Bespoke Perfumes to make your day scentsantional

Aromas have an unusually powerful role when it comes to unlocking our memories. As a result, it is more than possible to deliberately deploy them as a means of commemorating particularly significant life events and underlining their importance. Just ask anyone who has bought and worn a unique, personally selected scent at a specific point in their life and they will inevitably assure you that such a favoured fragrance always comes with a distinct whiff of nostalgia.

A Scent, indeed, has the power to transport us and recapture the emotional significance of time gone by. For particularly momentous occasions, it is often important to opt for a scent with direct emotional appeal, a scent that forever afterward can transport you back to that special day, allowing you to relive that formative experience many times over the course of a lifetime.

In the case of Hong Kong’s most evocative perfume brands, they have a long and noble heritage, while the artistry behind their formulation has never stopped evolving. From choosing just the right scent profile for a special event to committing to a signature everyday fragrance, there are, however, a number of guiding principles it more than pays to be aware of.

Exquisite options
Overall, it’s best not to be too preoccupied with passing fads or limited seasonality when selecting a scent. Instead, it’s always best to opt for something that truly reflects just who you are. This could be something you already see as your signature, a wholly new scent or indeed, a combination of the two when in doubt.

In the latter instance, the beauty of layering aromas is that it tailors a signature scent, inevitably adding a twist of something new. John Paulo, the founder of Artisenses, has long been a master of this particular process. When it opened its doors in 2014, his company was Asia’s first professional provider of customised, innovative scent solutions.

His team prides itself on delivering memorable guest experiences, frequently creating bespoke luxury scents for events such as weddings, where the bride and groom, as well as the guests, all get to create their own fragrances. The company’s Scent Bar is geared to letting clients create scents specific to any event’s theme, while also facilitating any required collaboration with many well-known perfume brands.

Rebel smell
Evoking a designated mood is, of course, always something of a priority. From its name and apparent positioning alone, is clear that, in this regard, Esscentric – Perfume for Rebels, courtesy of Jodie Chan, is very much targeting a somewhat bolder client base. Generally, people use perfumes to silently announce their personalities, with stronger scents betokening certain maturity and sensuality, making them ideal for celebrations of a more romantic one. This is very much the case with Chan’s perfume line, which is specifically dedicated to people who work hard all day and play hard all night.

Expanding on her perfume-for-partygoers- approach, Chan says: “Esscentric’s perfume oils will keep you fresh, alert and irresistible. They are intimate and subtle. You can stay balanced when everyone in the world is going crazy.

“Basically, I make perfume for rebels, those who won’t stand for the synthetic products available on the general market, those who want something different and original and who embrace their age, while seldom revealing the exact number.”

Packaged in a customised leather holster with a detachable chain, these perfumes double as fashion statements. In order that they can be always to hand, they can be chained to belt loops or even worn around the neck.

The right mix
Of course, in particular, everyone desires a product that works with their unique body chemistry, something that never smells the same on two different people (largely because the pH level of each individual’s skin has an impact on how a perfume will be experienced). This is why the best body areas to spray fragrances on are pulse points, such as the neck or wrist, both of which tend to give off considerable heat. There is also a reason why certain perfumes are formulated specifically for men or women – the different chromosomes of the two sexes.

Weather is also something to consider, especially in Hong Kong where the humidity can be almost as high as 100%. In such an instance a good bet would be Parisine, a unisex fragrance collection suitable for a variety of wardrobe options, which integrates the aromas of several century-old classic French perfume houses, including such legendary and iconic brands as Nogara and D’ORSAY. At its scent bar, perfumiers are typically on hand to help craft a custom fragrance for daily use and special occasions. Taking into account an individual’s personal style, they aim to recommend the optimal scent, complete with a range of base and boost notes.

Before wearing any new scent to a high profile occasion, try it out for a few days to ensure you have a good connection with it. This gives you the chance to reassess your impression of the fragrance for its longevity.

It’s also crucial that any smell you’re wearing makes you feel confident and at ease. While many tend to gauge a new fragrance through the reactions of others, this, however, may not be the most reliable of indicators, given the likelihood that most commentators will favour politeness over the possibility of giving offence. Ultimately, you have to stay true to yourself and rely on your common sense when it comes to personal scents.

Text: Joseff Musa

Celebrating the year’s most hilarious quips, anecdotes and happenstances

We all need a little humour to make life a little bit more tolerable sometimes. As the old adage goes, “laughter is the best medicine”. Indeed we have scientific research to back that up. Especially in trying times and difficult situations, it helps to let your hair down and have a good old belly laugh.

Or even a gentle chortle. As comedian and political satirist Jon Steward once said, “Comedy is in the middle of a traffic jam, getting everybody moving again.” This time around, though, we’re turning the attention from ourselves and on to some of the most laughable events to have made headlines this year…

Musk be a Mistake

At one point or another, especially after a few too many pints, many of us have had the experience of tweeting something we’d later regret. Except, in most occasions, it doesn’t result in a billion-dollar lawsuit. The same can’t be said about Tesla CEO Elon Musk however.

After months of buzz around Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s claims to buy Twitter, the quirky SpaceX founder has finally declared that he will not be pursuing ownership of Twitter after attempting to terminate a signed merger agreement in April. As a result, Twitter has sued the business magnate for backing out of a US$44 billion acquisition.

Sniping back at the social media platform, Musk has accused the company of misleading him with inaccurate data, obfuscating facts, not notifying him of layoffs and executive changes, as well as refusing to hand over “useable” user data – all of which allegedly constitute a “breach” of the agreement, according to Musk’s lawyers. As the case goes on, if found liable, Musk will be obliged to pay a US$1 billion break-up fee according to the agreement.

Bagel Wars

Money, muscles and bagels. Hong Kong is known to be one of the safest cities in the world, with murder and theft cases being comparatively lower than other cities. However, a recent scuffle between two establishments has turned sour and you bet social media was quick to catch on.

