Who Says You've Got To Be A HypeBae To Head Down To Culture Cartel?
The biggest street culture event of the year is back.
Street culture is a huge and knotty thing with many niches and sub-cultures to it, but a good place to get started might be Culture Cartel (CC). The convention has always been a highlight on the calendar for its sprawling showcase of street culture's various facets – think tattooing, toys, music, sneakers and streetwear – the latter being something showcased at the booths as well as on the thousands of attendees.
On that note, CC has a reputation for drawing in some of the most stylish folks – previous editions have seen appearances by the likes of rapper Fariz Jabba and fashion influencer Mae Tan, the latter of whom staged a charity sale at the 2019 edition to clear out her wardrobe for a good cause.
Tattoo artist @0i0x0i0 will be one of over 20 practitioners doing live demonstrations at this year's Culture Cartel
After a one-year hiatus, the upcoming CC will take place in the form of a four-day festival from Dec 1 to Dec 4 at *Scape Singapore, where close to 200 local and international brands, creatives, designers and personalities will congregate to showcase their latest works.
The new location of *Scape Singapore was intentional, says Jeremy Tan, CC’s convention director. "We believe that (the location) will give (more people) the opportunity to discover and learn more about the exciting facets of street culture that exists on our shores and beyond," he says.
And with music being one of the core pillars of the convention, there will be a dedicated stage for some of the biggest hip-hop acts in the region as well as a strong line-up of DJs and independent party collectives, such as .Wavy, Kampong Boogie, O$P$, Paradise Youth Club, Strangeweatherallday and Yeti Out.
Ahead, we take a look at some of the brands, designers and artists worth keeping an eye out for at this year's Culture Cartel.
Purchase your tickets here. They're priced at $25 for a one-day pass (you get one raffle ticket), $69 for a full four-day pass (four raffle tickets), with a VIP pass going for $105 (this covers entry on all days, six raffle tickets, and access to the talks and VIP lounge area). Door tickets go for $30 and get you one raffle ticket.
Who: South Korean tattoo artist Jenny, who's better known by her moniker @HeeyaJenny on Instagram
Why: Tattoo art has steadily accrued a fervent fanbase – one that seems to grow bigger every year, especially among Gen Z audiences. Jenny is particularly popular for her colourful and intricate floral works of ink (just check out her Instagram @heeyajenny, where she has more than 300K followers) and she will be participating in CC for the first time. She's also one of the judges for the tattooing competition #CCTATTOOCON, which will take place during the convention.
That said, if her art doesn't gel with your aesthetic, there are more than 20 other tattoo artists who will be showcasing their work as well.
Who: Los Angeles-based artist Matt Gondek, who's known for his "deconstructive pop art" practice
Why: If you love cartoon icons like The Simpsons, Donald Duck and Pinocchio, be prepared for a wacky interpretation of these classic characters - Gondek's eye-popping works typically depict them as having facial features that are "exploded" (according to earlier interviews, he has an obsession with punk rock and the genre's anti-establishment MO is his way of deconstructing these cartoon icons). The American artist will be making an appearance at CC for the first time, and will be doing a live graffiti performance.
Who: Thai-Chinese multidisciplinary artist Parinya Sirisinsuk, who goes by the moniker Benzilla
Why: He's one of the earliest and most influential street artists in his native country of Thailand – most famously for his signature character, LOOK, a colourful three-eyed alien that embodies the struggles of detachment from urban life.
Who: Philippines-based toy and art collector, Big Boy Cheng (pictured)’s vinyl toy shop, Secret Fresh
Why: If you enjoy collecting one-of-a-kind toys, Secret Fresh is the name to go to in the Philippines, having been in business since 2007. While it initially catered to a niche market, Secret Fresh has now also become a venue (as well as a gallery!) for the coming together of various personalities in the cross-pollinating fields of graffiti, fashion, music, architecture, fine art and design.