#microinterview

Studio Munge, a world-class multidisciplinary design firm known for their diversity in design that is constantly evolving in the best of ways led by passionately creative Alessandro Munge. Having matured in the last few years their style is settling down a bit, the designs they are currently producing for the new Park Hyatt in LA will most certainly set new standards for this highly transformative and dynamic company.

By Alessandro Munge: Every day brings new sources, a word, an image, a scent. The world truly is a boundless source of inspiration if you are open to receiving that gift. I really enjoy working out early morning, it helps me relieve a lot of the day to day stress allowing for a much more receptive experience of that generous world. Emotions is the mortar we always build our projects with. We think beyond walls and floors and imagine the shared experience. We create an atmosphere that people yearn to return to because it hums with human connection – transforming time, deepening emotion and fueling interactions.

The people and their experience is always where it all starts: the guests, the chefs, the owners, etc. For example we're designing a fantastic hotel in Brooklyn NYC for which we created an entire narrative around a sophisticated writer taking a break from the city, his background, his relationship with the environment, his interest in brutalist furniture. It results in very authentic intimate interiors. Another hotel we’re working on in Brooklyn as well, has a remarkable restaurant space we’re designing for the iconic NoHo hospitality group. We based it on the chef’s Italian background and the childhood memories of Nona’s dining room. It will be a gorgeous, highly curated space reminiscent of the old continent yet very modern in its design execution.

Alessandro always admired architects with strong vision and sense of direction such as Tadao Ando and Frank Gehry whom Studio Munge will be working with for a very exciting collaborative multi-tower project in their hometown Toronto. Born to design, what Alessandro Munge will always apply in his work is Travel. He believes that only by doing so extensively, one can truly understand human behaviour and the emotions that link us all.

A big print of a sculpture in Höggmyndagarðinn taken by Bjorn Arnason graced his apartment ten years ago. This symbolic photograph, he took in an obscure angle from the back of the sculpture, manifests the start of his artistic journey to photography. His most influential mentor Mary Ellen Mark whom he had the privilege to work as an assistant in Iceland encouraged him to hone his minimal style and ambiguously introduce people. Her training became his alter ego when walking around taking pictures to get the perfect shot that is true to his distinct expression. Becoming a student for two years in her workshops in Oaxaca gave Bjorn the best exposure to the diverse world of photography.

By Bjorn: The environment that surrounds me is usually my inspiration, nature, manmade structures and people. When I go somewhere and plan on photographing I usually have some sort of a plan on what I am going to do but sometimes the surroundings take me to a completely different direction. I set my mind on going to some place like Reykjanes and just go there a few times and see where the surroundings take me, sometimes the nature is my focus and sometimes the buildings and the people in the small towns are more interesting. The technique I would apply more to my work and I already started doing is going closer up to people when I am shooting. Not like really up close but I am a shy person and I find it hard to obviously take a photo of a person but I am getting better at it.

I use natural light in most of my personal projects. I love dark and gloomy light. Like when its cloudy or foggy here in Iceland. I just love photographing nature in that light. You can see it very well in http://www.bjornarnason.com/untitled-iii Like the first pictures, I love how the clouds just hover over the top of the mountain. Like its a soft cotton just slightly stoking the edge of the mountain. Don't get me wrong, I love the sun just as much.

As for working with any kind of project, Bjorn visits the place numerous times to see all the angles of the place to generate the best composition. His advice to people of any age who are starting to build their photography skills would be to find their inner voice, find their personal style, keep on practicing and do not be afraid of making mistakes.

Renowned for his model management agency Upfront Models Singapore, Watson Tan brings compellingly fresh art pieces from new aspiring artists from around the globe. Art Front Gallery was established in 2010 where hidden talents are polished, nurtured and left to shine for people to treasure the art they bring to life. A lover of beauty, collecting art started as a personal obsession where an appreciation of the artist’s history, techniques and narrative brought about his curation of unconventional masterpieces. 

A fashion curator for 20 years, he understands artistry is beyond aesthetics. It is important to have continuity of visual admiration with personal emotions where his moods affect his interpretation of every piece in his gallery. Watson look at art and fashion based on times, what is current in the market and industry today. He is aware of the vital needs and demands of the international platform.

By Watson Tan: Most of my artwork have a personal touch, I showcase gallery pieces that I personally feel for. One artist that I am artistically connected is striving new Indonesian artist Iqi Qoror. His art portrays more of internal feelings of people and human beings, it is spoken very strongly in his artworks. For instance, his painting of two men looking at each other depicts crucial decisions in life, it offers determination to move forward even if you might slip and fall from the bananas on the floor. My belief is similar, that sometimes in life you have to make that decision even if you are uncertain if it’s the right one. Being an owner of an art gallery and a model management company, it’s very difficult to make pivotal decisions but this conviction guides me to the right path.

 I don’t like to be dictated by a specific country to look at or be inspired by when selecting artwork. What is important to me is the deep personalised feeling the delineation of the creation affects me. It’s very hard to say that because it’s from China it has to be more colourful, from Indonesia it has to be dark. It is a personal task for me to deliver to my audience, like a show exhibiting a personal curation. Art Front reflects a place where art is never dictated by society. Be dictated by what you feel and that can be a success story.

Art is a variety of style, textures and medium for every country it represents. Watson Tan is able to define the collector’s preference like how he chooses fashion models to suitably represent a brand. Singapore collectors like subtle outlines, Indonesians strong and deep silhouettes, Koreans look into the play of texture and different mediums and Chinese deep but more colourful style. He truly is a dexterous creative mind where fashion and art have no boundaries.

Fiddle & Hammer shaping furniture of lasting legacy by the skilfull hands of sculptor and violinist Jordan Waraksa. His first wood masterpiece was a Bellaphone that now belongs to a lucky couple in Illinois. It was his first wooden horn speaker creation and took the longest to build but rewarded him with a great sense of discovery. 

By Jordan: The inspiration for the hardware on The Coffman Credenza  came from my lifelong study of the string instruments I play, mainly violin.  They all involve tuning pegs to harness the instruments true resonate beauty.  They are an essential first step to making good music.  In teaching my violin students over the years, I've seen the relationship to the friction pegs evolve from complete befuddlement to absolute mastery and efficiency.  Over time you develop a tactile sensibility to them.  They fit ergonomically between finger and thumb at almost any angle, and slowly become a tool in which to keep it all in harmony.  I want my furniture to be like an instrument.  To have a lasting tactile relationship with its user. 

There is always so much to learn, it will take a lifetime.  Wood is endlessly fascinating, but I would love to pursue glass-blowing in the near future. My father instilled a great work ethic in me.  A life led in the creative pursuit is best empowered by practice and determination.  As a boy, he would motivate me by saying “just grit your teeth, and get it done.”

Handcrafted with the harmony of wood and seasoned tools, stellar pieces with modern grace are Fiddle & Hammer’s imprint. Traditional joinery of the best components inspired by music and flavorful industrial backdrop.