diva has ever seen after attending so many geek shows throughout the years.

As of now, some interesting guests have already been announced, with more to be revealed in the coming days.

Look out for BAFTA-winning ANDREW WINCOTT, who is the voice of Raphael in Baldur’s Gate 3. Word is, there would be opportunities to have a meet and greet with him too.

Singer-songwriter SHIHORI, the voice of SPARKLE Melissa in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, as well as the singing vocals behind the ALLSTAR 2024 anthem “Night of Rhythm”, will also be at gamescom asia. Party with her during her live session on stage as she belt out your favourite game tunes.

GCL group will also be returning to gamescom asia, all geared up to feature their 2024 titles like JDM: Japanese Drift Master, Terratech Worlds, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.


INDIE WAVEMAKERS
There is also a special corner on the gamescom asia showfloor that is Red Dot Diva's personal favourite. It is the Indie Wavemakers section where independent game makers from the region come together to showcase their games. There is a wide range of game genres exhibited, and many of them are impressive in their design and ideas. You get an intimate experience with the game makers at their booths trying out their upcoming creations. Plus, the indie developers are also usually interested to get your feedback about your game experience.


Besides the things to do and see listed above, you can also get merchandise and goodies at the Doujin Market, check out or play some board games, and grab a bite at the food section if you get hungry! If you are a gamer, what are you waiting for? Go grab a ticket to gamescom asia now!



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Curious to see what gamescom asia was like? Check out Red Dot Diva's Youtube video!

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gamescom asia is the satellite event of Gamescom, the world's largest event for computer and video games and Europe's largest business platform for the games industry. Both events are organized by Koelnmesse, one of the world's largest trade fair companies.

For more information and the latest updates, visit Gamescom Asia website, or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Discord, TikTok, and LinkedIn.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Tickets Now Available For Purchase, and Space Ranger Celebrities Announced

If you have attended Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) before, you know the drill! Get tickets to the show, attend the event and have the best geek fun of the year. The largest pop-culture event will be back at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 7 and 8 December 2024, with over 400 exhibiting companies and 480 brands at the show that spans two floors (Level 1 and B2). All in all, there will be four exhibition halls taking up about 200,000 sq ft in space.

As usual, there will the usual stable of comic book creators, local and regional artist alley boothers, exhibits, panels, table top gaming, and stage events at SGCC. More details should emerge in the months to come, but right now, you can expect returning exhibitors like Mighty Jaxx, Tamashii Nations, Mediacorp, 52 Toys by Gift Greetings, Lego by The Brickshop, SaberMach, Simply Toys, Top Toy, Wizards of the Coast and Bluey! Singapore-based leading anime venture studio Kasagi Labo will also be at the event.

Red Dot Diva thought the major highlight of last year's SGCC was the Transformers display at Hasbro's Cybertron Fest. For those who have not attended SGCC before, you can check out Red Dot Diva's videos for SGCC 2023 on her Youtube channel. Here are the links:

SGCC 2023 Day 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_h9-nrw9Og
SGCC 2023 Day 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luZY0-8LWqM

At this moment, here are some interesting news that may tempt you in getting your SGCC 2024 tickets.

SGCC 2024'S PRINCESS - RURUSAMA

Adding on to the glitz for this year's event, is cosplayer and content creator Rurusama. Rurusama, who has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, has been named SGCC 2024's Princess. You can get to meet her at Creators Con, an event which is part of SGCC, and may even get a chance to party with her during the weekend!

MEET THE SPACE RANGERS

Get to meet three Space Rangers at SGCC 2024, courtesy of Iconic Bliss Entertainment!

Christopher Khayman Lee (Andros, Red Space Ranger), Selwyn Ward (T.J. Johnson, Blue Space Ranger/ Red Turbo Ranger) and Justin Nimmo (Zhane, Silver Space Ranger) will be making their first ever appearance in Red Dot Island!

You can grab your tickets separately at https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-in-space-sgcc-2024-tickets-863531605277 to secure the opportunity for a photo op or autographs. (A separate ticket is needed to enter SGCC halls.) The booth will also offer merchandise for avid collectors.


