Interview with Singaporean creative Aeropalmics

Aeropalmics, whose real name is Dawn Ang, has worked with big-name brands like Nike and Shake Shack. She is also the creative behind Tatler Gen.T’s first twin NFT collections, Phoenixes of Tomorrow and Friends of Phoenixes

With a personality as bright as her style, Dawn Ang is hard to miss. But it’s her art, which is just as vibrant, and her knack for making people smile that makes her stand out.

Known professionally as Aeropalmics, she has created art across various mediums—from large-than-life murals to a custom-designed art piece for a Louis Vuitton store in Singapore, the artist is colouring her way to success. In 2023, she collaborated with Tatler Gen.T to design our first NFT collection for new Gen.T honourees, Phoenixes of Tomorrow, and its twin collection, Friends of Phoenixes, which is available for sale on OpenSea to raise funds for charity.

We chat with Ang to find out more about her artistic journey and inspirations, as well as the thought process behind her designs for the NFTs.

What made you want to be an artist?

Dawn Ang (DA): I discovered a love for drawing, painting and crafts when I was very little. My parents were, and still are, very encouraging and supportive of learning. They gave me room to explore my creativity as long as I finished my homework.

I’m enamoured with the idea of creating—how a blank sheet of paper, wood or a slab of clay can become something else altogether with a few choice lines and some shaping. That, to me, is magic.

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How has growing up in Singapore shaped you and the opportunities you get as an artist?

DA: Singapore is a ball of strange contradictions.

It’s both a city and a country, so small that it takes only an hour and a half to drive from one end to the other. But it is populated by almost six million people. It’s one of the 10 richest countries in the world, but a portion of its residents is struggling to keep up.

We grew up recognising Malay as the national language, but everyone speaks English. We also speak Singlish, an English-based creole developed through the years with unique slang, grammar and syntax, borrowing from many different languages. We live in constant flux; there is an amazing amalgamation of cultures and food. We’re spoilt for choice!

Living here, for the most part, is incredibly safe and it is summer all year round. People are warm, kind and helpful. It’s an insane privilege to have grown up here.

I’m grateful every day for being able to express my craft and earn a living from it. I am afforded trust and opportunities by the kindest people—people with varied experiences and worldviews who have allowed me to learn and grow as a creative. Every experience, good and bad, has expanded my worldview. When I started, I took on a lot of other jobs to sustain the creative work. I feel like a lot of it was—and continues to be—a mix of luck and hard work. The process has been fun but arduous, and through it all, I’m learning so much about people and that is endlessly rewarding.

I want to make people smile when they make contact with my art. Spreading kindness, love and joy is the aim

- Dawn Ang -

How has your art evolved since you first started?

DA: I’ve always worked with many mediums but focused on pushing out grossly intricate pencil pieces for a period of time—pencil pieces will always bring me relaxation. There’s just something so simple, pure and tactile about it; we’ll always be able to find pencil and paper everywhere we go.

These days, I’m creating work with brighter colours and a lot more simplicity, as my current end goal is relatability. It’s less about how I feel making it and more about how I want others to feel. I want to make people smile when they make contact with my art. Spreading kindness, love and joy is the aim.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

DA: I draw inspiration from the everyday, from the people I surround myself with, from other creatives and from the ideas I consume. It could be architecture, fashion, systems, experiential design or dance. I appreciate everything. Many of the shapes and textures I draw exist in nature. I find it all fascinating. Life inspires me.

What do you think about when you’re creating?

DA: It depends on the nature of the project, whether it’s a commercial piece with a brief or a more personal project where I can express my own ideas. I enjoy writing and drawing ideas in a notebook or on my phone, and I usually construct a final product in my head before I execute it. The execution is usually a quick and precise process. I also usually put on a podcast when I work, as it helps me focus.

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What made you decide to take on our NFT project?

DA: I usually take on projects based on how enjoyable the process could be and how new it is to me. I enjoy working on projects I’ve never experienced before, alongside how kind the liaisons and team are. I’ve realised that I enjoy a challenge and that keeps my creative process sustainable. The constant learning and growth are essential parts of my journey.

Was the process of designing NFTs different from what you’ve done before?

DA: It wasn’t particularly different, even though I had never worked on an NFT of this nature before. The technical aspects of digital drawing were the same. There was a rough brief and we organised a few meetings to align on goals and possibilities. We were clear on how we needed to approach the end product, to make it cheerful, relatable and relevant. I had fun making them!

What is your interpretation of a phoenix?

DA: Corny as it sounds, I think it [represents the idea that] in life, we go through pain. Sometimes experiencing mistakes and setbacks, but it’s also how we roll with the punches and come out wiser. I can’t mash all the nuances of the hardship and growth people go through into one sentence, but for me, I believe in going about life with optimism and empathy.

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Why did you decide to use Asian food as the accessories of the Phoenixes, and which is your favourite?

DA: I’m a big foodie! Also, food unites people and creates deep connections, hence the food and snack drawings. My favourites are putu piring and satay!

Don’t be afraid to realign and change course if something isn’t working, even if you’ve invested time and money into it, even if it’s been years

- Dawn Ang -

What advice would you give to aspiring artists?

DA: Be kind to people and figure out a system that works for you. This includes finding a sustainable way of working to keep yourself from burning out. Think about branding in the media and figure out how strategies adopted by people who are successful in the industry can work for you. Keep your goal in mind, make plans and execute. Meet people and ask for help. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. Collaborate with friends and reach out to people you’re inspired by.

Don’t be afraid to realign and change course if something isn’t working, even if you’ve invested time and money into it, even if it’s been years. It’s never too late and it’s important to not be pulled into the sunk cost, especially when abandoning the previous trajectory can lead you to better opportunities. It takes time to make the decision because it’s painful and we grieve for the effort we’ve put in, but it’s sometimes necessary.

We have control over our decisions, even if some situations seem impossible at the moment. I’m no expert and am still trying to balance all of this out myself. We’re all a work in progress, so I hope this helps you even in the smallest way.

Meet more creative minds in the Arts on the Gen.T List 2023.

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Topics

Artist Singapore Creative Arts Design NFT

Tatler Asia

Behind the colours: Meet Aeropalmics, the Singaporean visual artist making people smile through her art