Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Interview With Comic Book Legend Joe Rubinstein

Josef “Joe” Rubinstein is a comic book legend who has inked a multitude of characters. He has also worked with all of the major comic book publishers.

When he knew he had fallen deeply in love with comics, Joe considered Neal Adams to be his main idol. At age 13, he managed to work in Continuity Studios running errands. Continuity Studios is a studio started by Neal Adams and Dick Giordano that focused primarily on comic-based products. He caught the attention of Dick Giordano and was mentored by him during his early years working on comic books. A few years later, at about age 17, he got his first professional comic book gig. Comic book lovers will also be familiar with Joe's acclaimed ink work in Marvel Comics’ “The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe” as well as the 1982 four-issue Wolverine miniseries by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. So as you can see, Joe has been in the business for a very, very long time.

At Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2024, Joe Rubinstein will be making an appearance as a special guest of Fat Snake Comics. He is eager to meet and interact the local and regional fans, so do not miss the opportunity to visit Booth L1-AA218, and give him a warm welcome, Red Dot Island-style!

Even though Joe has a very busy schedule, he found the time to answer Red Dot Diva's nosy questions. Thank you so much, Joe!

Red Dot Diva: Your extensive portfolio acquired throughout the years, like X-Men, Wolverine, Star Wars, Action comics, X-files, etc, is the who's who list of pop-culture's greatest works. Which franchise(s) is/ are your favourite(s)?
Joe: I really like all the versions of the JLA. They are well drawn with a mix of funny and drama.

Red Dot Diva: Comic book readers may be more familiar with your inks, but you also showcase fantastic oil paintings and portraits on your social media. Would you consider doing a project with your oil paints or maybe a creator owned work, if the opportunity presents itself?
Joe: Absolutely. I would love to collaborate with a creator and paint some paintings. It would be a lot of work, but I'd consider it. I'm just waiting to be asked.

Red Dot Diva: Which character would you have liked to have worked on but have not had the chance to do so yet?
Joe: I loved James Robinson's SANDMAN, but I never worked on it.

Red Dot Diva: As an industry veteran, has comics writing / creation changed in recent times, and how so? In your opinion, is it for the better? Or for worse?
Joe: It looks like a lot of comics are all created digitally. I would hate for the old-school art skills to be lost. I still ink with a brushes and nibs. And I still take classes in painting so I am always learning and improving.

Red Dot Diva: Having been an industry veteran, what are the key qualities that help a creator enjoy a long lasting career doing comics or related projects?
Joe: Be good at what you do. Take classes. Practice. And then get lucky with a gig that turns into a career defining legacy.

Red Dot Diva: Have you visited Singapore before? What are you looking forward to most while you are here as a guest of Singapore Comic Con?
Joe: It was an honor to be invited. Thank you Eric Chong for hosting me on this trip. I am looking forward to meeting the comic fans in Singapore and seeing if their interests are the same as fans in the US. After the con, I hope to stop into an art museum or just tour through the city.


Meet your favourite comic book creators and artists, including Joe Rubinstein at Fat Snake Comics/ Pink Ponk Comics - SGCC 2024 at Booth L1-AA218.

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(Update: Francesco Manna, Michael Gaydos, OSHRed, Sean Phillips and Jacob Philipps will no longer be attending as guests for SGCC 2024)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Merthewiz and Rhinomee Return With New Merchandise (L1-AA174)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet Eric Chong, Avid Comic Collector And Owner Of Fat Snake Comics

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet Eric Chong, Avid Comic Collector And Owner Of Fat Snake Comics

Local comic book fans are already familiar with Pink Ponk Comics, located at a cosy corner of Katong Plaza. One of the owners of Pink Ponk Comics is Eric Chong, an avid collector of comic books who grew up reading stories in that medium. Curious about what specific comicsEric has in his collection? You can gawk at his amazing and valuable comic book collection at this 2021video by Straits Times. Oh, one more thing - you might also know him as one of the co-creators of beloved local comic book character, Mr Kiasu.

