Straits Collection

Transience, Open Salon Exhibition in ChinaHouse

2012-01-23T14:51:00.001+08:00

We are delighted to announce that ChinaHouse is currently hosting the Photography Open Salon exhibition, in partnership with the Arles Photography Open Salon and the Alliance Française in Penang .

With 100 photographers from 32 countries from Arles (France), the celebrated 'capital' of international photography, to George Town, the UNESCO heart of Penang (Malaysia), this selection of ‘open call’ winning images from the 2011 Photography Open Salon showcases cutting-edge and emerging photography from around the world. Thought-provoking, visually exciting, the exhibition - featuring over 100 artists from 32 countries - culminates in 'The Poverty Line' project of overall winners Stefen Chow and HY Lin. All of this year's Photography Open Salon 2011 artists from Arles will be represented with at least one piece of artwork. Exhibited prints are for sale.

The Arles installation will be divided between ChinaHouse and Alliance Française. The exhibition dates and opening times are as follows:

ChinaHouse
Vernissage opening on 12 Jan 6.30pm
Exhibition dates: 12 Jan – 11 Feb 2012

Alliance Française de Penang
Vernissage opening on 18 Jan 7.30pm
Exhibition dates: 18 Jan – 8 Feb 2012

For more information on this exceptional exhibition, visit our website or feel free to get in touch.

ChinaHouse
153-155 Beach Street, 10300 Georgetown, Penang
T 04 263 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Alliance Française de Penang
46, Jalan Phuah Hin Leong,10050 Georgetown, Penang
T 04 227 6008 E pedagopenang@alliancefrancaise.org.my

Currently ongoing @Studio and @ChinaHouse...

2011-12-10T09:50:00.000+08:00

With the opening of ChinaHouse on Beach Street, Brand Bon Ton is now blessed with enough room space to hold more than just one exhibition at once. As our main gallery, Studio at Straits is now proudly exhibiting a collection of contemporary ceramics by Alex Tan and Cheah Yeow Seng. Come and be enthralled by the design and colors of these masterful art pieces, some reminiscent of old Chinese ceramics but truly in a league of their own. This exhibition will be held until December 18, so make sure to make some room in your busy schedules to follow Tan's and Cheah's footsteps in the wonderland of pottery.

As for ChinaHouse, two exhibitions are concurrently being held. The first one, entitled Faces of Expression, are paintings from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines by the artist collective House of Matahati. Here's the introduction to this extremely evocative exhibition, to be held until December 26 at Art Space I :

"Being one of the largest means of human communication, expression has always been the trait that defined us the most. Self representation comes after expression, as a conscious choice of individuals on how they wish for others to perceive themselves. The back and forth of emotions and their messages form a collective negotiation that is a constant everyday struggle. This dynamics of expression is expressed and suggested in the paintings, and presented for the inspection and appreciation by the viewer".

The second exhibition, beautifully named Equilibration and Expiration, is a photographic essay by Malaysian artist Fauzi Husin :

"According to Jean Piaget, a cognitive psychologist, when external reality does not match with the logical internal mental structures, Equilibration occurs as an effort to bring balance as the person adapts more sophisticated mental structures. On the other hand, like products display on the shelves of a supermarket, Fauzi Husin sees Expiration as something that revolves around life, existence, mortality and the process of aging and decay. These two series are the photographer's exploration of Equilibration and Expiration."

Equilibration and Expiration will be held until December 26 in ChinaHouse's Art Space II.

For more information on our exhibition, visit our website or feel free to get in touch.

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

T 04 262 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

ChinaHouse
153-155 Beach Street, 10300 Georgetown, Penang
T 04 263 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Symphony & Oppression, by Louise Low

2011-11-07T12:51:00.002+08:00

From October 22nd to November 15th, come and visit our brand-new exhibition at Studio : Symphony and Oppression, by talented Malaysian artist Louise Low Seok Loo. Louise has dedicated her artistic search to the representations of orchids, these exotic flowers well known to all living in or familiar with Malaysia. Here's what she has to say about her exciting exhibition and her irresistible attraction to orchids:

"The very representation of love, beauty and strength, orchids have always fascinated me. In my first series, Symphony of Life, the flower is my maestro in exploring the relationship between life and tradition while the colours portray instruments strung by my heart. Within my search for a sense of belonging within my own culture, my paintings surface as a visual and lyrical garden, alive through the juxtaposition of exotic orchids interlocking with traditional batik impressions".