In June, the infamous Bagel War was the talk of Kennedy Town and almost every English media in the city. Mendel’s, a New York bagel shop went viral on social media for a video they posted to their Instagram page in which men in black shirts were seen blocking entry to the store and telling customers that they were not allowed in, while employees can be heard yelling from inside to customers that the deli was in fact open.

The establishment had accused rival Schragel’s founder Rebecca Schragel of having hired security to harass customers and employees. In the video, customers can be seen struggling to pass through – dodging and pushing their way past the burly men. While many customers and supporters of the eatery were enraged, some found amusement in the turn of events.

It was cleared that Rebecca Schrage, a majority shareholder of Mendel’s was suing her partners for financial disputes.

It’s Not Over Until It’s Over

Nobody wants to be broken up with on text or over the phone. However, that didn’t stop the head of state of Sri Lanka to pack up and flee the country in the wake of anti-government protests in July.

It was confirmed By Mahinda Yapa Abeywardenena, the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, that Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had sent over his resignation through e-mail and fled to Singapore on a flight from the Maldives.

Abeywardenena has told media that “we cannot accept such an email at face value” and that the legality of such a declaration needs to be legally verified, ascertained and officially confirmed. The state is expecting a paper copy of the letter but is expecting the letter to come through at a later time as it would be sent from Singapore.

It’s Türkiye, not Turkey

When you think of Turkey, what springs to mind? If you say a large gobbling bird, you’re not alone. Most of us have all been guilty of associating “Turkey” with the thanksgiving dinner table rather than paying any mind to the actual country. In fact, if you type it into Google, you’re quite likely to see pages worth of the large game bird.

As such, the government of Turkey had formally advocated to officially change the country’s name to Türkiye (pronounced tur-key-yay), even producing a video commercial of the movement. It doesn’t help that the word is also alternatively defined as “a stupid or inept person”.

The name was changed to reframe the country’s image and connect it to its cultural roots. The process of the country’s renaming had began in December 2021 when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement saying, “The word ‘Turkiye’ represents and expresses the culture, civilisation, and values of the Turkish nation in the best way.” In June, The United Nations officially recognised Turkey as Türkiye and had implemented the change shortly after receipt of the request.

Behind Every Dream is Cartier

Contrary to high end jeweller Tiffany & Co.’s tagline: Behind every dream is a dreamer, a recent legal battle between the high-end brand and competitor Cartier has pit the two luxury brands against each other.

In march Cartier accused Tiffany & Co. of stealing trade secrets of the brand’s bespoke jewellery collection. According to a complaint filed in a New York state court in Manhattan, Tiffany had hired an under qualified junior manager to learn more about Cartier’s High Jewelry collection, in which pieces cost from US$50,000 to US$10 million.

The manager also happened to be a former executive worker for Cartier and was hired despite her six-month non-compete agreement. She was then fired after five weeks. Tiffany had since denied all allegations Cartier has made thus far. Although this isn’t the first legal battle between the two, it’s still a saucy affair to see two major league brands go head to head.

Metabirkins? Nadabirkins!

As vague as the lines are between reality and the metaverse, to luxury conglomerate Hermès, the boundaries of copyright is clear.

In January, Hermès sent artist Mason Rothschild a cease and desist letter and filed a lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of New York for alleged trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution, and cyber-squatting.

This lawsuit followed a sale by the artist of reinterpreted Berkin NFTs, coined the word “Metabirkins”, within the metaverse. The NFT features furry renderings of Hermes’s iconic Birkin handbag. Artist Mason Rothschild has since claimed his First Amendment right and right to artistic expression, stating that the Metabirkins are not explicitly misleading.

Much Ado About Nothing

If there is one thing the infamous reality TV family The Kardashians is known for, it’s controversy – and there is a lot – enough propel the family into global fame. For what exactly? Absolutely nothing, allegedly.

Which is ironic since the most famous of the Kardashian-Jenner clan Kim Kardashian has been criticised for an interview in which she advised women who want to make a successful career in business with this statement: “I have the best advice for women in business,” she says. “Get your f—–g a– up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days.

The punch line here is that the family has been called out several times in the past, including by Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters for having no talent or any particular expertise or professional background. Yet, for two decades they have become a household name across the globe and cashed on millions for their Keeping Up with the Kardashians reality show in which they do, well…nothing…

Text: Staff Writer

TAI TAM LUXURY HOME-A BLEND OF ORIENT AND OCCIDENT

Nestled between the green mountains of Tai Tam at Hong Kong Parkview is an apartment modelling a beautiful blend of the Orient and the Occident. Offering blissful views of the verdant landscape, the home embodies the spirit of nature with its regal materials and soothing palettes of ocean and sea.

In a resourceful multipurpose manner, the whole space has been designed to offer comforts of a home as well as the attractions of a clubhouse. Sprawling across a generous 4,616sq. ft, this is a happy dwelling of a family of four, a couple and their two daughters. Interior designer Danny Chiu changed the initial layout of the apartment to suit the needs of its sociable owners, who are accustomed to hosting parties and events. To echo the spectacular outside views, the new design brings natural elements like mountains, water, waves and marbles into the interior.

The previous floor plan was quite symmetrical with mirroring twin units, distributed in eight rooms on the left and right. Chiu intelligently remodelled the apartment to remove obstructions and make areas more spacious, allowing free movement and increased functionality. It took almost two years to realise the vision of the designer so the family could have their ideal home.

The entrance opens into a hall-like living room that has an adjoining dining area with wide windows, allowing the domed hills to peek inside. The hall has a wooden Yamagata false ceiling rising up to 17m, starting with a bar table and spanning across the entire dining area and living room. The ebbs and flows of the tray ceiling, which is equipped with a smart home lighting system, are designed to mimic ocean waves.

Opposite the windows is an indented feature wall dressed in a textured wallpaper of panoramic mountains reminiscent of a traditional Chinese landscape artwork. The blue hue of the wallpaper is a thematic reflection of the dining area, where a table for 10 stands in handy distance of the bar table and decorative cabinet behind it. Meanwhile, the kitchen boasts wide Italian cabinets from Arclinea that are sleek and minimal in design to highlight the marble patterned walls.