Pink Ponk Comics has been making their presence felt at Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) - Red Dot Island's largest pop-culture event of the year. Their booth at past events had featured a number of overseas and regional comic book artists, like Ivan Tao, Marco Santucci, Emma Wu and Maria Laura Sanapo, providing fans with ample opportunities to meet their favourite illustrators.

This year, Pink Ponk Comics' involvement at SGCC will be through Fat Snake Comics (FSC), a new company also owned by Eric Chong. On their SGCC 2024 guest list are the veteran comic book creators Mike Zeck and Joe Rubinstein, as well as Rudy Nurdiawan (aka Rudy Ao) and Roland Amago.

Despite the rush to prepare for SGCC 2024 this weekend, Red Dot Diva managed to steal a few precious minutes of Eric Chong's time for a quick Q&A:

Red Dot Diva: You already own a local and well loved comic book store called Pink Ponk? Why did you start up Fat Snake Comics?
Eric: I guess it is God's Calling. After the passing of my beloved Mother in July 2024, I felt a spirit telling me to setup an online comics store, and I decided to name it Fat Snake Comics. My mother was born in the Year of the Snake and she was, you could say, overly chubby. My Dad always teased her about her weight, and so I decided to call the store Fat Snake Comics in memory of her.
The setting up of FSC will not only serve the local and regional comic communities on a separate platform, but more importantly, Fat Snake Comics will allow me and my siblings to remember and honor our Mum, who has sacrificed so much to care and love us unconditionally and against all odds.
Red Dot Diva: Thanks for sharing this. It's really touching.

Red Dot Diva: How is it like to own a comic book store?
Eric: The feeling is priceless. It has been my childhood dream to own a comic book shop, since I am someone who frequents so many comics shops, both local and foreign. I always feel great walking into a comics shop, as I can meet up with other comic book nerds, and to buy and sell comics. The feeling of owning one is even better. I have so many beautiful comics around me, which makes me extremely happy, and it helps take away all the worries and stress in life.

Eric meets Joe Rubinsten at NYCC 2024

Red Dot Diva: What has your experience been like working with veteran guests (e.g. Mike Zeck, Joe Rubinstein) for a big show like SGCC?
Eric: It is my honour that both Mike Zeck and Joe Rubinstein have agreed to be guests at Fat Snake Comics' booth. Initially I was a bit nervous, because I am speaking to two highly respectable and top level artist in the comics industry. But, when I spoke to them, negotiating about the terms and conditions of their agreements, I soon discovered that that they were both of them very nice, humble and easy to work with.

Both Mike Zeck and Joe Rubinstein are very passionate and proud of their works but they are not arrogant at all. They are thoughtful and so kind to me. I suggested that they should be specified "break times" for them during the show, but they insisted on spending more time at their respective booths so the fans will not miss them and for them to mingle with the fans. Now that is what I call "Very Pro", lor. Respect!
Red Dot Diva: Oh gosh. I cannot wait to meet them this weekend. My heart warms up hearing you speak about how they are like. I've met a few big time comic book pros myself and 99% are absolutely lovely, kind people, and you come away from the experience on an absolute high!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fat Snake Comics (@fatsnakecomics)

Red Dot Diva: What do you aspire to achieve with Fat Snake comics at SGCC and beyond?
Eric: Firstly, I hope that FSC and her guests will have a fun-filled and successful show, just like back in 2022 and 2023.

I am blessed to be able to travel to comic cons each year in USA, and the opportunity to meet most of my childhood favourite writers and artists. My heart skipped a beat when I got to shake Frank Miller's hand. For my fellow comic books kakis who are not able to do the same, I hope through FSC, they will be able to meet and talk to their favourite writers and artists here at SGCC.