Come and admire the colourful compositions of Louise Low Seok Loo, only until November 15th at Studio at Straits. For more information, visit our website.

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

T 04 262 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Designers' Talk & Drawing Course at Studio

2011-09-18T09:40:00.001+08:00

On September 21, fresh from KL Design Week 2011, design journeyman Fabian Sixtus Körner, animator and designer Olivier "Hero" Dressen and Pencilbrush inventor Alex Tarusha will share their work with Penangites and tell us all about their creative adventures. Joined by Lim Chun Woei of urban cr3atures, the talk starts at 8.30pm sharp at Studio@Straits.

On the same day, Alexander Tarusha, the inventor of the revolutionary Pencilbrush, will give a free two-hour introduction course to 12 lucky would-be artists among you ! Hurry up and register to learn the basics of using this new tool, ideal for faster drawing, easier shading and better effects ! For more info on Pencilbrush, watch the video below :

For more info on these two upcoming events, do feel free to contact us using the information below and on our flier. Looking forward to seeing you all at Studio and learn all about the latest trends in the world of design!

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

T 012 482 8619 / 010 464 0812
E info@straitscollection.com.my / eeyanchuah@gmail.com

Coming Home, An Introduction To Foo May Lin

2011-08-20T00:59:00.000+08:00

Our new exhibition at Studio@Straits will be starting as of Saturday, August 20, and what an exciting one it is! For the next three weeks until September 10, we are very proud to welcome Malaysian artist Foo May Lin and her intricate works in our gallery.

Foo May Lin began her artistic life as a 13-year-old performer in the late '70s with Teater Kanak-kanak Malaysia, an experimental children's theatre project run by the formidable and committed theatre practitioner, Janet Pillai. Everything truly stems from here : that rare and invaluable sense of empowerment given to a child. Here she was also exposed to the wide spectrum of myths, legends and performance traditions of Malaysia's multicultural heritage.

She has worked in theatre, dance, film and Festival productions under the direction of Krishen Jit, Ann Lee, Marion D'Cruz, Dinsman, Jo Kukathas, Nasir Jani of Malaysia, Ivan Heng, Claire Wong, Ong Ken Sen of Singapore, Agnes Limbos of Belgium, and Koike Hiroshi of Pappa Tarahumara, Japan. She was also a member of CommonLore Storytellers in London where she lived for 11 years.

In the last decade, May Lin has focused on producing drawings, jewellery, toys and books. Her talisman "jewellery", which were featured in Paris' Elle Magazine, and bought by Christian Lacroix were sold and exhibited in Paris (2008) where she lived for 12 years.

In 2005, she was part of a group exhibition with Pang Khee Teik and Phuan Thai Meng entitled "Crowds" at Reka Art Space. Her work has fascinated cultural producers for their allegorical resonance of deep human experiences through detailing that is naive, spontaneous and surprising. For more info, visit our website.

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

T 012 482 8619 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Melaka Dreams, by Daniel Brinsmead

2011-07-29T09:22:00.001+08:00

We are especially proud to uncover the theme of our new exhibition held at Studio : Melaka Dreams, by Australian artist Daniel Brinsmead. Born in 1970 in Murwillumbah, NSW, Brinsmead is part of this new generation of Australian artists unafraid to tackle personal political issues and interpret their world views through art. Deep, dark and undisciplined are common descriptions of Brinsmead's paintings, which - in the words of David Broker, director of the Canberra Contemporary Art Space - "reflect a world in which the individual has a tenuous grip on the controls. While Daniel never openly reveals specific situations or events, one always feels that he is painfully honest and that this cathartic work might drive us along the dangerous path to understanding the Cimmerian recesses of the human psyche".

Here's how Daniel Brinsmead describes his work : "My work examines human nature in relation to contemporary culture. I like to question the way we think, feel, and behave, and explore how we act and react to our social and physical environments. I am inpsired by the way children approach art. It is direct and honest, an immediate interpretation of life as they know it. My personal search within myself as an artist and how I want to express my creativity has taken me to a kind of simple and direct of being in my art. I am constatntly looking for the way to paint and work where I am energized and excited by what I am doing. I then take this simplicity and combine it with the knowledge and perspective of an adult to explore the question of who I am and the world around me".

We hope to see many of you coming to Studio to experience Brinsmead's paintings with your own eyes. Melaka Dreams is ongoing until August 16th, 2011. For more info, visit our website.