Moving towards the more convivial space of the living room, it is thanks to the modular furniture here, courtesy of Theodore Alexander, that the family can enjoy the flexibility of adjusting the layout and appearance of the space to fit different occasions and number of guests. At the far end, a smart Planika fireplace with a marble TV feature wall is cleverly proportioned to serve as a partition that seperates the cosy sitting area behind.

Here, designed to accommodate the homeowners’ cherished hobbies, is an area for calligraphy and tea-tasting. The carpet reflects the living room’s flooring of marble pattern – a recurring theme throughout the unit. Axolight chandeliers, on the other hand, cast 3D mountain-contour patterns overhead, together the elements perfectly echo the tranquil theme of the home.

Heralding a breezy encounter, the large terrace affords a breath of fresh air of Tai Tam and the panoramic views beyond. Here, they can enjoy breakfast in at daybreak, sip tea in the twilight, or host barbecue parties on warm sunny days with a scenic backdrop – the hangout spot. The apartment also houses a massage room, a theatre room and a wine cellar replete with the owners’ favourite collections.

Within the more private quarters of the house, the master bedroom is nothing less than a royal suite. Earthy tones and wooden floors offer a calm, warming and tender ambience for the sweet comfort of its dwellers. To the side, a raised platform with modified curved columns provides a relaxing little corner for reading or simply enjoying the the hillside views beyond the wide plane of window to the side of the bed.
Within the master en suite sits an I-spa jacuzzi and sauna that proffers a five-star experience at home, while the large carpeted dressing room complete with a vanity area ensures privacy and comfort while getting ready.

The bedrooms for the two daughters are equally appealing, each with her own personal touch to match their contrasting tastes and preferences. One daughter enjoys the shades of blue which is aptly, so cool shades that decorate the textured walls and carpet to reflect the ocean. The highlight of this room is a curved platform near the window that is raised and shaped to create the effect of a bubble.
Since the floor is lit with LED lighting strips, the platform gives an illusion of floating. The bathroom also matches the theme, with blue diamond-shaped tiles and tinted glass.

The other daughter’s bedroom, on the other hand, is a stark contrast to the first. Monochromatic greys and whites largely make up the interiors of this space, featuring ample indentations on the wall behind the headboard that form soft, gradual reflections on the fabric segments of the décor when lit – an effect that instils a sense of calmness and zen.

The bathroom – shared between the two sisters – features a wide Coelux LED skylight in that replicates the warmth of natural light. In its entirety, the home manifests the beauty of its surroundings through the natural elements within, while boasting subtle touches of luxury that exudes comfort and sereneity enjoyed in a tasteful, convival design.

Text: Zaira Abbas Photos: Danny Chiu Interior Designs LTD

Post-workout muscle recovery for a healthier mind and body

If you’re not on the floor in pain and shaking at the end of a workout, you are doing just fine. Despite what many fitness enthusiasts would believe, no pain is probably more gain, depending on the food you eat and the rest you take in between workouts. Resting your muscles is as vital as flexing them while you work out towards optimal fitness.

Yes, the key to a chiselled body, improved physical fitness and optimal performance is working out regularly and intensively. Exercise breaks down microscopic muscle fibres, which are then rebuilt in the healing process, increasing in size each time. Yet, allowing muscles time to recover is just as important.
Many articles written on the topic of exercise and weight loss imply that exercisers should be so sore afterwards that they can barely lift their arms or walk down the steps. On the contrary, this misconception is a sure way to cause injury, slow recovery and lose motivation.
Here, we spotlight five dos and don’ts for healthy post-workout muscle recovery.

Overtraining Pain
Even trained professionals and coaches often make the mistake of believing that pain is good – that your body is getting stronger and building more muscles, which isn’t completely true. In the aftermath of an intense workout, the body may suffer Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) caused by temporary muscle damage and inflammation. Although this is completely normal, this sensation should not be an indication of a great workout. Rather it is the body’s way of saying it has worked too hard and is struggling to keep up in the healing process.
Feeling sore after a workout is nothing to worry about, but you should still be able to move as normal and withstand another session the following day. Studies have found that muscles can grow regardless of whether you feel pain in the areas you worked out or not. Overtraining, on the other hand, leaves the body hurting and fatigued, requiring more time to heal and increasing the risk of injury, which quite often leads to muscle breakdown, loss of progress, strength, muscle mass and motivation.

Mind Over Muscle
Instead of looking for the burn, focus on mind-muscle connection. The path to a long-term success begins with a good foundation. Good form is everything in the gym – even more important than how much and how heavy you lift. Research published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology found that focusing intently on the targeted muscle area can lead to an increase in size as you contract it. Feeling your muscles engaged throughout a full range of motion, while keeping a good form, is enough to activate muscle cells and increase muscle-fibre size. Remember: quality over quantity.

Carbs and Healthy Fats
Fitness is not all about cutting calories and exercising religiously. Nutrition is also key to effective post-workout muscle recovery, and directly links to optimal fitness. The quality of the food you eat will be the fuel that drives your body to better performance. While protein is important for muscle repair – especially after intense resistance training – carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source. The National Academy of Sports Medicine in the US recommends that adults should eat 0.8g of protein per kg of body weight, and up to 1.2g per kg to maximise glycogen stores, within three hours of working out.
High-glycemic carbohydrates (simple carbs or fast-digesting carbs) such as potatoes, white rice and bread provide quick boosts of energy, while complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes, whole grains and legumes help to sustain energy throughout the day. Omega 3-rich fatty foods like wild-caught salmon and grass-fed beef are great sources of protein while vegetarians and vegans can consume walnuts, avocados, tofu and chia seeds as alternatives. Whey proteins are available for effective and speedy post-workout muscle recovery, and don’t forget your daily dose of minerals and vitamins from fruits and vegetables to boost bodily functions and recovery.

