MTH 潮人访谈 / AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HYPES! - Tong Chee Wei @ Zinc Art Space & H5

这次的潮人访谈我们请来一位在大马艺术界举足轻重的人，他能令大家对于艺术改观，他也是一位值得大家尊重的人。他是Tong Chee Wei，Zinc Art Space的主理人，也是即将举办的Michael Lau x MINDstyle - Family Tradition艺术展的幕后策划人。马上看看他对现今艺术文化的一些观点及看法吧！

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE HYPES! Brings you peeps someone which we will all be grateful as he would change the way we see art and how we appreciate it. He is someone we should respect - Tong Chee Wei, founder of Zinc Art Space and organizer of Michael Lau x MINDstyle - Family Tradition Art Exhibition. Let’s hear his point of view towards the art scenes now!




MTH: 请告诉我们Zinc的由来及Zinc的概念。

Tong: Zinc是一个提供生活品味及创意的平台。我们希望可以提供一个空间给众多拥有创意及艺术天份的人发挥其源自于灵魂的创作，我们也希望去探究这些艺术家的未来。这些艺术将不会被限制于作画般简单，它也可以是雕刻品，物体，玩具以及音乐。

MTH: Zinc是怎样开始，什么令你有创办Zinc的念头?

Tong: 正当我们的时尚店铺H5开始营业后，我们经已将自己归纳为次文化的一群，我们与社会上较大群的所有人来得不同，我们希望可以将目前现有的潮流文化及其态度推广给更多的人认识。而创办Zinc就令我所说的种种元素全联合起来。

MTH: 对于成为Michael Lau第一次于马来西亚举办展览的举办单位有何感想?

Tong: 我们相当兴奋及期待，也非常感激我们的合作伙伴MINDstyle LIFEstyle把一切的不可能变为可能，不止我们感到兴奋，大马人也应该感到兴奋才对。

MTH: Michael Lau是怎么参与这次的展览，你们两人又怎么同意这次在马来西亚举办这个展览?

Tong: 我们于大概6个月前在新加坡遇见MINDstyle LIFEstyle的创办人，当时他正打算出席一个会议商讨合作的事宜。而我的生意伙伴就对他说”你不必去见任何人了，你的合作伙伴就是我们啊!”那个就是我们开始这一切的起点。

MTH: 为什么这次的展览被名为"Family Tradition"?

Tong: "Family Tradition"这个主题是根据The Godfather这套美国电影史上的经典电影而定名。到时出席这个展览你们就知道为什么了。哈哈…



MTH: 对于马来西亚的玩具及艺术行业有什么感想？会有多大的发展空间?

Tong: 我觉得这里的搪胶玩具公仔热潮及文化还是冷淡，收藏家也不多。就如我之前所说的，我们希望可以将这些文化及态度推广给更多的人认识，所以透过MINDstyle LIFEstyle及Michael Lau这个被全球一致认同的搪胶玩具公仔文化中的教父级人马，应能把这个热潮推至更高的水平。这是一个生活品味，会有多大的发展空间？答案是很大！我再说一遍，这是一个生活品味啊！

MTH: 这次的展览后，Zinc会有什么发展?

Tong: 大家将看到更多的普普艺术(Pop Art)，大家也将在2010年看到更多国际性的展览在Zinc举办。

MTH: 我们都知道你也是H5的主理人，其实跟Zinc有相连的关系吗？是什么令这两个单位连起来？

Tong: H5除了是一间售卖现今流行的时尚牌子外，即将上位的牌子也能在H5找到。两个单位都是同一阵线，而普普艺术(Pop Art)就为这两个单位串连在一起。

MTH: 可否讲讲Zinc与H5将来的计划？

Tong: 大家将看到更多顶尖的国际及本地艺术单位参与Zinc的企划。而H5的全新期间限定店铺将于明年一月分登场！

MTH: 最后，在我们结束这段访谈前，有什么想和MTH的读者们说呢？

Tong: 一定要支持More Than Hype这个全马唯一拥有中英文双语报导的网上潮流杂志!其团员真的是冲劲力十足。



MTH: Could you tell us about Zinc and what the concept is about?

Tong: Zinc is a space where life and creative ideas takes form. There are streams of creative mind out there and we would like to tap into what goes on within their soul. We would like to explore the unknown future with these talents. That creative talent is not only confined in paintings but art sculptures, art objects, art toys and music.

MTH: How did Zinc started, what & why did you start Zinc at the first place?

Tong: When our store H5 was rolled out, we defined ourselves as subculture group, which differentiates us from a larger culture we belong to and we would like to lend a voice to an existing pop culture movement out there. With Zinc, we are more complete and in sync.

MTH: How do you feel to be one of the organizers behind Michael Lau’s first exhibition in Malaysia?

Tong: We are definitely very excited about it and we are thankful to our partner, MINDstyle LIFEstyle for making it possible, not only for us but to Malaysian as well

MTH: How you got involved with Michael Lau and how did you both got into agreeing into doing this exhibition here in Malaysia?

Tong: We met the founder of MINDstyle LIFEstyle about 6 months ago and he was on his way to a meeting in Singapore. My partner said to him, "There is no need to meet. Your partner is right here!" That was how it all started!

MTH: This time exhibition theme is called "Family Tradition", why is it named so?

Tong: The theme "Family Tradition" is based on the movie The Godfather, which is considered a classic in the American movie history. Come to the exhibition and you will find out why.. :)



MTH: What do you think of the vinyl toy & art scene in Malaysia? Would it go any further?

Tong: I think the vinyl toy movement here is still very niche. There are pockets of collectors but very small. As I have mentioned, we want to lend a voice to the pop culture movement here and by working with MINDstyle LIFEstyle and Michael Lau, who is known as The Godfather of vinyl toy movement globally, we hope to raise the standard of art toy collectables here. It is a LIFESTYLE. Will the art scene go any further? The answer is YES! And I will say it again, it is a LIFESTYLE!

MTH: What direction will we see Zinc go after this exhibition?

Tong: You will see more of pop art and you will see more international shows lined up in 2010.

MTH: We have knowledge of your boutique, called H5. How is it related to Zinc & what makes them related?

Tong: H5, is a concept store where current labels and labels of the future is found there. They both stand on the same ground, where pop art in the center.

MTH: What would Zinc & H5 bring in the near future?

Tong: You will see more participation of creative mind at Zinc, both on international and on local level and for H5, we will see a new pop up store in January 2010!

MTH: Anything that you wish to tell our readers in More Than Hype before we end this interview?

Tong: Watch out for More Than Hype! The 1st and only Chinese/English online lifestyle mag in Malaysia!! The crew are astonishing!!



图片 / Image : JD
文字 / Text : Will / Abs