I hope SGCC 2024 would allow more people to know about the new online comics book store, Fat Snake Comics. The store is not just about buying and selling comics or arts; it also has a vision of revitalising the local comics market and community through shows like SGCC and other events similar events. It is my hope that the fans and collectors will appreciate and support FSC's vision, so that everyone will benefit in the end, as FSC will be able to keep bringing in top writers and artists, both local and foreign, and together, we can make collecting comics and art a joy.
Red Dot Diva: This sounds ambitious, but absolutely lovely. Comic books are for everyone. It is such a special medium that fuses text and images, and I too hope that more people would enjoy the myriad of stories told in this form through FSC's initiatives. See you at SGCC this weekend!


Meet your favourite comic book creators and artists at Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics' SGCC 2024 booth at Booth L1-AA218.

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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2024 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Meet Comic Book Guests Like Mike Zeck, Michael Gaydos, Ram V and Giuseppe Camuncoli
(Update: Francesco Manna, Michael Gaydos, OSHRed, Sean Phillipes and Jacob Philipps will no longer be attending as guests for SGCC 2024)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Genforcer Is All Ready to Protecc You! ( L1-AA180-181)

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Interview With Comic Book Legend Joe Rubinstein

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Artist Highlight - Marvel At Rudy Ao's Photo Realistic Artwork (L1-AA218, Fat Snake Comics)

If you are not familiar with Indonesian artist Rudy Nurdiawan's (aka Rudy Ao) portfolio, you might think that his photo realistic pieces of superheroes and movie characters are AI-generated. You can rest assured that Rudy Ao is the real deal. He draws and paints his portraits by hand using different oils, acrylic paints, copic airbrush markers and pencils.

In the 2010s, when Rudy was living in Singapore, Red Dot Diva would bump into him at various comic book fan meet ups and art shows. It was hypnotising just to watch him draw his amazingly detailed sketches and commissions on site. You will have the chance to see him work too at Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2024. Rudy is a guest of the pop-culture convention, and will be hosted by Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics.

As Red Dot Diva was preparing for this pre-SGCC interview with Rudy, she found an older article of a Q&A with the artist circa 2011. Click here to read more about Rudy's artistic background. She also reminisced about the time Rudy drew for her a commission of naked Wolverine in Hugh Jackman form. Hahaha. The art print still sits right beside her work desk for mental stimulation.

Rudy, Red Dot Diva and Nekkid Wolverine

Before Red Dot Diva and her friends get to reunite with Rudy Ao this weekend, here is a new interview with the man himself:

Red Dot Diva: Hey Rudy! It has been so long (over a decade?) since you have returned to Singapore as a guest for an event. We miss you! I know it’s been many years, but what have you been doing since you returned to Bali? And, what do you miss most about Singapore?
Rudy: Yes! It has been a long long time! I miss hanging out with so many of you. I went back to Bali in 2012, I worked in architectural company while continuing to do comic covers and commissions. I quit that job in 2013, and decided to be a full time professional artist. What I miss most about Singapore is the food! And somehow, strangely enough, I miss Orchard Road too.

Red Dot Diva: Your artwork and portraits are so life-like and detailed, what does it take for someone to be able to pick up the nuances and unique features of each individual’s faces and their attitude?
Rudy: First of all, you must love and enjoy drawing faces and bodies. Everyone has their unique physical features, especially their faces, and I found this aspect the most interesting about people. Since I was young, I loved drawing portraits of my family and friends. Drew Struzan, who is well known for his photo realism art style, is one of my main artistic inspirations. Throughout my career, I continue to practise and drawing different subjects, especially comic book characters based on the movies or TV shows, so that I can nail their characteristic looks. But, as I said, you really really have to love drawing portraits!

Red Dot Diva: Having been a professional artist for many years, how do you keep the craft emotionally and creatively interesting to yourself?
Rudy: You always have to keep practising and finding new ideas. This is the era of the internet, and you can easily find a treasure of information online. Before the internet, I will frequent bookstores to browse and buy various artbooks. It wasn't easy to physically find a good artbook as reference. Now, it is so much easier to find them on the internet, and these references continue to inspire me to try new things on my artwork.

