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10 THE ULTIMATE LIVING
JUMP INTO SPRING
COLOURS OF KATHMANDU
COMPLICATING DESIGN
SPRING’S SWEET PLEASURE
W102567-Lifestyle cover spine 4.5mm.indd 1W102567-Lifestyle cover spine 4.5mm.indd 1 10/04/2010 11:11 AM10/04/2010 11:11 AM
the newcauldronof cool
bY erI aKbar
22-25.berlin.indd 22 3/24/10 2:38 PM
22+25
art
what was once the ultImate sYmbol of freedom and democracY, berlIn has shed Its
heavY hIstorIcal coat to unveIl a sensatIonal new sKIn as a must-vIsIt destInatIon for
artIsts and art lovers.
GemÑldeGalerie Kulturforum
22-25.berlin.indd 23 3/24/10 2:38 PM
Top 5 Spots to Soak in the Berlin Art Scene
If you went on a whirlwind tour of the German
capital, your guide is likely to take you to the
haunting Holocaust Museum which resembles an
austere graveyard with thousands of cubed tomb-
like stones lined up in a perfectly symmetrical
line. You would certainly stop to marvel at the
Palace of the Republic, now a museum of science
and non-European art (its old home was the
parliament). And yes, you’d certainly catch a
glimpse of the remains of the Berlin wall or
visit the famous Humboldt University where
Einstein once revealed his beautiful mind to
eager students.
It is clear that the city cannot escape its
bloody past, but look carefully and you’ll see that
it weaves its old and new stories with art. And
how beautifully Berlin does it.
Just outside Humboldt is an underground art
installation showcasing empty white shelves
deliberately constructed to store 20,000 books,
seen through glass panels. It is a memorial of
sorts—commemorating the Nazis’ torching of
books—accompanied by the inscription that
translates as “that was only a prelude; where
they burn books, they ultimately burn people”.
Today, Berlin is home to over 170 museums
and 440 galleries, explored by some 123 million
visitors each year, according to the Berlin
Tourism Board. Whether you prefer to mull over
the priceless works of the Old Masters or abstract
pieces of contemporary art, you will find them
among Berlin’s offerings to satiate your artistic
cravings. Indeed, Berlin has become the new
heartbeat of the arts world, exciting aspiring
artists and art aficionados alike.
More than simply a rival to Paris, London
and New York, Berlin has an edge over these
noted arts capitals as it has room for new
artists to grow, turning kieze (quarters) into one
arts enclave after another. It is estimated that
20,000 artists now reside in Berlin, whether they
are on government-backed artist-in-residence
programmes, have relocated their bases or are
lured by the promise of a big break just around
the corner.
Ms Dorothee Seissinger, the executive
secretary of Singapore’s Goethe-Institut, also
an art historian who has worked in Berlin, New
York and near London, gives an insight. “Berlin is
a magnet for art lovers since it has outstanding
collections, both old and modern, but more than
other cities like New York, Paris or London, it can
afford to have an avant-garde, experimental and
non-establishment arts scene, simply because
commercial and living space, not to mention the
cost of living in Berlin is inexpensive.”
Prestigious galleries like Arndt & Partner,
Contemporary Fine Arts and Eigen + Art co-exist
with smaller, independent galleries, drawing
Hamburger
Bahnhof area
The latest stretch
for art exploration,
near the railway
station. Kunsthalle
Berlin will soon
join a number of
contemporary
galleries which
have relocated here
from other parts of
the city. This arts
centre will host
talks, exhibitions
and events like
the recent indoor
drive-in cinema,
where visitors sat
in second-hand
cars to watch
artists’ videos and
film classics.
mitte
Offers a great
variety for visual
arts, covering pop
art, photography
and Asian works.
Also where
Museum Island,
with its string
of museums, is
located along
the Spree river.
Coupled with
restaurants
and clubs, it is
considered the
place to be seen in
Berlin.