TICKETING INFORMATION

Tickets to SGCC 2024 are available from SISTIC SISTIC, and start from SGD 38 for a single day's entry. Kids under 8 can enter the show for free (maximum of two kids under 8 per ticket)!

Early birds can grab tickets at a discounted price before 31 August 2024:

$8 off Ultimate VIP Fan Pack
$5 off 2 day ticket bundles
$3 off 1 day ticket bundles

Other special ticket bundles include limited merchandise, like Mighty Jaxx's XXRAY: One Piece Luffy Wanted Series Treasure Gold Edition, S.H.Figuarts Ultraman figurines, exclusive SGCC x Rurusama t-shirts and more. Check the details out at the SISTIC link above.

Red Dot Diva understands that being a geek is becoming an expensive affair these days. However, if you can afford to go, SGCC still manages to turn up a few surprises here and there. It is also a great time to bond with the local geek community and meet new friends who fly into Red Dot Island specially for the event. Hope to see you there!


SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2024
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 7 & 8 December 2024 (Sat and Sun)
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224

Illustration Arts Festival 2024 - A Wonderful Glow Up And Visual Feast Of Artworks

In the past couple of years, several art and hobbyist fairs have popped up locally, including the popular annual Doujin Market. Red Dot Diva appreciates that there have been many spaces created for burgeoning artists to display their works, but the booths in these markets tend to blend into one another as their cutesy styles look too similar, and the items that they create seem to be copies of each other. She felt that this was one of the issues with last year's Illustration Arts Festival (IAF), even though there were a few standout artists.

After attending this year's IAF yesterday (6 July 2024), Red Dot Diva was pleased to see that the event had a major glow up, with established artists setting the tone, and other booths offering a wide variety of art styles. It definitely helped that the festival is a collaboration with BKKIF (Bangkok Illustration Festival), KLIF (KL Illustration Fair), and JiCAF (Jakarta Illustration & Creative Arts Fair), as attendees were able to admire the different aesthetics and ideas by artists from our neighbouring countries. Red Dot Diva also found this year's artists were more confident and were eager to engage with visitors. She managed to chat with a few of them when browsing their wares, which made the event hall walkabout more interesting.

To soak in all the interesting art styles, Red Dot Diva spent about an hour or so at the festival. Here are her booth and event highlights.

Mojoko's artwork - Fargo

CINESCAPES BY MOJOKO

Top of the list is the CINESCAPES art exhibition by local stalwart Mojoko aka Steve Lawler. In fact, you will spot an upbeat Steve wandering around the hall, chatting with fans and friends. His trippy artistry and mash-up ideas of iconic film scenes, including Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom, Robocop, Scarface, Train To Busan and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, are simply top notch. A must for pop-culture and movie fans.

Mojoko's artwork - Robocop

Mojoko's art display is in the same room as where the talks and panels are held. So, do time your visit to his exhibition when panels are not in session.

IKUIKU STUDIO (SASAYA TSAI, TAIWAN)

It's impossible to miss Ikuiku Studio's booth at IAF. The bold cartoonish colours (OMG - that bright yellow and p0rn pink!) draw you into the naughty and playful depictions of lust and love. The juxtaposition of the two is simply ingenious.

Besides art prints, there are stickers, pins, t-shirts and washi tapes that you can buy at Ikuiku Studio's booth. Sex itself should not be a taboo, and Red Dot Diva finds it refreshing to have a woman artist be so openly expressive with regards to erotic art.

THE BEVERLY BEVERLY (@THEBVBSTORE)

The BVB Store stands out in its bright pop art colours which was reminiscent of Andy Warhol lite. The pop art postcards of iconic movies and characters were eye-catching, but there was one merchandise that caught most of the visitors' attention (scroll down).

Check out the mini NFC CD keychains with their re-illustrated fan art album design. Place your mobile device near the keychain and you have the music album playing on Apple Music or Spotify. The interactive feature allows you to share your favourite music with your friends. Pretty cool!