Active Resting
Strength training can be addictive, thanks to the happy chemicals exercise induces, such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins. Nevertheless, for the body to recover effectively after an intense workout, it needs to rest. But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep moving. Active rest days dedicated to light activities support post-workout muscle recovery.
While the strength and muscle you have gained in your workouts do not disappear within a day of inactivity, regular activity helps to improve cardiovascular health, metabolism and digestion. During this process of recovery and light activity, the body is repairing and preparing itself for an even stronger comeback at its next workout session. Not only do you keep up the habit of physical activity, but by balancing intense workout with active recovery throughout the week, you can avoid overtraining, thus preventing sleeplessness, fatigue, risk of injury, loss of progress and motivation.
On rest days, go for a brisk walk, swim or do yoga. Foam rolling, ice baths and massage therapy are other forms of active recovery that help to reduce inflammation, muscle strain and body aches.

Sleep Well
This should require little explanation, yet many adults still find themselves restless and sleep deprived. According to studies published by the US National Library of Medicine, muscle recovery and muscle mass are directly affected by quality of sleep. Those who slept for five hours or less a night were found to have 60 percent less muscle mass than those who slept at least seven hours.
A restful night’s sleep supports a series of changes that aid in the overall health of the mind and body. Deep sleep allows the brain and body to lower its pulse, slow down its function and engage in recovery and healing. Damaged cells and tissues can be repaired, hormones balanced and glycogen (the body’s source of energy) restored, allowing the body to wake-up to an improved physical and mental performance. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps once shared that he was able to train every day for nearly five years because he prioritised a good night’s sleep.
Whether you are a professional athlete, a weekend gym warrior or a home-workout junkie, the key to optimal fitness and performance is everything that happens in between working out and during recovery.

(Text: Zaira Abbas)

NFTs: Future of investment or another bubble waiting to burst?

The world is now divided into two types of people: those who invest in NFTs and those who don’t. As mind-boggling as it is, an increasing number of people now use digital currency to purchase digital goods – or rather the certificates that legitimises ownership of said items – without ever having to physically touch them at all.

culture-cryptocurrency-nft-blockchain--might-are-nfts-investment-hongkong-beeple — 5000 days NFT artwork by Beeple

NFTs have been around since 2014, but they were relatively low profile before the end of the decade. They really began sweeping the internet last year, when this novel technology went mainstream and disrupted industries across the board, especially the art world. The NFT landscape has rapidly evolved over the past 12 months, with more institutions around the world and some governments recognising cryptocurrency as legal tender and NFTs as strong investments.

Even a traditional international art auction house like Sotheby’s has launched its own Metaverse dedicated to NFTs and digital art. So, those few who still staunchly prefer cash in hand might just have to come to terms with this new digitalised transaction that is revolutionising the financial, investment and creative sectors.

Cryptocurrency and NFTs: What’s the difference?
An NFT (non-fungible token) is a unique digitalised certificate that entitles one, and only one, person to exclusive ownership of an asset. Cryptocurrency is a peer-to-peer electronic cash system, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Doge, used to purchase NFTs. Blockchain is the platform on which all cashless digital transactions happen. The process is calculated by a large group of computers and recorded publicly, but anonymously, on the internet to ensure everything adds up. This provides transparency and avoids human error or the risk of financial mismanagement.

Yet, the use of digital ownership tokens remains controversial. While championed by artists and tech-savvy investors, others are cautious, citing a volatile, unregulated marketplace. Environmental campaigners, in particular, decry the huge amount of energy they eat up. What does that mean for Hong Kongers looking to invest in NFTs? And is embracing crypto a positive move for society? We break down the pros and cons…

culture-cryptocurrency-nft-blockchain--might-are-nfts-investment-hongkong-shoutartgallery-andrewmok-offgod-exhibition — Andrew Mok’s debut solo exhibition at Shout Art Hub & Gallery, Hysan place

Democratising art and the value of scarcity
NFTs spurred a creative boom for developers and artists last year. Helping to democratise art, they allow creators control and ownership of their created content while also sharing deserved revenue, and offering involvement in a community of like-minded individuals. The key takeaway here is that NFTs are one-of-a-kind, non-fungible and certified original tokens of an object, whose value is dictated by the community, not an institution or an art market.

culture-cryptocurrency-nft-blockchain--might-are-nfts-investment-hongkong-james-jean-forager — NFT artwork by James Jean Forager

Pro: They certainly benefitted Hong Kong high schooler, illustrator and graphic artist Andrew Mok. Also known as Offgod, Mok is a cover artist for social media rappers such as Bella Poarch, The Kid Laroi, and the late Juice Wrld. He was invited to do an NFT exhibition – his first solo exhibition – at Shout Art Hub & Gallery in Hysan Place – a gallery dedicated to NFTs and digital art and providing global support for local artists. “Offgod’s skill is very mature and creative with his own style and he has over 200,000 followers on social media from all over the world,” says gallery founder Christopher Tang. “The feedback from the market exceeded my expectations. We sold every art piece by the end of the first week – and some pieces pre-sold before the exhibition opened, which for a [then] 17-year old local artist is a miracle.”

Con: Difficulties arise when talking about value and how volatile the NFT marketplace can be. Unlike stocks or bonds, there is no way of knowing the intrinsic value of an NFT investment. What makes a successful NFT largely depends on how the popularity of the brand is, and how strongly the community feels about it.

The scarcity principle used in economics, social psychology and manipulating consumer behaviour theorises that greater value is placed on items that are scarce or in low supply, but in the case of NFTs, it is perhaps the exclusive ownership of a token that creates value rather than the uniqueness of the object itself. Why else would crypto entrepreneur Sina Estavi pay US$2.9 million for Twitter CEO and founder Jack Dorsey’s first tweet?

Pushing the boundaries of technology

There is one thing that is undeniable about the technology behind blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and it is that it has pushed the boundaries of how society and systems utilise computers for the purposes of validation and verification. As evidence by the 2008 financial crisis following the collapse of Lehman Brothers, there is room for error and risk of mismanaging financial systems when regulators are in a position to control funds.

Pro: Blockchain technology is a complex system that allows for strong security since it acts as a shared, immutable ledger; it is almost impossible to hack, alter and manipulate because all transaction records are publicly documented, in contrast to transactions conducted on traditional platforms.

