Joanne Ooi: February 2011

can't seem to shake the moniker, former creative director of shanghai tang. i've been thinking: maybe i should embrace it and re-enter the creative industry soon (NOT full-time of course). maybe create an anti-consumerist brand of some sort.

1. What motivated you to found Ooi Botos Gallery?
Two things: I love artists and I wanted to contribute to the improvement of the over-commercial Hong Kong art scene by introducing more cutting-edge art forms, e.g., photography, video art.

2. What do you aim to achieve with Ooi Botos Gallery?
See above. To raise the level of discourse about art in Hong Kong by introducing NEW artists and creating good materials based on sound writing and scholarship.
3. At your gallery, you celebrate the avant-garde and adventurous. Describe what was the msot revolutionary piece of art you've seen to date.
I wouldn't have seen it yet but it is undoubtedly art which incorporates science and technology. One day, the experience of "looking at art" will take place entirely within our brains, through its direct stimulation by technology. I have no doubt about that.

4. As former creative director of Shanghai Tang, which campaigns were your favourite to work on, and why.
Wow, a huge question. Probably the Chinese Calligraphy campaign. By studying the history of Chinese writing, I decided to learn Mandarin. But I plunged into all the collections by reading heavily about each theme.

?5. Born in Singapore, schooled in the US and moved to Hong Kong. What made you decide to make the move to Hong Kong?
The Wild West entrepreneurial spirit of Hong Kong and the obvious paucity of talent led me to realize quickly that it was the perfect place to leapfrog over the "paying your dues" phase that would have been unavoidable in the US.
6. Is there any country, other than Singapore/US/Hong Kong, that you are familiar with?
England and France.
What do you love about this country?

I love the subversive creativity of England and the L'Art de Vivre of France. This is going to sound weird, but I love going grocery shopping in the former because all produce and meat are frequently locally sourced.

For art, the Tate Modern is a Mecca of the contemporary art world, so always make sure to check that out. My favorite unexpected jewel though is the quirky house of John Soames, which is crammed chockablock with his idiosyncratic collection of curios, art and objects. I love shopping at Gray's Market with its tens of antique dealer stalls,especially if you're looking for beautiful vintage, Edwardian jewelry. For convenience and selection, Dover Street Market and Selfridges simply cannot be beaten.

Suggest a few shopping, art, food or tourist destinations that you think everyone should visit when in this country.

In France, one should visit Provence and make sure to organize your trip around the fantastic photo fair, Les Rencontres d'Arles. Make sure to spend at least one full day in Arles and eat at the two-Michelin-starred Jean-Luc Rabanel, which is surprisingly casual and well-priced (at lunch).

7. If you were introducing a friend to Hong Kong, what offbeat hangouts would you bring him/her to?

Gough Street is the funnest shopping street in Hong Kong. My favorite is the eco-accessories boutique there, ECOLS, at 8-10 Gough Street, which features chic, one-of-a-kind bags made out of candy wrappers and soda can pulls. Addiction is also a wonderful home accessories store with a well-edited witty selection of accessories, both home and fashion. I just bought a flat fluorescent pink digital watch from them. It's located at 15 Gough.

8. Where have you recently travelled for art exhibitions, and which destination left a distinct impression?

I haven't traveled anywhere RECENTLY for art alone, despite having visited Beijing, KL and Singapore these past three weeks. (Mostly, I travel to attend conferences as an environmentalist these days.) In general, NO place in the world can touch Beijing and visiting its artists at home. This month, I paid a visit to China's most important female artist at home, Lin Tianmiao. I was given a private tour of her studio, then sat down to have coffee with her and her husband, Wang Gongxin, also an exalted artist. Their passion, integrity and sense of purpose left me totally inspired and rejuvenated. This sort of experience is emblematic of time spent in Beijing with artists. During the same trip, I met with an artist-activist, Wen Fang (wenfang,org), who inspired me similarly.

Why?

9. In your opinion, which country has the most inspiring arts culture?

China.

Where would you recommend visiting in this country to best experience this culture? Visit 798 or visit artists at home if you are a serious collector and can afford a private guide who can organize entree to various studios.

10. What is your favourite type of art, and where best can you find this type of art?

Video art is my favorite, but I know that that isn't helpful to your readers. Ha! I personally cannot relate to the act of collecting, not at all. To me, the artistic experience is savoured by spending time with artists and thinking and writing about art, more than looking at it. I'm also fascinated with the increasing element of technology in art. If you force me to pick a more collectable category, then, I would choose photography. And, of course, Ooi Botos is a leading purveyor. You can also find great art at Osage and Han Art,the two best all-around galleries in Hong Kong, to my mind.

You can recommend a gallery/street, and can be anywhere in the world.

798, hands down.

11. What is your life philosophy, and how does this philosophy relate to your work?

"Take a big bite out of life every day" and "You can change your entire life in one day" are both my mottos and I have lived (and will die) by them. Did you know, by the way, that I'm now one of Asia's leading environmentalists and am conducting some of the biggest campaigns and projects ever in the region? (www.hongkongcan.org.)

www.ooibotos.com
+852 9310 5878

Sent from a Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.

From: Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com>
Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:34:12 +0800
To: <ooi@ooibotos.com>
Subject: Re: Interview Opportunity with Joanne Ooi

Hi Joanne

Hope you had a pleasant weekend. Here's my list of questions!