Kreuzberg
Prominent galleries
have established
their presence here,
including Galerie
Jablonka which
offers coveted
works by Picasso
and Warhol. The
Jewish Museum
and Checkpoint
Charlie are situated
here too.
Prenzlauer Berg
The hip downtown
area is popular
with a new wave of
artists, so it’s the
place to go if you
want an eyeful of
aesthetics with an
avant-garde twist.
Also a shopping
haven for high
street fashion.
Charlottenburg
Apart from
Charlottenburg
Palace, you will
find a group of
theatres and
museums, such
as Renaissance
Theatre and Brohan
Museum which are
great examples of
Art Deco.
both serious, well-heeled collectors and those
looking to own affordable, conversation-starter
pieces for their home. Likewise, an über artist
like Englishman Damien Hirst, who made his
name with his sheep carcass display, among
other controversial works, has no qualms about
sending off his pieces to Berlin for sale, as does
relatively undiscovered young artist Michael
Rade, who set up a warehouse-style gallery
in Berlin to include experimental works after
finding London’s arts scene “a tough nut to
crack”, according to Deustche Welle, Germany’s
international media portal.
Galleries occupy buildings that used to house
factories, breweries and even a home for asylum
seekers, thus giving them a certain industrial
charm. There are many such spaces available to
be converted into spanking new, modern galleries.
So there is something for the architecture buff
because the varied architectural landscape of
the city landed it a City of Design title conferred
by United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Yet, it is not just about walking in and out
of art museums or interesting buildings. Berlin
has fast become the place for internationally
recognised festivals like the Berlin Film Festival,
the Berlin Biennale and the Berlin International
Music Festival, all of which lend weight to the
city‘s reputation as a vibrant arts hub.
While the young flock to Berlin to soak in
the unconventional art vibe, one could do
well to remember the giants who came before
them. After all, Berlin’s affair with the arts
began in the 1920s, during the time of famous
German artists Otto Dix, George Grosz and their
contemporaries, all of whom faced persecution
by the Nazis, were suppressed in the war years
and experienced a revival in the 1990s shortly
after the city was gazetted as the national
arts central.
Now, Berlin’s art scene looks set to continue to
flourish with investments flowing in from outside
and within Germany. Taschen Books, which
exclusively publishes arts-centric books, chose
Berlin as the site for expansion after its flagship
in Cologne. The bookstore—outfitted by celebrity
designer Philippe Starck no less—stocks titles as
contrasting as Big Book Of Breasts and Greatest Of
All Time, a tribute to boxer Muhammad Ali with a
whopping price tag of €10,000 (S$20,000).
Taschen Books owner Benedikt Taschen,
captured the eclectic spirit of the Berlin arts scene
—from the plain kitschy to the utterly refined—in
an interview with The Local, an English-language
Berlin-based newspaper, when he said, “There is
no conventional separation between high-brow
and low-brow art. Both are interesting, and as
they say, variety is the spice of life.”
altes museum
e ast s ide Gallery
PerGamon museum
22-25.berlin.indd 24 3/24/10 2:38 PM
moleCule manjuedisCHes museumtaCHeles werKstat t
temPorÑre KunstHalle
Pei Bau fr aGasso
22-25.berlin.indd 25 3/24/10 2:38 PM
A DELIGHTFUL SPREAD
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sequinned dress from ck.cakes from pine garden’s cake
and cheryLshuen Wedding concept.