Cons: However, ideal and utilitarian the blockchain is in theory, without the middleman or an institutional buffer between consumers and retail, NFTs leave investors vulnerable. Their value is volatile, and there is still the potential for fraud, scam and theft during transfers within the NFT marketplace, despite the security of blockchain and the anonymity it allows. The process and language can be complex as well, especially for those new to the NFT scene.

If the goal is to truly democratise blockchain and the NFT market for the masses, the exponential growth will require an institutional buffer to aid buyers and investors to oversee the marketplace, as risk in their trade is still very much present.

culture-cryptocurrency-nft-blockchain--might-are-nfts-investment-hongkong-boredape — Bored Ape NFTs by Bored Ape Yacht Club

Future or fad?
Whichever side one stands on the debate of NFTs as the future of investment, there is no denying the good they have reaped for artists and creators, inspiring them to take the lead in how their own creations are presented in the market. Artists have been enabled to deal directly with buyers and control the revenue they earn, while building communities of like-minded individuals with the same interests, fostering a positive and empowering influence for creators.

However, there are fears that a new law that will come into effect next year will stymie the growth of cryptocurrency in the city. The new legislation states that virtual asset trading platforms will face regulations and be monitored through a licensing system to prevent illegal activities, particularly money laundering. This will undermine the main point of decentralising, but perhaps it is a middle ground both sides can come together on.

What’s On? Things to do this September in Hong Kong

With the change of season, we welcome fall with a lantern-frenzy weekend for Mid-Autumn Festival, the annual Centrestage fashion showcase, as well as a series of exciting and must-see arts and cultural exhibitions to catch around town.

Mid Autumn Festival

Prepare for the spectacle of the city alight with colourful lanterns this September. Celebrating the end of the autumn harvest, family and friends will gather by the light of the full moon – if the weather is kind – for feasts over three nights during the festival long weekend. Look out for kung-fu demonstrations, acrobatics, Chinese folk arts and crafts as well as dance shows around town. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance is the undoubted highlight, with a 67-metre dragon on parade. Take in the sights while you enjoy some delectable mooncakes.

When: 10 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: Victoria Park, other parks, beaches and open spaces

Centrestage 2022

The city’s most anticipated fashion event is back this year, showcasing more than 200 fashion brands and designers from all around the globe in a presentation of high-end clothing and accessories. Viewed as ‘Asia’s Fashion Spotlight’, the three-day affair, following this year’s theme Inclusion + Diversity, will be a celebration of global trends, cultures, races and genders. It will also serve as a platform to bring together a fury of medias, designers, models, buyers and fashion fanatics from across the region.

When: 9-11 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre, Wan Chai
For more information: centrestage.hktdc.com

Myth of the Dancing Durumi

The Hong Kong Dance Company pays tribute to Korean folk dance by presenting works by artists from Seoul and Yanbian for the first time in Hong Kong. Exhibiting the traditional charm of the Korean artform, the graceful movements of the dancers – in sync with their mindful breathing – are a subtle depiction of the flight of durumi (red-crowned crane), featuring colourful Korean costumes and soothing rhythms of traditional folk tunes for a mesmerising show.

When: 9-18 Sep
Price: From HK$140 / From HK$80
Location: Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium. / Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium
For more information: hkdance.com

Reflections on Refractions

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In a joint celebration concert, the Hong Kong Arts Festival collectively marks its golden jubilee with City Hall’s 60th anniversary. Through the musical prowess of Hong Kong Sinfonietta, led by maestro Yip Wing-sie, the creative movementof City Contemporary Dance Company, choreographed by Yuri Ng, syncronise to the musical highlights of Charles Kwong’s AtLast, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in G, and Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.

When: 16-17 Sep
Price: From HK$188
Location: Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, Central
For more information: hksl.org

The Pet Show

An event to celebrate your bond with your four-legged companion(s), the Pet Show gathers all the latest information on pet care, training, services and products in one handy, expansive space. A plethora of booths will guide visitors through the process of finding their ideal pet and provide information on different breeds and their nature. Entry is free for pets, who can participate in various shows and competitions, giving them the opportunity to interact with other furry friends.

When: 22-25 Sep
Price: HK$30
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
For more information: petshow.com.hk

Arts & Collectibles Expo

Art enthusiasts and those keen on starting a collection of Chinese arts are in for a treat this month as the Hong Kong International Arts & Collectibles fair returns for its fourth edition. Welcoming exhibitors from all over the world to display and sell their treasured collections, the back-to-back event will feature lectures, performances and exhibitions for local art fans to appreciate culture and art coming together, from Chinese crafts, antiques, ink paintings and calligraphy to modern sculptures and contemporary art, to name just a few.

When: 23-25 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: Asia World-Expo, Chek Lap Kok
For more information: pcac.com.hk

The Dessert Museum

Turning Autumn into a sweet treat, the Dessert Museum has taken a road trip to Hong Kong to present dessert-themed zones that feature huge displays of pudding-inspired installations. Take photos with six-metre-tall doughnuts, bounce on egg-tart trampolines or participate in a slew of interactive games and dessert hunts for a chance to win a limited-edition NFT.

When: Until 4 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: East Point City, 8 Chung Wa Road, Tseung Kwan O
For more information: thedessertmuseum.com

Serenity Hong Kong

Amidst the chaos of the continuing pandemic, Artspace K is presenting a solo exhibition that spreads a sense of tranquillity and calm through stunning ink art. Serenity, Hong Kong showcases the works of Chongqing-born, Hong Kong-resident Wong Hau Kwei, who uses traditional Chinese ink painting techniques to create contemporary art. Portraying the city’s urban landscape in perfect illustrations with a play on light and dark contrasts.

When: Until 17 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: Artspace K, The Repulse Bay Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road
For more information: artspacek.org

Arts & Tech

An innovative blend of modern art and technology, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council is presenting the first Arts Tech to explore trans-disciplinary possibilities and wonders. Cells That Fire Together Wire Together is curated by local composer and media artist GayBird. Featuring imaginative installations that explore historical memories of Wan Chai, showcasing the work of digital artist Hugo Yeung, experimental filmmaker Ip Yuk-yiu, and Kachi Chan, a specialist in performative robotics.