1. What motivated you to found Ooi Botos Gallery?
2. What do you aim to achieve with Ooi Botos Gallery?
3. At your gallery, you celebrate the avant-garde and adventurous. Describe what was the msot revolutionary piece of art you've seen to date.
4. As former creative director of Shanghai Tang, which campaigns were your favourite to work on, and why?
5. Born in Singapore, schooled in the US and moved to Hong Kong. What made you decide to make the move to Hong Kong?
6. Is there any country, other than Singapore/US/Hong Kong, that you are familiar with? What do you love about this country? Suggest a few shopping, art, food or tourist destinations that you think everyone should visit when in this country.
7. If you were introducing a friend to Hong Kong, what offbeat hangouts would you bring him/her to?
8. Where have you recently travelled for art exhibitions, and which destination left a distinct impression? Why?
9. In your opinion, which country has the most inspiring arts culture? Where would you recommend visiting in this country to best experience this culture?
10. What is your favourite type of art, and where best can you find this type of art? You can recommend a gallery/street, and can be anywhere in the world.
11. What is your life philosophy, and how does this philosophy relate to your work?

For all destinations mentioned in your answers, please provide the address where available.

To accompany this 'Frequent Flyer' feature, we also need about 10 high-res photos of the destinations you have travelled to or visited, along with a high-res profile photo of yourself.

If you have any queries regarding the questions, please don't hesitate to drop me an email. Hope you can get back to me soon. Thanks so much Joanne!

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 11:35 AM, Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com> wrote:
Hi Joanne

Just want to check a few details before I send over the questions, as the internet is not known for its accuracy.

Are you still creative director of Shanghai Tang? If you're not, when did you leave?

What is your formal job title at Ooi Botos Gallery, and what is your job description?

Hope you can get back to me soon, so that I can send the questions sooner as well. Thanks Joanne!

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 3:22 PM, Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com> wrote:
Okay, I'll just use information from the internet then. Will send you the questions within the week!

Sorry if the questions take some time to come, as this is an upcoming feature. Thanks Joanne!

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 3:14 PM, <ooi@ooibotos.com> wrote:

Pls check wikipedia :) fastest. and google me
www.ooibotos.com
+852 9310 5878

Sent from a Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.

From: Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com>
Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:37:52 +0800
To: <ooi@ooibotos.com>
Subject: Re: Interview Opportunity with Joanne Ooi

Hi Joanne

I require your biography before I draw up the questions, so that I can give you more specific questions rather than general ones. Please send them over! Thanks so much.

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 9:02 PM, <ooi@ooibotos.com> wrote:
Eunice, send me the q's.
Joanne
www.ooibotos.com
+852 9310 5878

Sent from a Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.

From: Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com>
Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:41:54 +0800
To: <ooi@ooibotos.com>
Cc: Lisa Botos<Botoslisa@gmail.com>; Tanya Bennett<tanyaobg@gmail.com>

Subject: Re: Interview Opportunity with Joanne Ooi

Good morning Joanne!

Thanks for your swift reply! Our circulation is 10,000. I have attached our January contributors page, which includes where our magazine is circulated. We are a local (Singapore) magazine, available on board SIA flights First Class and Business Class, selected Air France airport lounges, and also in the suites of Marina Bay Sands.

If you need more information about our magazine, please go to our website at www.epicureasia.com.

Hope this information is enough!

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

On Wed, Jan 19, 2011 at 11:21 AM, <ooi@ooibotos.com> wrote:

I'm flattered but please tell me where and how this magazine is distributed, plus its circulation in terms of subscription, newstand sales and territories covered?
www.ooibotos.com
+852 9310 5878

Sent from a Blackberry, so please forgive infelicities of style or grammar.
From: Eunice Lew <eunice.lew@magsint.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:17:50 +0800
To: <ooi@ooibotos.com>
Subject: Interview Opportunity with Joanne Ooi

Hi Joanne

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Eunice from epicure, a monthly gourmet lifestyle magazine in Singapore, and I'm interested to interview you for our monthly Frequent Flyer feature. I was referred to you by my editor Adeline, whom I believe you met while she was on a press trip to Hong Kong and visited your gallery.

If you're agreeable to this email interview, please provide me with your bio as well as a high-resolution profile photo of yourself, before I come up with a list of questions. I've also attached a previous Frequent Flyer feature for your reference, so that you can have an idea of how the article will be published.

Hope you can get back to me soon. Thanks Joanne!!

Best regards,
Eunice Lew

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Writer
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

--
Join us on Facebook for daily updates on food, travel and lifestyle news!

Writer
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

--
Join us on Facebook for daily updates on food, travel and lifestyle news!

Editorial Assistant
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

--
Join us on Facebook for daily updates on food, travel and lifestyle news!

Editorial Assistant
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

--
Join us on Facebook for daily updates on food, travel and lifestyle news!

Editorial Assistant
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

--
Join us on Facebook for daily updates on food, travel and lifestyle news!

Editorial Assistant
epicure - Life's Refinements
Magazines Integrated Pte Ltd
16 Tannery Lane #02-00
Singapore 347778
Office: 6848 6884
Mobile: 9488 9868
Email: eunice.lew@magsint.com
www.epicureasia.com
www.magsint.com

Can't breathe today? Buy some Fresh Air from Daniel Wu --

English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmH3xCpOSW8
Chinese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KB9-LzALPk

On a serious note, watch Professor Anthony Hedley explain how air pollution can cause permanent and short-term damage to child health,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q76-gICUoBU

Joanne Ooi
CEO
Clean Air Network
Room A, 2/F
The Standard Chartered Bank Building 102-106 Queen's Road West
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
(852) 3971 0106

CAN is the #1 resource for health, news, policy about air pollution with a special focus on Hong Kong policy and events.

www.hongkongcan.org

Follow me @joanneooi

Can't breathe today? Buy some Fresh Air from Daniel Wu --

English: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmH3xCpOSW8
Chinese: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KB9-LzALPk