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esig
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38-45.accessories.indd 38 4/7/10 10:54 AM
the baubles of spring bring sweet, sweet pleasure
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38-45.accessories.indd 40 4/7/10 10:54 AM
LIFE’S LITTLE LUXURIES
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38-45.accessories.indd 41 4/7/10 10:54 AM
PRECIOUS FAVOURITES
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38-45.accessories.indd 42 4/7/10 10:54 AM
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38-45.accessories.indd 43 4/7/10 10:55 AM
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FLY INTO SPRING
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Wedding concept
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38-45.accessories.indd 45 4/7/10 10:55 AM
46+47 vo
yag
e
by DaveN WU
Hotels are goiNg to yet greater leNgtHs to eNsUre tHat tHe small tHiNgs make a HUge impact oN its gUests.
effUsiveextras
Once upon a time—when checking into a hotel
was a big deal—it was the height of sophistication
to find a fruit basket in your room or a dinky
little chocolate on the pillow with the turn-
down service. These days, it’s sometimes hard
to muster any kind of enthusiasm even when
presented with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Which
is why hotels are working so much harder to
come up with increasingly novel (literally, in the
case of the Mandarin Oriental New York) ways
to keep their guests amused enough to come
back for more. Here’s a wrap-up of our favourite
hotel giveaways.
46-47.hotelfreebies.indd 46 3/24/10 2:48 PM
bY AMY VAN
With the launch of the second edition of the
Michelin Guide, Hong Kong’s dining circuit has
come abuzz all over again. Having drawn flak for
its selections in the first edition (which employed
a majority of foreign inspectors), the famous red
book’s sophomore effort reportedly came with
more Chinese inspectors which may explain why
the number of Chinese restaurants to earn those
coveted stars has increased in the 2010 guide.
We swung by a few of these Michelin star-
studded dim sum joints in the Pearl of the Orient
to find out if they are indeed buzz-worthy. The
following list highlights those that were.
Fook Lam moon
35-45 Johnston Road, Wanchai, hong Kong
Ph: +852 2866 0663
Reservations are integral in order to score a table
at this venerable institution. Hong Kong’s elite,
for one, can’t seem to get enough of its classic
dim sum dishes made to unyielding standards.
Founder and chef Chui Fook kicked off his
career in the kitchen of a former Qing Dynasty
bureaucrat in Hong Kong. He also counts a stint
as head chef for the prominent Ho Tung family.
He opened Fook Lam Moon in 1972 in bustling
Wan Chai and the restaurant has since spawned
outlets in Tsim Sha Tsui, Shanghai and Tokyo.
Fook Lam Moon serves arguably the best prawn
dumplings (har gao) in the city. Plump prawns
are encased in flawlessly pleated translucent yet
sturdy skin. The velvety steamed rice rolls (with
char siew or prawns) satisfy even the fussiest of
eaters with its impeccable texture and balance of
flavours. Also mind-blowing is the steamed lotus
leaf wrapped glutinous rice with dried scallops
and chicken — delicious right down to the last
grain. The mango pudding, chock full of juicy
mangoes, is without doubt the best in town.
stellAr bitesT’ang CourT
1/F & 2/F Langham hoteL hong Kong,
8 PeKing Road, tsim sha tsui, KoWLoon
Ph: +852 2375 1133
Executive Chinese chef Siu Hin Chi insists
that a chef should have deep and thorough
knowledge of an ingredient before he can marry
it with cooking techniques to create new culinary
dimensions. Put simply, chef Siu is a stickler for
preserving the traditions of Cantonese cuisine
and cooking.
At T’ang Court, his faultlessly executed dim
sum are made with premium ingredients. Silky
pan-fried rice rolls are swathed in a homemade
spicy sauce which whets the taste buds for more.
Spring rolls are stuffed with fresh shrimp and
chives and fried to a perfect golden crisp without
being greasy. It is dishes like these that earned
T’ang Court two Michelin stars in 2009 and 2010.
Its interiors are decked in plush silk and dotted
with sculptures, while a dramatic spiral staircase
leads guests up to five private dining rooms
named after famed Tang Dynasty poets. Indeed,
besides luxe signatures like baked pastries filled
with whole abalone or diced chicken, as well
as steamed lobster, crabmeat, shrimp and pork
dumplings, diners flock here for the sumptuous
ambience and indulgent yum char experience.
