Monkey Ghost at the Monkey Bar

After months of planning and deliberation, the night of my dinner in NY for Apichatpong arrived. Brian Phillps of Black Frame and I had talked and planned for some time, the idea coming up even before P'Joei won the Palme d'Or in May, we love his work and I still want to adopt a monkey ghost from Uncle Boonmee.

On Monday 27th September at the Monkey Bar in NYC, the host committee of Tilda Swinton, Marc Jacobs, Francesco Vezzoli, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Brian Phillips and myself invited our friends to celebrate Apichatpong Weerasethakul's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives at the Monkey Bar, on occasion of it winning the Palme D'Or and also premiering in the US for the first time at the 48th New York Film Festival (2 screenings to a packed out theatre and riveting q and a sessions).

Arriving at the Monkey Bar before our guests, I had really no idea what to expect but by the time I had floated around and met some guests, did a couple interviews of the director, his producer Simon Field, Lee (in from bkk that day) and Nanda Hampe, I was greeted by a sea of people of whom included Cindy Sherman, David Byrne, Shirin Neshat, Steven Klein, and Waris Ahluhwalia . .and of course our friends, old and new, and P'Joei's friends and supporters.

10 minutes before . . .

Brian, Terence Koh and Derek Blasberg

It was a wonderful night . . . the booths intimate, everyone excited to meet this director who's name they find hard to pronounce, thus, they settle on Joe and this movie about a man called Uncle Boonmee which takes them on a surreal journey where nothing is ordinary, yet at the same time, evokes a certain memory or a certain time. I was wedged between Waris and the floor so I could circulate. A lovely lady called Emily Holt from WWD, Diana Picasso who I had not seen in ages so we had quite a bit to catch up :) and the lovely Juliana from Black Frame. It was a rather nice little booth as P'Joei was to my left and Ambra Medda and her bf, Greta Gerwig and Derek Blasberg to my left. Some funny moments there . . . oh and I gave a little speech during dessert . . . nerve wrecking.

Julien Cahn, Polina Aranova, Lee Chatametikool and Patrick Li

Nanda and Derek

Diana Picasso and Me

Jeremy Dawson and Waris

Fashion, art, music and film converged to celebrate the success of P'Joei, his film, his vision . . . one man, with his unwavering vision, cheeky grin and subtle ways and sense of humour that brought everyone together that night. It is a start and I hope something that can be repeated . . .again and again and I very proud to have been part of this start and morever be able to share it with our friends who were present that night as well as friends and supporters who from behind the scenes, supported us. It was truly Bangkok in NY seeing as Singha, ERB, Boyy, Mahanakorn and 4x4 made it possible and of course, the help and love I had from our patrons Russell Willimanson and Nat Sarasas. And of course from Brian Phillips and Black Frame, our host committee particularly Francesco and Rirkrit for inviting their friends, and last but not least P'Joei for being their and Simon Field, Marcus Hu, and Lee for all that support.

Francesco Vezzoli and Me

P'Boyy, P'Joei and Jesse

P'Joei, a friend of P'Joei's, P'Rirkrit

P'Joei, Goh and Nook

On a grey rainy night, we said our good-byes as they ushered the last remaining people to the bar of the restaurant . . . what fun it was - I woke up to my little Uncle Boonmee Boyy goody bag and a message from P'Joei as he was on his way back to Bkk and felt happy, satisfied and hopeful that we will a ll meet again in NY, perhaps not for Uncle Boonmee but something else . . .

This was last Monday, I wanted to wait to see who would get to this before me and I am very happy that they did, style.com, wwd, wisekwai, WSJ . . . and more coming . . . totally icing on the cake and yes, the Monkey Ghost on the poster looked rather happy at the Monkey Bar that night.

Springtime in NY

I had the chance to return to the empire state as I was invited to speak at the Annual Asian IP Day at Fordham University.  The title of my talk was "Thailand:Geographical Indications and Traditional Knowledge: Not just Ong Bak, Silk and Rice" . . .basically how value can be derived from what seems to just very simple cliches and the law provides the platform to do so, the media and access to infromation and education catalysts to making that happen. . .So that was 3 intense days of IP (4 if you include the preparation) . . the rest of rather amazing, it was HOT in the Big Apple and my jet lag was not even funny but it was nice to spend time with my dad who was in NY as a speaker at fordham and also my professor David Llwelyn, one of the foremost IP thinkers in the world and of course my old friends . . .

Dad and I at Fordham

What is awesome about NYC is that the places change fast but the people do not, I always find myself in a sort of comfort zone when I am there. Needless to say had a chance to spend time with dear old friends, crashing first with Gabby Mejia in the East Vill then Polina Aronova in her apartment in LES. Great food, great times . . . . highlights were definitely the Bo Sssam pork banquet that Cecilia organised, Paul Sevigny's Kenmare with Tom Palmer which Paul kindly squeezed in a table and dessert for us,Boom Boom Room with Jeremy and Cafe Gitane at The Jane with Jeremy and Patrick, Barocco with Caroline and La Barra and Babycakes with Popo.  Without doubt it was also amazing to meet some new people and learn that the Asian influence in fashin in America is second to none (Asiancy).  Wish I could be there for Patrick Li's panel discussion at Columbia this week.   