BEETEAL (NUR SARAH ABDUL WAHID AKA BEET)

Beeteal or Beet, is one of the rare booths at IAF that promoted their own self-published comics. There were two books available - Bandar Rimau and Haunt Out. Both stories originate from Beet's Malay-Muslim ethnic identity, and their need to ensure that their culture will not be lost in the ever modernisation of Red Dot Island. Beet's artwork heralds to the dying traditional art form of wayang kulit, and the love of the Malay culture is evident in the details, like the batik clothing worn by her original characters.

Beet shared that the Bandar Rimau comic was her final year university project, and it was tough going but they were proud that it was completed. Red Dot Diva thought the alternative myth that it could very well have been Tiger City, instead of Lion City, was an intriguing idea, and she decided to buy a package that included one of Beet's art prints.

Red Dot Diva hopes that Beet continues to make more comics, so that they can add on to the multifaceted tapestry of Red Dot Island's stories. If you are not into comics, Beet also has washi tape, art prints and stickers for sale.

ISATISSE (ISABEL TONG, HONG KONG)

The Isatisse brand's creator is Hong Kong indie artist Isabel Tong. Quirky and imperfect characters with big heads and made of contrasting colours fill the Isatisse booth. There is a wide range of items to choose from, like art prints, bags, key chains, luggage tags, postcards and stickers.

This funny Supercat keychain caught Red Dot Diva's eye and she had to get one! There are other designs and one keychain has two charms. If Red Dot Diva wished she had a higher budget so that she could buy one of her lovely psychedelic bags!

HEAVYBOOTS (QIN YI)

Do you consider Grey's Anatomy as one of your favourite TV shows? Well then, you may have a kinship with Emma the Emotional Baguette! Together with Charlie the Fierce Croissant, these toys are the brainchild of local designer and letterer Qin Yi aka Heavyboots.

Qin Yi's artwork are mostly food themed. She has also illustrated for books published by Epigram, like this Peranakan cookbook entitled “Agak-Agak, Chukop Rasa: Recipes and Stories from My Peranakan Childhood” by Gavin Koh. You can also bring home some of the artwork from this recipe book because she has made art print versions of them.

YEKNOMSTER (LAVINIA LIM)

There are a number of horror-themed booths at this year's IAF. However, the one that made Red Dot Diva circle back to take a closer look is Yeknomster's mythical, fantastical ink pieces. Her creatures are more whimsical than scary, and they translate very well into earrings, key chains as well as vinyl toy designs.

Red Dot Diva was drawn to this beautiful, tribal-influenced Husky postcard, and she is now a proud owner of one!

Besides Red Dot Diva's chosen booth highlights above, there are many others to indulge in, like Poon Yew Fai's kung fu art, Phantasien's unconventional artwork with a unique colour palette, and Erikartoon's crazed horror dreamscapes. There are tattoo booths as well, if you are looking to add more ink. One of these booths is Seraphinks (Sonia Seraphina), where you can choose a range of cute-horror character designs. No worries if you are not keen on getting a tattoo, Seraphinks also has postcards, stickers, key chains and art prints that you can purchase.

And if you need a quiet moment, or rest your tired feet, just step into one of the ART-ZOO room filled with their inflatable installations. There is also a refreshment booth there where you can grab a cuppa or special popsicles that were made in collaboration with Creamier.

There is only one more day left to Illustration Arts Festival (IAF) 2024. Don't miss it if you want to refresh your eyeballs, and grab the chance to know more local and regional artists!


Dates: 6 to 7 July 2023 (Fri to Sun)
Times: Saturday/ Sunday - 11 AM to 7 PM
Venue: ArtSpace @ HeluTrans
39 Keppel Rd, #01-05 Distripark, Singapore 089065
Admission: Day passes at SGD 6 per person before GST, and children under 6 enter for free. More ticketing options and information at Eventbrite

For more information and updates, head to the Illustration Arts Festival's Instagram!