Red Dot Diva: Name one or two movies that are still your top favourites.
Rudy: I love Marvel's The Avengers movies. It was amazing to see your favourite characters that you have been drawing and seeing on paper come alive in the live action movies. And, any Batman movie. After watching a Batman movie, I am always inspired to draw more of him. He is so iconic and cool, and with his trademark costume, he looks dynamic in most poses.

Red Dot Diva: Going into the business side of things, as an artist, how do you continue being successful financially?
Rudy: Try to do the best that you can do, that is giving your best effort. When you are going full time in this field, it is also good to have a manager to help with the business side of things and helping you get more opportunities. There are always going to be different kinds of opportunities, and you would have to accept the projects after weight the pros and cons, as well as how you might enjoy doing it

Red Dot Diva: What are some practical advice you can offer to young aspiring artists who are just getting started in the "real world"?
Rudy: I am a believer that you have to truly love what you do. It's the start of the journey. After that, you have to continue to be curious... to keep learning and be open to new ideas and techniques. And to never stop practising!

Red Dot Diva: What are some of the first things you will be doing when you touch down in Singapore?
Rudy: I am really craving for fish soup noodles with milk! I have been dreaming of the taste of that dish.

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2024?
Rudy: I am happy that Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics invited me to be at their booth. I am open and ready for any commission, signings, sketches. And I will also be showcasing how I use draw portraits with oils and acrylic. So, come look for me!
Red Dot Diva: It'd be so lovely to see you draw live again, Rudy. I still have the precious art print of nekkid Wolverine right by my study desk that I got from you back in 2014. See you soon!


Visit Pink Ponk Comics/ Fat Snake Comics' SGCC 2024 booth and marvel at Rudy Ao's photorealistic art pieces of your favourite comic book and pop culture characters. You can find him at Booth L1-AA218.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet Eric Chong, Avid Comic Collector And Owner Of Fat Snake Comics

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Interview With Comic Book Legend Joe Rubinstein

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

Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Delight In Rachel Tan-Hwee's (RattanHwee) Colourful and Whimsical Art (L1-AA95)

While doing research on the long list of exhibitors at this year's Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2024, Red Dot Diva was attracted to the delightful visual compositions by local artist Rachel Tan-Hwee aka Rattanhwee. Her colourful art pieces and craft work are like a breath of fresh air; they all carry a sense of cheerfulness and optimism. Her art style is also the reason why she was chosen to be the illustrator for a children's book series called Butternut by author, illustrator and award-winning filmmaker Jill Dana.

Rachel's current obsession is painting a series of Plein-air works featuring Japan titled "ケシキ (Keshiki; Sceneries)". She also does whimsical art between paintings for fun, and to placate her inner child as well. Curious to know more about Rachel's artistic journey, Red Dot Diva sat her down for a quick interview:

Red Dot Diva: When was the “aha” moment you knew that you wanted to become an artist as a profession?
Rachel: I started drawing as a kid and just never stopped. I guess I never really had an 'Aha' moment because it just felt like it was a natural progression.

Red Dot Diva: In most Asian cultures, people tend to want their children to join careers in more practical roles, e.g. doctors, jobs in business, IT. Did you receive a lot of parental support and encouragement when you knew you wanted to become an artist?
Rachel: I had supportive parents! (even though I know deep inside they would rather I be a doctor or lawyer haha. I mean which Asian parent wouldn't want a scholarly child?) I would definitely not have been able to pursue this line of work had it not been for their support. Studying and practicing art can be costly because of art materials needed, etc. so their investment, both financial and emotional, is something that I really appreciate.

Red Dot Diva: I noticed that you have ventured into diverse artistic forms to create your work, like animation, illustrations, graphic design, crafts, live sketches, etc... Is there an art form that you have yet to try but really want to?
Rachel: I'd love to do more large format traditional paintings and pottery! It's something that's been on my to-do list for a long time!