When: Until 18 Sep
Price: Free entry
Location: 3/F, M7, Wan Chai
For more information: arts-tech.hk

Traditional Italian recipes combine deliciously with modern techniques in Cantina

In Hong Kong, gourmands will never find themselves short of new flavours, new hotspots and even new mixes of cultures. The list of Italian restaurants alone is long enough to stretch the length of Hollywood Road and beyond. Still, we find ourselves going back to the warm, hearty cuisine of Italy – always determined to find the best pastas, the tastiest pizzas and the most mouth-watering gelato and tiramisu.

gafencu-dining-taste-italian-traditional-modern-sicilian-tai-kwun-hongkong — Photo courtesy of Aqua Restaurant Group

Over at Tai Kwun, the former Central Police Headquarters, the site serves as no better a place to bring traditional and modern together. This is exactly what Aqua Group has done with Cantina, a new addition to its stable of restaurants. Cantina, which translates to canteen, is perfectly situated within the location’s former dining hall.

gafencu-dining-taste-italian-traditional-modern-sicilian-tai-kwun-hongkong-Luca Schiavone — Photo courtesy of Aqua Restaurant Group

Here, classic Italian dishes are served with the occasional surprising twist – “wow-factor” is what Luca Schiavone, Cantina’s executive chef calls it. Having only landed in Hong Kong in February, Chef Luca brings the flavours of his native Sicily to this warm, casual eatery. “We try to stay traditional but we also play with consistency and presentation. The goal is to have an explosion of flavours with every bite”, says Chef Luca.

One example is the Sicilian Red Prawn Carpaccio. The dish features sweet Southern red prawns, complemented by fruity pomegranate jelly and further elevated with dollops of sumptuous caviar and Italy’s finest Bronte pistachios from Mount Etna, before finishing with lemon zest. Light but savoury with a hint of sweetness, this was just enough to rouse us for the next dish.

Impressively, the majority of pastas on the menu are homemade to respect the Italian culture of cooking al dente. However, the Linguine with Clams & Mullet Bortarga we had sampled was cooked with a dry pasta sourced from Italy, which to our surprise still offered a perfectly chewy and firm texture. Its starchier content (compared to freshly made pasta) gives the dish a creamier texture that perfectly complements the simplicity of its white wine, chili, garlic and butter sauce. The driving force of its rich flavours though was the clam juice which was filtered out and mixed into the sauce – rounding up the dish with a savoury punch of umami.

The pièce de résistance of our experience was the theatrical table-side service that came with the Breaded Veal Cutlet and Salt Baked Sea Bass with Vegetable Caponata. The scrumptious deep-fried Milanese veal cutlet hovered over on a charcuterie board and was cut table-side – crisply crunching with every slice. Cooked in clarified butter and garnished with fried rosemary, the dish was then drizzled with a squeeze of lemon juice for piquancy, oozing with a combination of sweet and nutty flavours.

The fish was a showstopper. Arriving within a thick layer of salted pastry that was set ablaze, then skillfully doused and cracked open to reveal the sea bass that was expertly deboned and delicately plated. It was served alongside a sweet and sour caponata, a traditionally Sicilian vegetable appetiser. The plate’s mix of eggplants, olives, onions and sweet red pepper seasoned with herbs, olive oil and sweet and sour dressing (agrodolce sauce) perfectly balanced the freshness of the sea bass with fruity and tangy notes.

No Italian fare is complete without a sweet ending. In this case, it was the Table Side Tiramisu. Literally meaning pick-me-up in Italian, tiramisu was the perfect finale to a satisfyingly carnivorous meal. When it comes to beloved classic recipes that have travelled beyond its borders and endured centuries of reinvention, some dishes are best kept as its original form, delighting the palate with a sense of home and momma in the kitchen. Thankfully this classic tiramisu was just that.

Moist with coffee, its savoiardi (ladyfingers) is delicate and fully absorbed with the creamy mixture of eggs, sugar, and mascarpone cheese before being dusted with cocoa powder. Perhaps the only blip in the sensational experience was that after a couple of bites, it was a tad too sweet to finish off; but given the calories we had happily consumed by that point, it might have been for the best.

Cantina. 1/F, Block 1, Tai Kwun, 10 Hollywood Rd., Central. aquarestaurantgroup.co.uk/cantina

(Text & Photos: Roberliza Eugenio)

Motoring On: Great car clubs of Hong Kong

The opening scene from James Clavell’s quintessential Hong Kong novel, Noble House, is one for lovers of classic sports cars. Amid the backdrop of a raging typhoon, Jardine Matheson taipan Ian Dunross emerges from his home on The Peak, gets into his 1958 British military green MGB convertible and roars into the night. He negotiates the road’s twists and turns as he drives – post haste – to a secluded ferry terminal for a clandestine business meeting.

They didn’t have an MGB sports car club when Dunross made his iconic drive, but fair to say if there was, he would have been one of its most passionate members. Which brings us – albeit circuitously – to the topic of car clubs in Hong Kong. Enthusiasts of signature Morris Garages’ signature vintage sports car will be tickled pink to know that there is now an MG car club in the city. Several in fact, with the long-established MG Car Club among the most popular.

Mini Revival

Another classic car with British origins is the Mini. This two-door, fuel-efficient compact vehicle was an icon of the sixties and featured prominently in the celebrated 1969 movie The Italian Job, which propelled the career of acting legend Michael Caine. Since its halcyon days in the sixties when it was originally manufactured by the British Motor Corporation (BMC), the Mini has endured a somewhat chequered time of it. BMC restructured to become British Leyland, which then morphed into the Rover Group. Falling in and out of favour over subsequent decades, manufacture of the Mini was taken out of British hands when the Rover Group was acquired by German automaker BMW.