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PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON IAF

Illustration Arts Festival 2024 Heads to ARTSPACE@ Helutrans - 5 to 7 July 2024

Illustration Arts Festival 2023 - From Cute Designs to Demonic Girls and Shaolin Monks

Illustration Arts Festival 2023 - Meet Local and Regional Artists At Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 29 and 30 July 2023

Illustration Arts Festival Returns On 12 & 13 August 2017 With A Bigger Artists Market

Illustration Arts Fest is BACK on 22 & 23 September, LASALLE McNally Campus

The Inaugural Illustration Arts Fest Held on 28 to 30 October and 4 to 6 November, 2016


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Illustration Arts Festival 2024 Heads to ARTSPACE@ Helutrans - 5 to 7 July 2024

The Illustration Arts Festival (IAF) is back this year at a new location. The local arts fair's 5th edition will take place at ARTSPACE@ Helutrans, a 24,000 sq ft art space owned by the transport company. With the larger space, IAF's organisers Organisation of Illustrators Council (OIC Singapore) and 32CM, have collaborated with similar events from other countries like BKKIF (Bangkok Illustration Festival), KLIF (KL Illustration Fair), and JiCAF (Jakarta Illustration & Creative Arts Fair), added a deeper experience to the Asian arts scene.

During the weekend, festival-goers can expect to browse and buy the works of over 130 illustrators from Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Taiwan and Malaysia at the art marketplace. There will be booths galore with fan favourites like Salipuma, Emo Trash & Etc, Mjesart, Sadshrimps and The Confetti Hands. The best part of it all is the opportunity to interact with these artists in person, and to connect with their creations in a physical way.

“We are excited to be part of a community of such a diverse and talented group of illustrators for this festival,” said Michael Ng, one of the founders of OIC Singapore. “Illustration Arts Festival 2024 is not just an event for artists but for anyone who appreciates the impact of illustration art. It's a chance to meet artists in person, and exchange ideas not just locally but regionally.”

To get an idea what IAF is like, read about Red Dot Diva's experience at last year's festival held at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre. Red Dot Diva has attended the Illustration Arts Festival since its inaugural show in 2016 (how time flies!), and she finds the event an enjoyable visual fest with a chill, community vibe. She cannot wait to explore this year's festival as it seems to be getting a glow-up!

Here are more highlights at this year's IAF:

EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH OF ART-ZOO x CREAMIER'S ART-ZOO POP PARK

You might have seen ART-ZOO's playful and imaginative animal-themed inflatable playgrounds and installations at events before. They were also at last year's IAF and their eye-catching creations gave many kids a reason to have fun as well as adults a place to rest their tired feet. For IAF 2024, ART-ZOO's friends Bruno Bear and Unicorn decided to come together with local Handcrafted Ice Cream brand, Creamier. The result is specially created popsicles for everyone at the ART-ZOO Pop Park!

Red Dot Diva wonders what kind of flavours these popsicles will be. Will they be animal-shaped?

EXCLUSIVE LAUNCH OF CINEMASCAPES by MOJOKO

Pop-up visual artist Mojoko, aka Steve Lawler, creates one the most psychedelic, bizarre collages that mashes up mainstream pop culture at its most memorable moments. Mojoko's artwork is hard to miss. You might have already seen them before at Giffest, and in quarterly art zine, Eyeyah. Perhaps, a mention of the large, eye-catching melting Superman sculpture placed outside Singapore Art Museum some time back in 2012 might jolt your memory. The sculpture entitled as “No One Can Save Us Now”, was created by Eric Foenander and Mojoko.

At IAF 2024, there will be a special exhibition by Mojoko called Cinemascapes, which consists of reimagined movie scenes from cult classes and obscure films, reimagined in Mojoko's iconic pop-psychedelic style. While presenting the enduring visual power of cinema in this exhibit, Mojoko fuses his artwork with glimpses of the future splashed with his notions of dystopia, counter cultural movements, and the human psyche. Get ready for your eyeballs and mental faculities to be exercised!


MEET REGIONAL ILLUSTRATORS - SASAYA TSAI (TAIWAN), ADHIRA PUTRA, NNENE.IIE AND MORE

This year, a number of popular artists from the Asian region will be joining the festival too. Do head to their booths and get acquainted with:

Sasaya Tsai (Ikuiku Studio), illustrator from Taiwan
Ardhira Putra, Singapore-based artist-animator-musician from Indonesia
Kendra Ahimsa aka Ardneks, musician and artist from Indonesia
Anindya Anugrah aka Phantasien, artist and collage maker from Indonesia
NNENE.IIE, illustrator-designer from Thailand with a penchant for black ink on white paper
Pearl Law, freelance artist, zine maker and comic book creator from Hong Kong and more!



