Brian (extreme right) with the Creative SINergy team
Whimsical, weird and sometimes provocative questions are matched by the cheeky visuals that answer them. In one instance, Jitesh Patel, a London-based designer asks Singapore illustrator Random Sunday how energy will be harnessed from the environment, and is given a back-to-basics reply (see images below).
This visual question-and-answer is part of A6 /future/, the brainchild of Brian Tan and the team at Creative [SIN]ergy, an independent organisation that fosters interaction and collaboration among the creative industries in Singapore and the United Kingdom (UK).
According to Brian Tan, Event Coordinator and UK representative of Creative [SIN]ergy, previous projects had showcased different sectors of the creative industry. “We decided it would be more exciting if the project could have a collaborative aspect and not just simply be a showcase. Thus we decided that a collaboration between the East and West would be an interesting angle,” he told Singapore.
They roped in 22 illustrators from Singapore and the UK, such as Singapore’s Random Sunday, Eeshaun and Kuanth, and Britain’s Brian Grimwood, Sophie Kern and Jitesh Patel who shared their visions, questions and dreams of the future.
For Brian, the project was a way to generate an interesting dynamic in the interplay of personal styles, interpretation and diverse geographical and cultural influences. “In one of the more innovative concepts, the designers used stickers to communicate their ideas,” he said.
The use of the postcard paid homage to nostalgia and simplicity, as well as emphasise the communicative aspect of the project.
“The project is among one of the most unique of its kind,” said Brian, taking a medium as simple as a postcard and transforming it into a symbol of communication, creation and shared creative energy – the very elements that [SIN]energy embodies.
The project was well received, said Brian, but not without challenges. Held during the summer months – traditionally the vacation period in the UK, the coordination to ensure that postcards were mailed on time to each other was one hurdle. “We also had to deal with postal strikes here in the UK, which thankfully did not set back our plans too much,” he said.
The visual Q&As sometime offer visions of a weird and fantastical future
A6 /future/, which was supported by the Singapore International Foundation, The Central Illustration Agency and Tiger Beer, culminated in an exhibition at the Idea Generation Gallery in the UK during the London Design Festival held between 21–27 September. The 22 postcards were then auctioned to raise funds for Envision – an education charity in the UK that provides young people with the opportunity to make a difference – during a charity auction party.