The good news for lovers of the Mini is that the New Mini Club Hong Kong is alive and thriving. Boasting more than 5000 members on its Facebook page, anyone who owns a Mini or has plans to become the proud owner of one can become a member via the club’s Facebook page and “exchange first-hand car information, to know and understand the club more, increase the driving fun, and meet more car fans and friends who share the same interests”. There’s also a lively market on the page for the buying and selling of Minis in Hong Kong as well as tips on looking after your car and upcoming motoring events.
For anyone looking for something a little more turbo-charged, there’s the Hong Kong Mini Race Car Club. Founded in 1994, the club organises Mini races in South-east Asia and China. While the thrill of the chase is intoxicating the club also focuses on fun and safe racing.

Vintage Vrooming

One of the most active clubs in the city is the Classic Car Club of Hong Kong. Officially forming in 1989 – although unofficially motoring on long before that – the club boasts more than 600 members (and more than 6000 followers on Facebook), with over 1000 vintage and classic cars from the rip-roaring 1920s right through to the excessive 1980s. The thriving club has been voted ‘Club of the Year’ by the South China Morning Post, and anyone is welcome to join its expanding membership – the only proviso being that you are a genuine classic car enthusiast.

The club holds regular ‘Sunday Morning Drives’, where classic car enthusiasts can put their pride and joys through their paces while cruising the highways and byways of the New Territories and catch up with other members, where they can share stories and maintenance tips about their own vehicles. Annual car shows are also held where the best classic cars are honoured and there is the opportunity to participate in car parades. The club also actively participates in charitable activities such as visiting aged care homes and orphanages.

By all accounts, new members are most welcome. According to former club chairman and current regalia coordinator, Justin Liu, “I still remember when I first joined. I was extremely impressed with the diversity and friendliness of the members. No matter what classic car you drive, you are bound to make conversations and friends with fellow members. Now, close to a decade later, the club’s welcoming and diverse culture continues to flourish.”

Collector’s Corner

The Collectors Car Club of Hong Kong is a small and friendly group with some wonderfully quaint and quirky vehicles – a niche that members proudly take out of their garages and let loose on the wider world. From vintage Volkswagens right through to stunning early models such as the 1928 Buggati, 1934 Plymouth convertible, 1939 MG TB, 1954 Rolls Royce Silver Dawn, 1954 Chevrolet 3100, a 1967 Lotus Super, as well as newer vehicles such as the 1989 AC Cobra and 2001 Hummer H1, to name but a few.

The club has been active since at least 2005 and has been holding regular Sunday morning drives to some of Hong Kong’s most picturesque spots, as well as breakfast and lunch catch-ups for members. Welcoming all-comers, it’s also an active group in terms of public welfare activities, and lending a hand to disadvantaged groups.

Listed here are some of the bigger and most interesting car clubs in Hong Kong. But really, whatever vintage or type of car you are passionate about, be it a Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, Beetles or even a Czech-made Skoda, there’s probably a car club out there for you – that a little digging will reveal. And it’s certainly a great way to have fun adventures and make new friends.

If you’re considering getting involved it’s worth checking in with individual clubs as to their current status. While many have continued – or commenced – engagement and events with their member base as we head back to some level of normality, some may have scaled back activity over the social distancing and restrictions brought about by the last two-and-a-half years. Hopefully it won’t be too long before all the clubs are back in full swing and the motors purring.

Who is Uncle Roger? All about the comedy sensation Nigel Ng

Nigel Ng is a man going places. He is mid-way through his Haiyaa world comedy tour having just wowed audiences throughout Asia. Next stop Australia and New Zealand!

The Malaysian-born, British-based performer has impressively built a rapid following with his comedic shtick, but it’s also the meteoric rise of his alter ego, Uncle Roger, that has been garnering a lot of attention. The wise-cracking, know-it-all character now has in excess of six million followers on YouTube in just a few short years – built on the absurd manner in which the opinionated uncle mercilessly grills Western chefs and television shows for the way they blithely and ineptly mangle their attempts at Asian cooking.

Ng was born in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on 15 March 1991, to Chinese parents of Hokkien ancestry. His father is a car salesman, while his mother stayed home to raise young Nigel and his two siblings, Garry and Yoki, the latter of which is a professional harmonica player. After completing high school in Malaysia, he studied in the US where he achieved a joint engineering / philosophy degree at Northwestern University in 2014.

Ng observes of his high school experience, “I wasn’t raised in a very Western environment. I went to a Chinese-speaking school and in my group of friends the goal was to be a white-collar worker – an engineer, lawyer or accountant.”

Rice to Meet You

For a while, things went to script. He worked for several years as a data scientist, but it wasn’t long before his true calling of comedy came knocking. Seeking opportunities, Ng moved to Britain and began to get noticed as he earned his comedic chops. His first televised appearance was on Comedy Central’s Stand up Central in 2018. More success soon followed when he was given the ‘Best Newcomer Award’ for his stand-up comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2019. Ng also hosts a comedy podcast, Rice to Meet You, with fellow UK-based comedienne, Evelyn Mok, and cites the films of Hong Kong comedic actor, Stephen Chow, as his inspiration to get into comedy.

It’s hardly surprising Ng’s Haiyaa tour is proving to be such a success – he thrives on the whole stand-up experience. “Comedy clubs sharpen a comedian. They’re like the gym for us, making us stronger, faster, funnier. Without them, every comedy show would feel like a monologue,” says Ng.

Uncle Roger Unleashed

But it would be fair to say that the catalyst, the magic ingredient, the MSG, that has catapulted Ng to fame was the creation of his character, Uncle Roger. The initial idea to play a middle-aged Malaysian uncle actually came from Ng’s comedy buddy, Evelyn Mok, but it wasn’t long before he began to develop the character. Ng put a call out on social media asking people to send photos of their Malaysian uncles. Gaudily coloured shirts appeared to be the order of the day and it wasn’t long before the Uncle Roger persona came with a bright orange polo shirt and an oversized mobile phone perennially strapped to his side. With an accent and mannerisms a composite of Ng’s observations of his own uncles growing up, the character was complete.