BUY COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS AT DIFFERENCE ENGINE'S BOOTH

Indie publisher Difference Engine (DE) returns to this year's IAF, with more books in their catalogue for sale to readers of all ages. DE's graphic novels have a unique local and regional voices with diverse and honest views that encourages one to rethink our own thoughts and prejudices. Red Dot Diva recommends checking out book titles like the award-winning “Work-Life Balance: Malevolent Managers and Folkloric Freelancers”, “Amazing Ash and Superhero Ah Ma”, and “Sound: A Comics Anthology”.

DE will also be launching a webcomic called “Tiger Girls” soon. You can also get to meet Claire Low, the illustrator of “Tiger Girls” at their booth on Saturday 6 July, 2 - 3 PM!


TALKS AND PANELS BY ESTABLISHED ARTISTS

A variety of interesting talks have also been lined up for 6 and & July. Artists like Ardneks, Phantasien and Ardhira Putra from Indonesia, and NNENE.IIE from Thailand as well as local illustrators Almostasthma and Erikartoon will be sharing about their perspectives and personal journeys navigating as commercially viable artists.

In addition, artist AnnGee Neo will be moderating an interesting panel on 7 July (Sunday) at 4:15 PM to 4:45 PM entitled “Female Form and Sexuality in Illustration”. AnnGee Neo's works can be seen in comics, commercials, editorials and children's books like the award-winning book “The Rock and the Bird” written by Chew and Chia Shao Wei.

You can find out more about the titles and timings of the talks on this Eventbrite page - https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/illustration-arts-festival-2024-tickets-923302230827


IAF 2024 is a ticketed event, so if you are keen to check out well-known and upcoming illustrators, buy your tickets in advance at Eventbrite. Tickets will also sold on site, but why line up when you can secure your tickets online?

For artists and art lovers, do not miss this event! Here are the deets:

Dates: 5 to 7 July 2023 (Fri to Sun)
Times: Friday - 5 PM to 7:30 PM (Superfan preview event using a promo code revealed directly by your favourite participating artists)
Saturday/ Sunday - 11 AM to 7 PM
Venue: ArtSpace @ HeluTrans
39 Keppel Rd, #01-05 Distripark, Singapore 089065
Admission: Day passes at SGD 6 per person before GST, and children under 6 enter for free. More ticketing options and information at Eventbrite

For more information and updates, head to the Illustration Arts Festival's Instagram!

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Artscience Museum's Frida Forever (4 May to 1 Sep 2024) - An Immersive Celebration of Frida Kahlo's Unique Life

Mexican artist and icon Frida Kahlo is one of Red Dot Diva's favourite women personalities. The vibrancy and surrealism in her artwork, as well as resilience in the face of adversity, never ceases to amaze and captivate Diva's imagination.

Back in 2018, Red Dot Diva was thrilled to be able to catch the Frida Kahlo: Making Herself Up exhibit at London's V&A Museum. No photos were allowed at the exhibit but it did not matter. On display, were her personal belongings like her clothing, makeup items, her intricately painted plaster corsets, even her prosthetic leg. It was a very intimate insight to the artist's psyche, and her story continues to inspire people even in this day and age. So, when Red Dot Diva heard that Artscience Museum would be presenting FRIDA FOREVER - a line up of exhibits and events commemorating 70 years of the artists' passing in 1954 - Diva had to find out what the local event would be like.

FRIDA FOREVER consists of two connecting exhibits in Level B2 of the building, as well as a VR offering on the 4th floor. Here are Red Dot Diva's thoughts from her sneak peek of the exhibits.

FRIDA KAHLO: THE LIFE OF AN ICON

In this immersive exhibit Frida Kahlo comes to life with colourful interactive installations, digital technologies, and 360-degree projections. As you wander from one zone to another, you will learn about the fateful accident that changed her life trajectory and how that affected her decisions for the rest of her artistic journey and choices. Check out some of the highlights:

At an altar that is inspired by the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), you will have the chance to contemplate and remember about Frida's eventful life.