Yan Toh heenBaked pasTries f illed wiTh whole aBalone and diced chicken from T’ang courT
58-59.hk-dining.new.indd 58 4/5/10 12:16 PM
58+59
go
urM
et
Yan Toh heen
inteRcontinentaL hong Kong, 18 saLisbuRy Road,
KoWLoon Ph: +852 2313 2323
Crowned with a single star in 2010, this 25-year-
old stalwart is helmed by executive chef Lau Yiu
Fai. Lau and his team turn out impeccably crafted
dim sum with a view of the glittering harbour.
Exotic ingredients are woven with much flair
into the kitchen’s creations. To wit, wok-seared
Wagyu beef buns and spicy Kagoshima pork and
kimchi dumplings.
The chef’s specialty of braised whole abalone
with seasonal seafood is a clever interplay of
tastes and textures with prawns, scallops and
garoupa slices served atop a deep-fried taro
net. Equally unique is a dish of minced pigeon
with sun-dried oysters and preserved vegetables
cocooned in puff pastry.
The restaurant also boasts a selection of
‘ihealth’ dishes—essentially healthier variations
of Cantonese delicacies (less salt and oil, for
instance) without any compromise in taste. Try
the fluffy baked sweet corn buns packed with
diced chicken and garlic.
Yan Toh Heen’s winning combination
of exquisite food and wine, elegant décor
replete with precious jade place settings and
breathtaking views of Victoria Harbour and the
Hong Kong skyline make for an unparalleled
dining experience.
Tim ho Wan
shoP 8, 2-20 KWong Wa stReet, mongKoK, KoWLoon
Ph: +852 2332 2896
Unlike its other high-end counterparts, Tim Ho
Wan is a humble eatery set in a cramped space
laden with wooden tables and chairs. The best
way to spot this nondescript eatery is to look out
for the snaking queue that seems to have formed
(and stayed) since it received its prestigious star.
Tourists armed with their little red books stand
in line with elderly locals waiting patiently and
eagerly for a chance to sink their teeth into
astonishingly cheap and utterly satisfying made-
to-order dim sum. Expect to fork out an average
of just S$12 per person.
From 10am till 10pm, owner Mak Pui Gor—the
former chef at Four Season Hong Kong’s three-
Michelin-starred Lung King Heen—rolls out a
parade of bamboo steamers filled with all sorts
of steamed and fried goodies. His bestseller
char siew buns topped with a crunchy sugary
glaze (miniature por lor bao) are incredibly
delicious, as is the har gao (prawn dumplings).
Steadfastly traditional dim sum offerings are
also a draw here—think steamed glutinous rice
with chicken and sausage and pillowy brown
sugar sponge cakes. Round off your meal with a
refreshing jasmine tea jelly spiked with delicate
osmanthus flowers.
Once you’re in, it’s easy to forget the
We folloWed the MicheliN-stArred diM suM trAil iN hoNg KoNg ANd sussed out our fAVourites.
meandering queue out there on the sidewalk.
You may have to share a table with other
diners though. The best time to beat the line
is to head there half an hour before opening
hours on a weekday.
ming’s CourT
Langham PLace hoteL, 555 shanghai stReet,
mongKoK, KoWLoon
Ph: +852 3552 3300
Ming’s Court was given a second Michelin star
with the second edition of the guide. This elegant
restaurant is a magnet for business lunches
thanks to its refined and discreet service. Chef
Tsang Chiu King provides a contemporary take
on timeless Cantonese dishes such as steamed
dumplings filled with shark’s fin and diced
mushrooms, conpoy, ham and bamboo pith in
consommé. The shrimp dumplings with crunchy
bamboo shoots are always a winner, as are the
pan-fried buns with assorted mushrooms.
fook l am moon siew mai ming’s courT
sTe amed loBsTer, cr aB me aT, shrimp and pork dumpling from T’ang courT
Yan Toh heen’s p igeon wiTh diced oYsTer
58-59.hk-dining.new.indd 59 4/5/10 12:17 PM