:phunk

http://www.phunkstudio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/phunk_sg/

:phunk is a contemporary art and design collective based in Singapore.

Alvin Tan (b. 1974), Melvin Chee (b. 1974), Jackson Tan (b. 1974) and William Chan (b. 1973) are 4 Singaporean artists/designers. They met in LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore and came together in 1994 to form :phunk. Described as "The Champion of Singapore's Graphic Scene" (Creative Review, UK), "Asia's hottest agency" (Computer Arts, UK), "one of the world's foremost cutting-edge design collectives" (Asia Tatler, Hong Kong) and "iconic representatives of the new wave of young Asian creators" (Get it Louder, China). 

They have propagated a visual signature that seamlessly blends and reinterprets their diverse influences such as traditional Chinese craft, philosophy and folklore, Hong Kong wuxia pulp fiction, Japanese manga and otaku subculture, Western popular culture, art and design movements into a singular creative thought that reflects their multi-cultural identity, background and environment.

Labeled "Creators of modern urban mythological tales" (Chinese Contemporary Art News, Taiwan), :phunk has created a visual universe densely populated by ancient gods and modern creatures, to depict universal tales social satire, humanity morality, rock n' roll ethos, contemporary culture and :phunk's unique witty sense of humor. The concept of 'universality' in the age of modern globalization is a constant theme in their works. 

They constantly challenge the conventional notion and definition of the 'artist' and 'commercial design studio' by constantly blurring the boundaries between both, mixing Neo Pop Art ideology with Post-Modernist design sensibilities. Their cross-disciplinary approach is best described as "an aesthetic collective consciousness" focused on experimenting with new approaches to visual expressions. Their expansive scope of projects spans across art, design, publishing, fashion, music, film and interactive.

Their works are featured in many international publications and awarded in various design award shows. One of their artworks titled 'ELECTRICITY ' was cited in the book, 'Graphic Design, A New History' as "Instances of truly global graphic design". They were awarded 'Designer of the Year' in 2007 by the President's Design Award, the highest accolade for designers in Singapore.

They have exhibited and lectured extensively around the world. They launched their solo artist exhibition abroad, 'Universality' at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei in 2007. They represented Singapore at the Gwangju Design Biennale 2005 and the London Design Festival 2006. The Singapore History Museum hosted their 10 year retrospective exhibition 'A Decade of Decadence' in 2005.

Starting by their first solo exhibition in Japan taking place at DIESEL DENIM GALLERY AOYAMA, they are going to have two collaborative exhibitions with Keiichi Tanaami, the psychedelic master of Japanese art scene, held in Singapore in August and October.

Solo Exhibitions

2009

･ Around The World / Across The Universe, Vallery, Barcelona, Spain

･ New World, Art Seasons, Singapore

2008

･ New World, Art Seasons, Beijing, China

･ KIAF Korea International Art Fair 2008, Seoul, Korea

･ Universe II, Gallery J Chen, Taipei, Taiwan

2007

･ Universe I, Art Seasons, Singapore

･ Universality, Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan

2005

･ Decade of Decadence, Singapore History Museum, Singapore

･ Baroqracy, Pixie Gallery, Taipei

･ Baroqracy II, Tuami, Ecuador

2004

･ Control Chaos IV, OFFF, Valencia

･ Control Chaos III, Our Spot Gallery, Sydney, Australia

2003

･ Control Chaos II, :b Gallery, Singapore

･ Control Chaos, The Reed Space, New York

Group Exhibitions

2010

･ You West I East, Shenzhen Fine Art Museum, China

･ Animamix Biennial 2009-10, Metaphors of Un/Real, MoCA Shanghai, China

2009

･ OH! Open House, Singapore

･ ARTSingapore, Singapore

･ Self-Portraits, CircleCulture Gallery, Berlin, Germany

･ Beyond Comfort, Art Seasons, Lakeside Zurich, Switzerland

･ ArtHK Fair, Hong Kong

･ Art Fair Tokyo @ TOKIA, Tokyo, Japan

･ BMW Young Asian Artists Series II: The Singapore Edition, STPI, Singapore

2008

･ ACAF NY 2008, New York, USA

･ No Comply 2008 Skateboard Art Exhibition, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne, Australia

･ Panos 2013, Lyon, France

･ ARTSingapore, Singapore

･ New Wave, CCC (Creative Centre of Communications), Shizuoka, Japan

･ SHcontemporary, Shanghai, China

･ 8Q-Rate : School, 8Q, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

･ Tokyo.Ten Exhibition. Claska Gallery, Tokyo, Japan

･ GDFB (Graphic Design Festival Breda), Netherlands

･ Dual City Sessions: Art with Sound, Berlin, Germany

･ Power of One Charity exhibition, Hong Kong

･ Shizuoka Content Valley Festival,CCC (Creative Centre of Communications), Shizuoka, Japan

2007

･ Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany

･ Animamix Biennale: From Modernity to Eternity, MoCA Shanghai, China

･ Todays Art Festival 2007, The Hague, Netherlands

･ Celebrating 50 years of Helvetica, Design Museum, London, U.K

･ Young Talents, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany

･ Massive Territory, Gallery National Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

2006

･ London Design Festival, Lodon, U.K, 2006

･ Tokyo Designer's Week,Tokyo, Japan

･ Secret House, HITEC, Hong Kong

･ "untitled" - Documents Of Street Culture,traveling show, BBB, Barcelona; BBB, Berlin, Germany

･ 20/20 Singapore Design Movement, London Design Festival, London

2005

･ Gwangju Design Biennale,Gwangju, Korea

･ Get it Louder, Shanghai, China

2004

･ Place, Museu Valencia de la Il.Ilustracio i La Modernitat, Valencia

･ Pictoplasma "Characters at War!", Zentralbuero, Berlin

2002

･ Fascination, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

･ Made In Singapore, Art Seasons, Singapore

･ We Love Utopia, Magma Gallery, London

ASHU

http://www.ashu-nk.com/

Established in 2008 by the writer and coordinator Taka Nakanishi and the editor Daisuke Nakanishi. 

As implied in its name meaning Asia, ASHU has been keen to introduce Asian artists toward Japan and also Japanese artists toward other Asian countries. In 2010, ASHU has produced the exhibitions of Yuji Kimura (art director) and GROOVISIONS in the “Japanese Hot Designers series”, held in JCC（Japan Creative Centre）run by the Embassy of Japan in Singapore, and will have two collaborative exhibitions of Keiichi Tanaami and :phunk in Singapore coming up in August and October. Also, ASHU works as the Japanese representative of Asian artists, Michael Punchman, Stella So, tak, chihoi (all from Hong Kong), :phunk and Theseus Chan & WORK (both from Singapore).