Red Dot Diva: How did you get to work with Jill Dana for the Butternut children’s book series, published by Marshall Cavendish? For the benefit of tose who are not familiar with the books, tell us a bit about Butternut. 
Rachel: Marshall Cavendish reached out to me and introduced me to Jill as well as Butternut! Butternut is about a little Butternut Squash learning about himself and navigating his new life in a Supermarket. It's full of puns (which I LOVE) and is full of heartwarming moments. The Butternut characters are something I hold close to my heart because they were developed at a tumultuous time in my life and represent a dream of mine to illustrate a children's picture book. I'm honoured to have been given the opportunity to fulfill this dream!

Red Dot Diva: What are the most fulfilling aspects of being an artist?
Rachel: I think art forms of all kinds are so important to the human soul. It gives us a language to express ourselves in a way that's not possible verbally or in writing. For my Keshiki series of paintings, I've had people come up to me to say that it reminds them of home or of their travels to those places. It's lovely that in this whole wide world we're all connected by invisible threads of experiences and memories.

Red Dot Diva: What do you think makes a successful booth experience at an event? Any practical tips for boothing newbies?
Rachel: I'd say it really depends on what you want to get out of an event. Are you just starting out and just want to get your name out there? Boothing helps! Want to make art your bread and butter? Boothing is an avenue for that too! My tip would be to visit events of all kinds before settling on one to booth at. Look at what the crowds gravitate to at each event! Is the demand more for indie artwork or character and fan art? Homework is SO IMPORTANT. Each booth application is an investment of your money and time, so you have to use your resources wisely!

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2024?
Rachel: I've got new paintings that I'm excited to share with everyone! There are also going to be bundle deals (by popular demand) and STICKERS. LOTS OF NEW STICKERS.
Red Dot Diva: YAY, STICKERS! A superb reason to visit your booth at the show!

Do say hello to Rattanhwee and check out her imaginative works of art at SGCC 2024, Booth L1-AA95.

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) Booth Highlight - Meet The Monster Bunnies By Raven Collectibles (L1-AA201)

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Singapore Comic Con 2024 (SGCC) - Interview With Comic Book Legend Joe Rubinstein

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

FOMO ArtWeekend v3 2024 - Get Ready To Fill Up Your Festive Gift Bags At Taste Orchard (23 - 24 Nov 2024)!

The Organisation of Illustrators Council (OIC Singapore) is hosting another art market called FOMO ArtWeekend at Taste Orchard on 23 and 24 November 2024. This is the third FOMO ArtWeekend show since the organisation launched the event at *SCAPE in December 2022.

You may wonder - so what is the difference between the two events presented by OIC, namely   Illustration Arts Festival (IAF) and FOMO ArtWeekend? According to Red Dot Diva's source, FOMO shines the spotlight on emerging and younger illustrators based in Red Dot Island, while IAF is geared towards the industry level with regional and international illustrators being showcased plus talks and workshops listed as part of the event. So, if you want to get a feel of how local young artists and creators are vibing these days, FOMO is the place to be!

Eager shoppers and art lovers can expect to check out over 80 booth at this upcoming festive edition of FOMO ArtWeekend. This translates to more than 100 illustrators participating at the event, offering unique merchandise and gift ideas so you can get ready for the joyful year end festivities.

Some of the artists boothing at FOMO ArtWeekend include illustrator and ceramic artist byJolyn, whose cute characters get into silly but very accurate situations; tattoo artist @tiredbutwoke who puts Pokemon creatures on ink; live sketch artist @Shuiwong; veggie-focused art and merchandise by @heyvegemates, just to name a few. There is going to be a wide range of merchandise that you can buy at the art market - stickers, postcards, art prints, plush toys, keychains, tote bags, you name it they probably have it. It will make any shopper who loves cute things go wild. 

Do check out OIC's social media on Facebook and Instagram to see who are the other artists appearing at FOMO ArtWeekend. Then, dig out those pennies you have saved for the holiday season, and get ready to grab goodies for yourself or for your loved ones!


FOMO ARTWEEKEND V3 - THE FESTIVE EDITION
Date: 23 and 24 November 2024 (Saturday)
Times: 11 AM to 7 PM
Venue: TASTE Orchard, 160 Orchard Road (the former OG Orchard Point, for those who remember the retail store)
Admission: Free of charge

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