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 Georgetown, Penang

T 04 262 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Kopi Cine is temporarily closed and being relocated

2011-07-16T18:30:00.003+08:00

Dear followers,

As you may have already noticed, Kopi Cine is currently closed. This is however only temporary and we will soon announce a new location for our brand-new gourmet outlet. So stay tuned, more news coming soon...

Also, the Stewart Lane residences which were part of the Straits Collection are now under a new management. However, our residences on 89 to 95 Armenian Street are still available and you can proceed with your booking on our Straits Collection website.

In the meantime, we would like to thank all our patrons for their continuing support and look forward to giving you all more details soon of our reopening and expansion plans.

Remember that it is still time for you to enjoy our current exhibition in Studio @ Straits on Armenian Street. THIS IS IT - Black & White is an exhibition that looks into the integration of art and design to make artworks beyond a wall hanging visual artwork.

For more details on the THIS IS IT exhibition, click here.

And don't forget the ongoing Georgetown Festival 2011, a month-long celebration of the inscription of George Town on the UNESCO World Heritage Listing on 7th July, 2008. Scheduled to be an annual event, the Festival is a feast of theatre, music, dance, film, art, opera, food, fashion, photography, and inspirational talks.

Studio @ Straits - "7th Heaven" by Ong Oh Hup Hoe

2011-02-11T09:43:00.001+08:00

Studio @ Straits is delighted to welcome you for their second exhibition, this time showcasing works by a master colorist : Ong Oh Hup Hoe.

The 7th Heaven Series, curated by Scarlette Lee of Core Design Gallery, is the latest and third solo 7th Heaven Series art exhibition by Ong Oh Hup Hoe. It will run from February 15 to March 31 at Studio @ Straits.

"In the past couple of years, Ong Oh Hup Hoe has channeled his mind fittingly to create a symphony of colours that dances to the tune of seventh heaven, the realm of God and the highest state of bliss which is the theme of his latest and third solo exhibition"

- quoted from Dian Pasquinal Kaur, The Prestige January 2011 issue.

For more information about the exhibition and the artist, please click here to read the full article.

Please come join us for a wine tasting and nibbles on the 15th February to celebrate this exciting 7th Heaven Series. We look forward to meeting you there ! You can RSVP here or directly on Studio at Straits' Facebook page (link on the right sidebar).

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 George Town, Penang

T 04 262 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Travel Contest January 2011 - Malaysia Asia blog

2011-01-13T10:59:00.001+08:00

Travel blogger David Logan Jr is a travel addict whose addiction is dangerously contagious... If you wish to know where to go on a holiday when travelling through South-East Asia, a great and reliable source of information would be his blog Malaysia Asia. From Pattaya to Bali, from Halong Bay to Sandakan, from Cebu to Singapore, David has seen it all (or almost) and he always gives interesting depictions of the places' culture, people, food and things to do and see.

Not only is he travelling all year round, but he also wants you to travel and experience the best of South-East Asia. His new travel contest now allows you to win up to 16,500 RM in prizes (travel vouchers, holiday trips, packages, etc.) and it is incredibly easy to take part in. Check out his blog for more information on how you can become the lucky grand prize winner !

Opening of Studio at Straits - Some pictures

2010-12-28T18:05:00.000+08:00

Yesterday was the opening of Bon Ton's brand-new art gallery, Studio at Straits. Based in the heart of UNESCO-listed George Town, on the first floor of a beautifully renovated shophouse, Studio at Straits is an exciting addition to the booming local art scene.

We would like to thank all the people that made this first exhibition possible, starting with Ms Scarlette Lee, owner of the Core Design Gallery (Petaling Jaya) where the "Beautiful People" exhibition was previously held. We also wish to thank all the people that showed up last night to show their support and enjoy the thought-provoking art on display... as well as the Sicilian wines and signature canapés on offer!

Here are a few pictures of the opening.

The "Beautiful People" exhibition runs until January 25, 2011. For more information about the exhibition, please contact Huvi at info@straitscollection.com.my or read the NST feature about the same exhibition held earlier in Core Design Gallery.

Studio at Straits, 86 Armenian Street, 10200 George Town, Penang. Find us on FourSquare.

