Fellow’s Tea with Dr. Jolynna Sinanan

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Tembusu College Fellow’s Tea

Dr. Jolynna Sinanan

6pm, Tuesday

28th February 2012

Student Common Lounge,

Level 1, Residential Block

Refreshments will be served.

Only 30 seats available!

Please register at dev-tembusu-nus.pantheonsite.io

Jolynna Sinanan is currently involved with “The Uses of Webcam”, a joint project between the Anthropology department of University College London and the School of Media and Communication at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). She has recently completed ethnographic-based fieldwork in Trinidad under the supervision of Professor Daniel Miller (who has previously written several books on digital media and material culture in Trinidad). The aim of the study is to provide the first in-depth, systematic research on webcams and to understand the extent of their use in transnational and other relationships. Specifically the study is investigating the varying experiences of using webcam, advantages and disadvantages of webcam for its users, the different kinds of relationships in which webcams are used (e.g. parent-child, grandparents-grandchildren, business and commercial) and the likely consequences of this technology for transnational and other relationships in the future.

Prior to this project, Jolynna had a short career in Melbourne as comedic perfomer in stand-up. Jolynna has recently completed a PhD in Development Studies at the University of Melbourne. Her thesis examined the nature of engagement with development by ‘beneficiaries’, drawing on different case studies that centred on microfinance and the trafficking of women in Cambodia.

Fellow’s Tea with Mr. Low Kee Hong

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Tembusu College Fellow’s Tea

Mr. Low Kee Hong

4pm, Thursday

16th February 2012

Master’s Common Lounge,

Level 3, Residential Block

Refreshments will be served.

Only 30 seats available!

Please register at dev-tembusu-nus.pantheonsite.io

Kee Hong is currently the General Manager of the Singapore Arts Festival. Over the last three decades, the Festival organized by the National Arts Council, has played a symbiotic and catalytic role in development of the artistic and cultural life of Singapore. The Festival saw its turning point in 2010 as it embarked on a new phase of development under the leadership of Kee Hong. Key changes and initiatives include turning this international arts platform into a Creation and People’s Festival and a year-long participation program, commune to sustain the Festival’s engagement with the public beyond individual shows staged during the Festival period.

Formerly, Kee Hong was the General Manager of the Singapore Biennale, developing it from its inception in 2006 to the largest international contemporary visual arts platform in Singapore.

Kee Hong is also an active scholar, holding a Masters in Sociology with on-going research interests in cultural policy, urban planning and architecture, performance studies, vernacular and contemporary culture and arts of Southeast Asia.

Fellow’s Tea with Mr. Koichiro Ikebuchi

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Tembusu College Fellow’s Tea

Mr. Koichiro Ikebuchi

6pm, Tuesday

14th February 2012

Common Lounge,

Level 1, Residential Block

Refreshments will be served. Only 30 seats available!

Please register at dev-tembusu-nus.pantheonsite.io

Born in Osaka, Koichiro Ikebuchi was constantly exposed to different cultures, architectures and lifestyles, both old and new, throughout his childhood. In 1983, Mr Ikebuchi was admitted to the Osaka Institute of Technology. Following his heart, Mr Ikebuchi joined an interior and furniture company after finishing school. However, he says, he was “very disappointed”.

To keep up his passion for design, he spent time attending seminars by famous architects and designers such as Aldo Rossi and Andrée Putman, and tried to participate in design competitions. Mr Ikebuchi clinched the First Prize for Design from Saporiti Italia, the Grand Prize for Diamonds International Awards organised by De Beers, and the Grand Prize for Jewellery Creative Contest in Japan.
In 1989, Mr Ikebuchi’s company offered him a transfer to their Singapore office. After several years of working in Singapore, Mr Ikebuchi returned to Japan in 1993. It was not long before Mr Ikebuchi returned to Singapore, this time in 1995, to start his own company. In 2004, Atelier Ikebuchi Pte Ltd was set up. Mr Ikebuchi won the President’s Design Award in 2009.

Mr Ikebuchi takes a historical view of the importance of design. He says, “Design is important because it is a part of civilisation. Babylonia was designed by 1800 BC. The chair has existed since 3000 BC.” In his perspective, “A good design is one that we can love and appreciate for a long time.”
His design philosophy, he says, lies in following his heart. “Feeling with one’s heart is more important than knowing with one’s brain.” He draws inspiration from “nature, people and unconscious memories”. Says Mr Ikebuchi, “Being hungry for good design is fundamental. If you are hungry, you will definitely do something.”. Among his influences are Chillida, Cy Twombly, Tapio Wirkkala, and many others. Mr Ikebuchi thinks that the driving force behind his success is, simply, a passion for design.

Therein lies a lesson for younger designers who look to him as a role model. Says Mr Ikebuchi, “Being hungry for good design is fundamental. If you are hungry, you will definitely do something, as you can’t wait to die.”

Fellow’s Tea with Mr. Yanyun Chen and Ms Sara Chong

2011-FT-Yanyun-Chen-Sara-Chong


Tembusu College Fellow’s Tea

Speakers: Yanyun Chen & Sara Chong

Date: Thursday, 20th October 2011

Venue: Master’s Common Lounge,

Level 3, Residential Block

Time: 4pm

Yanyun and Sara are a pair of nomadic, symbiotic creatures filled to the brim with drawings, ideas, inks, wood, beer, caffeine and shisha smoke, otherwise known as Stick and Balloon. They sort of look that way too.

Stick and Balloon take on all kinds of projects: illustrations, animation, trading card games, flash games, books, packaging design etc. etc. They really do stuff. Lots of stuff. Their clients include Propellerfish, Lucas Foods (Asia) Pte Ltd, and Anila Angin. They also collaborate with writers, artists, and storytellers.

A preview of their work will be featured during the tea.

Stick and Balloon is also on flavors.me, kickstarter.com and facebook.

Master’s Tea with Prof. Christopher Cullen

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Tembusu College Master’s Tea

Prof. Christopher Cullen

20th September 2012

3pm, Thursday

Master’s Common Lounge,

Level 3, Residential Block

Refreshments will be served.

Only 30 seats available!

Please sign up at dev-tembusu-nus.pantheonsite.io

Professor Cullen originally trained as an engineer, and holds an MA from Oxford in Engineering Science. He has a PhD in Classical Chinese from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is Honorary Professor of the History of East Asian Science, Technology and Medicine in the University of Cambridge, and is a Fellow of Darwin College. He is General Editor of the Science and Civilisation in China series, published by Cambridge University Press, and of the Needham Research Institute Studies Series, published by Routledge Curzon. Much of his recent research has been in the fields of pre-modern Chinese mathematics and astronomy.

More information at dev-tembusu-nus.pantheonsite.io