A night out with Caroline

Boom Boom with Jeremy

Popo and hubby with their dog

LES thing

customise your own Nike Apparel

Tom Sachs and Pork

Cecilia, Sarah and I post pork-banquet having cereal ice cream at Milk

New York is burning

My last night in NY was a blast from the past, spending time with a childhood friend who now lives in NYC,Monique and Paulie was supposed to meet us too but he was too jetlagged.  Drinks at Kittichai where I got to catch up with one of my first patrons, Jean Marc then Monique, Saks and I then went along to La Barra to eat tacos and join Popo.  The next day was LA for me . . . en route to Coachella.

Lost Astronaut

A lost astronaut roams the streets of New York.. .the Lost Astronaut is artist Alicia Framis, making her New York debut with a performance-installation piece called "Lost Astronaut".  Alicia has dressed up as an astronaut and for 2 weeks, her daily activities are dictated by instructions from artists and authors including Mark Beasley,Shelley Jackson, Rita McBrade, John Menick amongst others. 

"Lost Astronaut [explores] the potentialities of living on the moon through the [activities of an] ironic, fictional… woman astronaut. Left on earth, like all women who were never part of the moon race, she settles into BaseCamp, [where] she will live for the 2 weeks of the biennial in a customized astronaut suit, among drawings and prototypes that aim to both parody and demand women’s presence on the moon."

It makes for an interesting and thought provoking project . . .the contrast and contradiction making fantastic imagery.  The concept behind actually questioning our roles. So my Astronauts in Africa are not too out of this world after all.  

Click here for more on the Lost Astronaut and her schedule.

NEW YORK - Empire State of Mind

Not since Sinatra's New York, New York has there really been truly an anthem for a city as Jay-z's and Alicia Key's Empire State of Mind . . .truly and anthem and an homage.  I do not live in NY nor am I from there but listenign to the song does give me goosebumps and makes me miss those frequent hops across the pond over the Big Apple when I was in London or Paris.  If it makes me feel like this and makes me yearn to go back - then I wonder what it does for New Yorkers.  Yes, "Let's hear it for NY" . . .what a chic video that highlights the spots and goes so perfectly with Jay Z's rhymes and and the drama and power of Alicia Key's voice.  

Jay-Z - "Empire State Of Mind" ft. Alicia Keys

Jay-Z | MySpace Video


Let's hear it for New York . . . 

Surfer girl x tribal goddess x Oscar

My absolute favourite looks from NY fashion week - I am inspired by the energy, the vibe and obviously the aesthetic - new and fresh and oh sooo cool.

Proenza Schouler's surfer chic is awesome - it's way cool yet makes you smile as you think back about those days skating, hanging out and surfing - more innocent days.  Redefined sexy cool surfer chic out on the town. 

tie-dyed rash vest with prom skirt (I love)

slinky long board-shorts, a tee and smoking

tie dyed little dress

Rodarte's highly charged primitivism - so sexy it hurts - raw yet oddly refined - a fantastical journey of tribal goddesses.  A mysterious, torn, lost and gothic world.  The clothes themselves genius - the love and care that has been put into tearing, shredding, burning - the very design.

  

Rodarte shredded gown

a slinky version

And of course there is Oscar de la Renta one of the godfathers of American fashion - a bit of the old school - the other end of the spectrum. That classic upper east side aesthetic which is his.  Yes, of course there are the gowns, but this look for me is what defines elgance - refined and so subtle. A modern classic? or a classic made modern?

Oscar's off the shoulder elegance

Marc Jacobs does it again . . . ss 10

Call me sado-masochist but I have been in Bkk and looking through style.com at the shows and the goings-on when normally I would be in NY.  Then again, it's another fashion week in that big circuit and seeing as I can see all the looks and get daily updates from various parties via blackberry messenger anyway - well it's not so bad. There is a time and place for everything I guess.  It has now come to an end and next stop is London - I must say though there are a few highlights for me from NY - some things that are so quintessentially American and unique that it can only be born on that side of the Atlantic.

One of those things is Marc Jacobs, yes, his sensibility is European in parts but the way that he reinvents and puts together is uniquely his and well, uniquely New-Yorkan (if that is a word).  Marc Jacob's Spring 2010 show provoked thought and curiousity.  For me it had hints of Thailand, especially Siam as portrayed in the King and I and at other moments felt some what Japananese, yet very Dior new look at the same time.  I adore the grown-up yet playful sensiblity executed in the most elegant way.  The skirts which hang almost like a sarong, the fabulous fanny packs that went with them, shoes like those in the reign of King Rama IV. I loved these three looks - rather genius really - love it or hate - the guy does something right . . .

Oh and let's not forget the styling and the intricate detail on those garments - a fantasy world which brings together so many elements.  I love.