Lessons Learned As Young Creatives: Insights From Graduates Of Lasalle College Of The Arts
For our July 2024 edition, we gathered 13 recent Gen Z graduates from Singapore’s art schools, highly recommended by their institutions for their talent and promise. Here, students from the various programmes at Lasalle College of the Arts offer us a glimpse into what’s driving our creative future.
SADIQ SHAH, 26, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) FASHION MEDIA AND INDUSTRIES
His practice in his own words: “I work within the multidisciplinary world of fashion that unites different mediums of art – from photography and graphic design to communication. Fuelled by a passion for storytelling, I aim to create works that resonate deeply, unravelling layers of emotion and meaning.”
Introduce your final-year project: “By exploring the theme of purity in Islam, this project, Sanctity of Self, delves into the personal narratives of a diverse range of Muslim individuals through imagery and their stories, addressing topics such as modesty and sexuality. In doing so, it aims to shed light on the multifaceted practices of Islam in Singapore, and prompt dialogue and introspection.”
An image from Sanctity of Self, an introspective work by Sadiq Shah for his graduate submission, explores narratives of Muslims.
What he loves most about his discipline: “As cliche as it sounds, I love the transformative effect of fashion. I think we all can agree that wearing a special piece can instantly change one’s mood, posture and attitude.”
READ MORE: 7 Gen Zers On What Pursuing A Fine Arts Education Means Today
Why pursue the arts? “Not gonna lie – it stemmed partly from desperation because I was unable to get into the initial programme that I wanted. It felt like a natural fit though considering my deep enthusiasm for fashion from a young age.”
Sadiq Shah has been contemplating the theme of purity in Islam even before his time at Lasalle College of the Arts, as evidenced by the scribbles (pictured) he kept from his pre-university days.
How he balances school, life and his practice: “Taking it one step at a time and being present. I am not one who sets audacious goals so I try to just take things slow and give myself grace to falter occasionally.”
How he de-stresses: “I avoid consuming media that is fashion-related – plus, delicious food usually helps me to forget about all the stress.”
For his final-year project, Sadiq Shah used a knitted scarf created by young designer Lance Aeron and a shirt by designer Putri Adif.
What he does in his free time: “I’m a low-key gamer so I will always spare some time to play some games. Window shopping is also a fun pastime of mine.”
What he hopes to do after graduation: “To create works that are meaningful and leave a lasting impression, whether they be personal or commercial.”
Biggest challenge about being a young creative today: “Finding your place within a seemingly small yet crowded industry.”
RYNNA SHAZRINA, 24, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) FASHION DESIGN AND TEXTILES
Her practice in her own words: “As a fashion design student, I knew that I wanted to make a difference through designs that are sustainability-conscious after learning about the negative impact of textile waste on the environment. To me, that means creating unique, eco-friendly designs without compromising on aesthetics – sustainable fashion can be fun and creative too. And I hope to continue using recycled and upcycled materials in my works to raise awareness of sustainability practices, and to inspire others to support sustainable fashion too.”
The intricately decorated fabrics in Rynna Shazrina's final-year collection are made from pineapple leaf fibre.
Introduce your final-year project: “My final-year project is about celebrating nature. Not only does my collection feature textures, shapes and colours inspired by nature found in the tropics, but it is also crafted from recycled and upcycled fabrics such as pineapple leaf fibre, which have been deconstructed and reimagined. I’ve combined different textile manipulation techniques such as digital print, silk screen, and hand and digital embroidery to give the fabrics an interesting new dimension. Repurposing existing materials reduces the demand for new resources.... Ultimately this collection is meant to inspire contemporary sustainable fashion practices.”
READ MORE: 6 Environmental Activists Share Hacks And Tips For A More Conscious Wardrobe
What she loves most about her discipline: “That I get to explore and experiment with different crazy ideas and techniques – it is most exciting to see my experiments be transformed into actual products”
In addition to apparel, Rynna Shazrina created matching accessories for her graduate fashion collection.
Why pursue the arts? “I’ve always been passionate about expressing my creative side. At the start, many told me it would be hard to get a job, but I wanted to take on the challenge and pursue what I love with a positive mindset – and I am extremely grateful that I did. I’ve learnt and grown so much as a designer, and I love sharing about my work and collaborating with other creatives.”
How she balances school, life and her practice: “I keep organised using a daily, weekly and monthly planner that I update every week. It is the best way for me to keep track of and manage my workload, and know what tasks to prioritise. It also gives me a sense of relief as I get an overview of things that need to be done and events that I’ve to attend.”
How she de-stresses: “By watching horror and thriller movies”
What she does in her free time: “I love watching movies, especially of the horror and thriller genre because the suspense gives me such an adrenaline rush that refreshes me after a long day of work.”
What she hopes to achieve after graduation: “I hope to further expand my textile work not only within the fashion industry, but also in interior design and home decor. And I hope to grow my collection and have my own label one day.”
Biggest challenge about being a young creative today: “Creating something original and refreshing because there are so many existing works that are impactful and unique”
LUCAS TAN, 24, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) FINE ARTS
His practice in his own words: “I am a painter working with figurative works and various forms of visual storytelling. My art draws inspiration from muses and romance, focusing on the universal aspect of desire and the intricate dynamics of inter-human space and coexistence. Through my work, I aim to depict and examine human connections and shared experiences… While I don’t necessarily aim to create art specifically for social impact, perhaps my identity as a gay man has come to influence my work deeply. My pieces are blunt and often vulnerable, reflecting my personal experiences and emotions. Through my paintings, I hope to convey a sense of shared humanity and connection, allowing others who may feel similarly to see themselves in my work and feel understood.”