Studio @ Straits - Wine, Bon Ton canapés & "Beautiful People"

2010-12-20T22:49:00.008+08:00

Come and join us for the "Beautiful People" art exhibition, which will be held from Monday, December 27 at 5:00pm, until Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 6:00pm

Location : STUDIO at Straits - 86 Armenian Street, George Town 10200 Penang, Malaysia

Introduction to the exhibition :

"Whenever a person is described as beautiful, the first that strikes the mind would usually be the physical attributes of the person. The very image of an attractive proportionate figure, chiseled features clothed with impeccable styles by high profile fashion designers inspired by the likes of Hollywood & Bollywood stars come to mind. As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”, one will observe & analyze how another’s perception or definition of “beautiful people” shown through artworks by a group of artists.

“Beautiful People” is a group art exhibition which gives us an opportunity to discover the many artistic sides if not the literal abstraction of the term “beauty”. A collection of 11 artists from diverse background ranging from raw abstract to vivid realism, art works conjured with different medium, ideas churned from creative imagination to fresh concepts will converge to demonstrate the many versatile skills and their unbiased projection of “beautiful people”. This exhibition looks into the much-thought about theme which enables us to observe the instigation of society’s perception and its collective influence on the conception of beauty. Viewers will not only expect works depicting some notable famed faces / persona, or even figures whom the artists hold dear to their hearts as quintessence of “beauty” but as well as works which asserts the social stigma on ”beauty”, at times expressing cynicism towards the “shallow” proclamation of beauty.

Throughout the show, viewers will be drawn to admire the mind-imprinting works of a skillful figure artist depicting the softness and purity of a beautiful woman. Then gradually transcend to another artwork of a meticulous caricaturist expressions of the infamous international entertainment artists. Whilst another veteran conceptual artist intrigues us with the primate-looking king who looks like an ancient relic, stressing upon this modern-world society that material and gross gains do not make one more beautiful. “Beautiful People” is an attempt to emanate both the biodiversities in beauty and the participating artists."

We look forward to meeting you there ! You can RSVP here or directly on Studio at Straits' Facebook page (link on the right sidebar).

Studio at Straits

86 Armenian Street, 10200 George Town, Penang

T 04 262 7299 E info@straitscollection.com.my

Chris Stone - Exhibition in Gallery 29

2010-11-16T00:50:00.009+08:00

Dear Friends!

We are thrilled to invite you to Chris Stone's latest solo exhibition, to be held on November 19 in Gallery 29, George Town! An Australian artist, known internationally for his textile design and colour forecasting, Chris has been most recently inspired by George Town, Penang and Langkawi. These recent paintings are full of colour, pattern and whimsy and exude a positive energy and vibrancy.
Some of his previous paintings can be viewed here.

Hope to see many of you on the 19th !

***
Exhibition details:

Chris Stone
Gallery 29, China Street
Friday, November 19th
6pm-9pm
Refreshments will be served

Gallery 29. China Street, George Town. Tel : 04-2643580

***
More information about Chris Stone :

BORN LEICESTER UK
STUDIED AT LOUGHBOUGH COLLEGE OF ART
WINCHESTER SCHOOL OF ART
ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART LONDON In TEXTILE DESIGN

1972 MOVED TO MILAN ITALY DESIGNING TEXTILES FIRST FOR KEN SCOTT THEN COUTURE AND INTERIOR HOUSES.

1984 MOVED TO MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA TO BE HEAD DESIGNER OF SHERIDAN, AN INTERATIONAL BED LINEN BRAND.

1987 MOVED TO SYDNEY AUSTRALIA WHERE HE CURRENTLY ABIDES.

2001-2009 10 YEARS OF BI-ANNUAL COLOUR PREDICTION BOOK CALLED COLOURWORKS.

2005 STARTED PAINTING WASHHOUSE GALLERY SYDNEY –FLOWERS
2007 WASHHOUSE GALLERY SYDNEY- NO 7 SYDNEY ARTS FAIR
2008 WASHHOUSE GALLERY-TOWARDS THE LIGHT
2009 WASHHOUSE GALLERY- THE FLOWER PAINTER AND THE FASHIONIST
2010 WASHHOUSE GALLERY- CHINTZ-HOMAGE TO TEXTILE ART

CHRIS TEACHES TEXTILE, DESIGN AND COLOUR AT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY (UTS) AND (COFA) COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SYDNEY.