In July 2020, Uncle Roger became an internet sensation when he reviewed BBC Food’s Hersha Patel video on cooking egg-fried rice. Tongue firmly planted in his cheek, Uncle Roger watched in horror as Patel proceeded to boil the rice in a pot – sans rice cooker – and then strained the rice in a colander. After the video went viral, the pair appeared on the BBC together in a collaborative cooking effort. Uncle Roger continued to review BBC Foods’ coverage of Asian cooking. The high (low?) point came when there was a show about ‘Japanese Food Week’ in which most of the ingredients used by the chefs were Indonesian, Thai, Indian, but hardly any of them appeared to be Japanese.

Add (olive) oil

But the funniest moments in Uncle Roger’s oeuvre comes with his interaction with his arch nemesis, Jamie Oliver – also referred to as ‘Jamie Olive Oil’ in the YouTube clips for his liberal use of the aforementioned ingredient in his cooking. Oliver is regular fodder for many of the videos and was lambasted for his apparently inauthentic attempts at red Thai curry, butter chicken and egg-fried rice, among others. Clips would often end with Uncle Roger sadly shaking his head, saying “Our ancestors crying now”. Gordon Ramsay’s cooking videos were also critiqued by Uncle Roger, but the celebrity chef sportingly appeared in a subsequent video with his tormentor, and perhaps even boosted his own YouTube views along the way.

In truth, many of Uncle Roger’s barbs are aimed at himself, as he laments the loss of the love of his life, Aunty Helen, because of what he did (or failed to do) in the marital bed and how he one day yearns for a reunion. And there is no malice intended in his cooking take-on videos as he urges his YouTube followers not to provoke those critiqued but to “just laugh.”

White Rice Matters

But there is a deeper implication behind Uncle Roger’s seemingly over-the-top slapstick. His humorous put-downs of Western chefs’ versions of Asian cooking and the way ingredients and techniques are so drawn from another country, or just plain wrong, calls out an inherent casual disregard of Asian culture. Would an Asian chef mess up Western cooking with such impunity? It seems unlikely.

Commenting on one of Oliver’s most egregious Asian cooking faux pas – using chilli jam in egg-fried rice – Ng says, “It’s a pet peeve of mine that he would never do that with French cooking. He would have more respect. But Asian cooking? Anything goes, just whack it in there.”

Ng himself has at times copped criticism for perpetuating Asian stereotypes through the Uncle Roger persona and Cantonese-accented English. But as Ng told The Telegraph, “If a white guy puts on yellowface and does an accent, sure, that’s pretty bad. But I sounded more like Uncle Roger growing up than how I sound now. What’s he supposed to sound like? He’s not American, you know. Everything I say is lifting Asian people up. I’m talking about our food with pride.”

In the meantime, Ng and his fictional uncle continue on a stellar trajectory. It appears the sky’s limit for the irrepressible Uncle Roger. At six million followers online, he’s already gone past Jamie Oliver. What happens if he reaches 10 million? At this rate of success, an amorous reconciliation with Aunty Helen could even be on the cards and then who knows what might happen. Sorry children.

Time to Give: A charity art auction by Robert Lam and Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation

In line with the season for contemporary arts, Time to Give is a collaborative charity art auction between renowned photographer and artist Robert Lam and the Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation.

Hosted by Robert Lam at his eclectic art-filled office-cum-showroom, about 30 vibrant contemporary artworks will be exhibited throughout the venue for the charity art auction organised by Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation. It will be a rare glimpse into the imaginative world of Robert Lam and his artistic voyage.

art-auction-fundraiser-timetogive-robertlam-alicechiu-sheenhokcharitablefoundation-hongkong (4) — No. 2. Title: Eve apple (915x1220mm)

Unlike the stylistic photography of Lam’s earlier works, he now delves into combining photo technique and digital system. The idea behind the collection is to combine basic art theory with numeric digital technique, and merging photography and painting together in exploring colours and movements.

art-auction-fundraiser-timetogive-robertlam-alicechiu-sheenhokcharitablefoundation-hongkong — Robert Lam next to art piece No. 1. Title: Sunday (1210x1510mm)

“The opportunity was a very nice surprise”, Lam says. A few months ago, after having created several pieces within the collection, Lam was looking for someone to give the artworks to. “Coincidentally, I met with Professor Alice Chiu, a very good friend of mine, and we had started to discuss doing collaborative work for her Sheen Hok Charity Foundation. The title of the charity art auction is Time to Give and I am prepared to give”, explains Lam.

art-auction-fundraiser-timetogive-robertlam-alicechiu-sheenhokcharitablefoundation-hongkong (7) — No.13. Title: Famous Singer (1200x900mm)

The charity art auction will welcome a community of star-studded guests and the city’s creme dela creme of the high society art lovers, including Professor Chiu’s personal friends and supporters of the Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation.

art-auction-fundraiser-timetogive-robertlam-alicechiu-sheenhokcharitablefoundation-hongkong (5) — No. 5. Title: Flower Dance (915x1220mm)

The art pieces are specifically for the charity art auction Time to Give. The money raised will go to Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation to help Hong Kong special education students and their families under the The Sheen Hok Rising Sun Project.

art-auction-fundraiser-timetogive-robertlam-alicechiu-sheenhokcharitablefoundation-hongkong (6) — No.14. Title: Art Deco (915x1220mm)

“I was so excited and happy when I heard that Robert was looking to give his art pieces to someone. I really needed the support from different sectors, companies and friends. In fact, some of my friends have been supporting me to help the youth in need. In addition to providing medical assistance, I hope to improve them in education and art and increase professional training, so that they will have skills to improve family incomes in the future. I think this is the right way and right direction for our foundation to contribute to society”, says Professor Chiu. “There are many people who require our help that I believe charity services will never end. I will not consider stopping, and it will never be enough.”

The private viewing will be held at the Robert Lam Colour – Photobition on 16 & 17 August 2022. All 30 art pieces within the collection will then go to auction the following day on 18 August.

For more information, please visit www.sheenhok.org

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