A digital representation of the impact of her traumatic accident when she was 18 years old, is a powerful reminder of the suffering Frida Kahlo has endured for most of her life. The incident changed her feelings and thoughts about art, and it was the beginning of the outlet she needed to express how she viewed herself, her body, her beliefs and her struggles.

At the La Rosita tavern, Frida secured a space where her students were able to start painting murals. In this segment, you can sit down to colour your own Kahlo-inspired artpiece. Consider that a mission for Red Dot Diva! You can then scan your finished artwork and it will appear as a light projection on the wall.

Tada! How do you like Diva's work of art? :D

A crazily psychedelic light projection room depicts the various symbols and motifs that Frida Kahlo often use in her paintings. These include pineapples, monkeys, calaveras (Mexican skulls), and marigolds.

It is also a great photo spot for the 'Gram.

Frida Kahlo's look is instantly recognisable and her icon style has fueled inspiration for various fashion houses like Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier and Valentino. In this segment, a few Mexican-style clothing, including the huipils featuring traditional embroidery that Frida loves to wear, are on display for us to admire. The artist favoured long skirts to conceal her shortened right leg due to childhood polio, and later her amputation.


The piece de resistance of this exhibition is the 360-immersive biography of Frida Kahlo's, chronicling her life in 45 minutes. With a fantastic soundtrack that also feature readings of poems in Spanish, weaved in the moving visuals of key moments in Frida like her childhood, her time spent in San Francisco, her place of convalescence, her love for animals and plants and more.

After the getting to know Frida's story, it is time to delve a little deeper by heading into the next exhibit entitled...

LAID BARE: FRIDA'S INNER WORLD

This is a smaller and more intimate look into Frida's that consists of 40 photographs, diary pages, medical records, and exclusive interviews with Cristina Kahlo Alcalá — the great niece of Frida Kahlo. In the recorded interview, Cristina Kahlo Alcalá shared how she managed to obtain medical records from the American British Cowdry Hospital in Mexico, where Frida spent most of her time in treatment for her medical troubles.

It is amazing to see the rebellious and defiant look in her eyes in one of the main photos, against the pictures of her prosthetic legs, mangled spine and medical records. And from living with chronic pain throughout most of her life, she usurps the narrative to make it her own by displaying her pain and mental resilience in eye-catching and moving artwork like Tree Of Hope, Remain Strong (1946). The artwork depicts the duality of the universe - light vs dark, as well as her life - the one on the left, broken and marred by surgical scars, and on the right, the sad yet confident Frida dressed in vibrant red and holding the flag with lyrics from a song “Cielito Lindo”, which means “Tree of Hope, Remain Strong.”

Laid Bare: Frida’s Inner World is curated and produced by ArtScience Museum with the support of Cristina Kahlo Alcalá and Circe Henestrosa.

As you leave this exhibit, do not forget to admire the beautiful floral arch installation by Singapore-based Mexican artist and curator, Lidia Riveros.

EXQUISITE CORPSE: VR EXPERIENCE

To add on to the knowledge you have now acquired about Frida Kahlo, there is a VR experience entitled Exquisite Corpse developed by Layers of Reality and Blit Studios.

The digital journey begins when Frida was confined to the hospital bed while recovering from her health issues. This was the pivotal point where she decided to express herself through art. As you follow her journey, you will get to immerse yourself in a 360 view of her world, surrounded by her iconic colours and symbols.


Artscience Museum's FRIDA FOREVER tribute is a great introduction for those who are not familiar with the Mexican artist's life. Even for those who already know of Frida's extraordinary story, the displays provided more intimate details about her medical conditions, and enhances your appreciation of her outlook on life and death even more. When delving into Frida Kahlo's time on this earth, Red Dot Diva's tends to wonder if exquisite art is always spawned from immense suffering. What do you think?

FRIDA FOREVER runs from 4 May to 1 September 2024. Tickets can be purchased via Fever, at this link: https://feverup.com/m/165967


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If you are not able to make it to FRIDA FOREVER, watch Red Dot Diva's walk-through video filmed while at the event's preview!

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If you enjoy Red Dot Diva's content, feel free to help her endeavours going by showing your support through ko-fi. Thank you!