CHRIS’S COLLECTORS INCLUDE RICK STEIN (ENGLISH COOK), TETSUYA (AUSTRALIAN COOK), LOTI TUQUIRI (FOOTBALLER), NARELLE MCMURTRIE/ALISON FRASER (BON-TON)

FRAGMENTS IS DRAWN FROM MANY TIMES AND PLACES, WHILE REFLECTING CHRIS’S INTEREST IN FLOWER PAINTERS, NEW ASIAN INSPIRATION IS DRAWN FROM HIS FREQUENT VISITS TO BOTH PENANG AND LANGKAWI

***

Chopin, the Poet of Piano @ AF Penang

2010-06-07T18:45:00.008+08:00

Straits Collection and Alliance Française in Penang are proud to invite you for the opening of the exhibition : "Chopin, the Poet of Piano", a stamps and postcards exhibition by Ng Wee Theng.

Frédéric François Chopin (1 March 1810 – 17 October 1849), was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of French-Polish parentage. He was one of the great masters of Romantic music.

This Saturday, June 12th, come and (re)discover his short, but extraordinary life and his legacy to classical music at Alliance Française in Penang.

Entrance is free for all ! The opening will start at 7.00pm and cocktails will be served.

Exquisite food straight from Kopi Cine's kitchen will also be available during this opening. Come and soothe your ears with Chopin's music, we'll take care of your taste buds ! :)

Alliance Française in Penang : 46 Jalan Phuah Hin Leong, 10050 Penang

For more information about the exhibition : pedagopenang@alliancefrancaise.org.my

Hope to see y'all there !

We wanna eat Bon Ton desserts !

2010-06-04T09:45:00.004+08:00

This Saturday, June 5th, as of 9.00pm, you are invited to Kopi Cine for an evening of dessert and coffee tasting !

All you have to do is show up in Kopi Cine and tell us the magic formula : "I wanna eat Bon Ton desserts !"

Remember the phrase and you'll be rewarded with a free dessert of your choice and unlimited coffee from Kopi Cine !

So come and spend your Saturday night with us, for if you don't, you might never know how truly delicious our desserts and coffee really are !

Our address : 55, Stewart Lane, 10200 George Town, Penang.

See you on Saturday, and do feel free to pass the info around !

Kopi Cine Team

Our brand-new menus and drink lists !

2010-05-14T15:51:00.014+08:00

As of May 2010, we've come up with a set of exciting, brand-new menus and drink lists so as to keep your tastebuds alert and wishing for more !

Below you can download our full menu, which also includes our dessert menu, our drinks menu, our cocktails menu and our wine list.

One good way to keep drooling all day and looking forward to your next time with us : save it all on your computer and use it as your screen background, or print it all out and stamp it on your wall !

Also note that every day, we'll provide you with a special variety of pie. The list is as follows :

Lamb, Harissa & Almond Sausage Rolls
Chicken Pie w. Eggplant & Mushrooms
Lamb, Chickpea & Eggplant Pie
Beef & Guiness Pie
Cottage Pie

So yummy.... Follow us on Twitter to keep yourself posted on what type of pie is available each day !

Other food specials, temporary discounts or upcoming events will also be promoted through Twitter, so be sure to subscribe to our tweets !

See y'all very soon in Kopi Cine ! :)

Our very first post !

2010-05-04T18:29:00.004+08:00

Dear all,

Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to read our brand-new Kopi Cine blog !

We decided to start this page to let y'all know more about Kopi Cine, its heritage location on Stewart Lane in George Town, its delicious snacks, desserts and drinks, and all the future events that will be taking place here.

We hope to create a space which foodies as well as heritage lovers and movie buffs - from Penang or anywhere else around the world - will enjoy reading and drooling on... Pictures will soon be posted, but in the meantime you can already take a quick peep at our Flickr feed below to visualize more of Kopi Cine's unique setting and interior design.

We would also like to thank all the media and bloggers that have been featuring Kopi Cine and Straits Collection since our opening early 2010. Feedback has been very positive so far, and we wish to thank y'all for your support. We'll certainly do our best to keep y'all coming back for more !

Finally - and this will be the conclusion of our very first post today - we are proud to be based in Penang, a World Cultural Heritage City which has so much to offer, both in terms of history-filled spots and culinary delights ! Like us, come and enjoy the best of Penang in Kopi Cine !

Cheers,

--
Kopi Cine @ Straits Collection
55 Stewart Lane
George Town, Penang

Kopi Cine and Straits Collection are part of Brand Bon Ton Sdn Bhd.

For more info : www.straitscollection.com.my