READ MORE: 12 Young Artists Share Why You Should See Their Works At Singapore Art Week
Introduce your final-year project: “Watch the Sunrise with Me delves into the intricacies of endearment through a series of paintings featuring two of my muses. Each painting distinctly celebrates the myriad facets of connection between two people – intimate moments, bittersweet partings, joyous reunions – and is meant to evoke a sense of nostalgia and hope, and invite viewers into these poignant vignettes.”
What he loves most about his discipline: “What I love most about painting is that it’s accessible and hopefully easy for everyone to understand. Plus, spending days or even weeks on a piece really lets me zone in and focus. It’s like nurturing and taking care of a baby.”
Lucas Tan's Watch the Sunrise with Me paintings for his graduate project tenderly evokes a sense of nostalgia and hope.
Why pursue the arts? “I've always had a passion for the arts, creating and making things since I was young. From crafting my own stories and drawing comics to performing on stage in primary school, it’s been a constant in my life. As I grew older, the idea of pursuing a career in the arts only became more solid in my mind. There’s nothing else I think I can excel at or love as much. All art forms – not just painting – is where my heart and soul truly belong.”
How he balances school, life and his practice: “Balancing life and practice is challenging and never perfect. When I’m painting, I spend almost everyday cooped up in the studio working and chilling, especially when deadlines are near. However, I always make sure to take a break, typically on weekends. A good rule of thumb is to work when my friends with normal day jobs are working too.”
How he de-stresses: “I typically unwind by hanging out with friends – even a casual dinner does the trick for me. Painting is not stressful at all to me. Instead I find it incredibly calming. However whenever I hit a mental block, that’s when I have to take a step back and indulge in other activities. Listening to music while embarking on long commutes often ignites my creativity and helps me break through these blocks.”
Lucas Tan's art, including "Watch the Sunrise with Me," heavily draws inspiration from his muses and romance.
What he does in his free time: “It’s probably the same as any other person: go out for dinner and drinks, meet new people, and have meaningful conversations. Spending time with my muse is also very important to me. These experiences are crucial for my creativity and I can’t create new art without them.”
What he hopes to achieve after graduation: “After graduation, I hope to continue doing what I love: create more paintings and share my journey with everyone as I navigate through life. Professionally, my goal is to participate in more exhibitions and it would be a dream come true to receive representation from galleries in the near future. I also aspire to see my work featured in art fairs such as Art SG in a few years. TLDR: I hope to become a full-time artist professionally.”
Biggest challenge about being a young creative today: “The hardest part about being an artist is the pressure to secure your finances, especially when you see your friends with stable jobs outside the arts. I do spend quite a bit of time working on my pieces and while I’m doing okay financially for now, I do worry about potentially struggling to make ends meet while trying to enjoy life. I guess the biggest challenge then would be finding a balance between the two.”
PONNI ASHOK, 20, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) FASHION DESIGN AND TEXTILES
Her practice in her own words: “I am a fashion and textile designer. My practice is often inspired by fashion identities, ecologies and heritage. The fluidity and multi-perspective nature of art and design is what draws me in the most. Thus, my work tends to gravitate towards contrasting and juxtaposing themes. My textiles explore layering, mixed media techniques and playful colour combinations.”
Introduce us to your final-year project: “My final year project is titled ODYSSEY. Inspired by what goes into the back of so many trucks in India, this collection is a satirical commentary on overconsumption and waste. I upcycled discarded saris to create pieces that can be draped onto the body in many ways not unlike a sari. Drawing references from the DIY attitude and anti-fashion aesthetic of the punk subculture and dadaist art movement, this collection offers interactive textiles that allow the wearer to experiment with assemblage. It also aims to be sustainable not only through my fabric choice, but also in my development of modular, versatile garments that wearers can keep for longer.”
Ponni Ashok's vibrant graduate collection is inspired by the decorations found on the backs of many trucks in India.
What she loves most about her discipline: “That everyone has to make a fashion choice every single day – even if they are just choosing to wear sweats at home, it’s still a choice they make. I love that something I design could bring the wearer comfort, joy or help them communicate something to the world.”
READ MORE: What We Saw At Lasalle’s 2024 Graduate Fashion Show
Why pursue the arts? “I’ve been interested in art since I was nine years old, always gravitating towards fashion sketches and illustrations. As I got older, I developed my skills by going to art and design classes alongside school. And when I decided to leave home for the first time to further this interest and study fashion design, I came to Singapore (she’s from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India) because I thought it would be the perfect place for me to do so with its safety and diverse culture.”
How she balances school, life and her practice: “I don’t think I have figured that out yet because I really neglected my social life when I was working on my final-year project. If at any point I thought I had found that balance, I was also sleep-deprived so I’ll let you know when I find out how to work sleep into the balance too.”
The fabrics used in Ponni Ashok's collection are sourced from old saris.
How she de-stresses: “By sleeping or going to the beach – there’s no in-between.”
What she does in her free time: “I like reading, swimming, going to the beach, hanging out with friends and exploring new cafes, and finding puppies and dogs to play with.”
What she hopes to achieve after graduation: “I hope to work with other like-minded creatives and develop my skills further. I would love to work with different brands and learn more about the fashion industry and its inner workings, and maybe even help these brands see how they can incorporate upcycling into their design process.”
Biggest challenge about being a young creative today: “I think it would be trying to make your work relevant and impactful, especially when so many horrid things are happening around the world. The answer to this, I feel, is digging deep and finding the true purpose of what we do, and being mindful about what we put out into the world: who it impacts and whether it impacts positively including in terms of sustainability.”
PHOTOGRAPHY ATHIRAH ANNISSA ART DIRECTION PANG JIA WEI HAIR & MAKEUP SARAH TAN
A version of this article first appeared in the July 2024 Overachievers Edition of FEMALE