The Non Season — Art Meets Fashion At This Innovative Installation At Design Orchard

Orchard Road just got more exciting — and dare we say, not in the typical way you’d expect. Beyond its always-dazzling lights and reputation as a retail haven, creative collective Hyphen BB, together with over 20 Singapore-based artists and designers, have transformed the Design Orchard building into a welcome space that celebrates vibrant art amidst its retail offerings.

Happening now till 10 April 2022, ‘The Non Season‘ is a public art, fashion and lifestyle activation, set in the heart of Orchard Road, that recognises contemporary artists such as Marla Bendini, Mike Chang, and Robert Zhao. The initiative is supported by National Arts Council (NAC) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), as part of the Art Around the City campaign.

The Non-Season: the art installations

What we get to experience are visually-arresting and thought-provoking art installations that take over the familiar spaces of the building’s pillars, staircase, rooftop, shop floor, and window displays; a bunch of colourful tubemen dancing in the wind brings joy to passing pedestrians, for instance, while a butterfly-studded mirror holds touching meaning, meant to represent marginalised subcultures. The roster of artists includes Howie Kim, Divaagar, Aki Hassan, Urich Lau and Masuri Mazlan too, all similarly challenged to create art that’s inspired by the precinct’s rich history and legacy.

ARTWORK BY MARLA BENDINI (PHOTOGRAPHED BY ILA).

Tubemen Forest (Photo credit: Colossal Photos).

“The possibility of being provocative in the middle of the most glamorous shopping street in the country is delicious. We are excited to see artists responding to the histories, ecologies and publics of the area while subverting the context of a retail store”, said Hyphen BB, which is led by industry veterans May Leong, Becca D’Bus and Bobby Luo. As for why it’s titled as such, Leong shared with us during a tour of the space that it’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to how fashion’s seasonal calendar is irrelevant in always-tropical Singapore.

The activation is also a multi-disciplinary one, with workshops, panel discussions, live performances and heritage tours, which will take place throughout the duration of the initiative. These programmes include live performances by local band Tiramisu, tours by heritage blogger Jerome Lim, and Mynah Appreciation Society Tours, which pays homage to the misunderstood birds we often spot (or hear) along the Somerset stretch.

Here’s a look at the refreshed space at Design Orchard.

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'Tropique Exotique' by Divaagar, at L1 of the Design Orchard Retail Showcase — a reference to the bustling night life of Orchard Road, the installations bring back 60s cabaret through the glamorous use of feathers, velvet, and old-school stage props.

'Peace Patterns' by Soh Ee Shaun, along the exterior facade of Design Orchard — seen on the pillars lining the building, these digital water colour illustrations reimagine "the possibilities of pattern as a timeless, non-seasonal structure", while creating a sense of rhythm and energy, and tension between movement and stillness.

'Tropique Exotique' by Divaagar, at L1 of the Design Orchard Retail Showcase — a reference to the bustling night life of Orchard Road, the installations bring back 60s cabaret through the glamorous use of feathers, velvet, and old-school stage props.

'Tropique Exotique' by Divaagar, at L1 of the Design Orchard Retail Showcase — a reference to the bustling night life of Orchard Road, the installations bring back 60s cabaret through the glamorous use of feathers, velvet, and old-school stage props. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

'Peace Patterns' by Soh Ee Shaun, along the exterior facade of Design Orchard — seen on the pillars lining the building, these digital water colour illustrations reimagine "the possibilities of pattern as a timeless, non-seasonal structure", while creating a sense of rhythm and energy, and tension between movement and stillness.

The Non Season — entrance of the Design Orchard Retail Showcase.

'Tropique Exotique' by Divaagar, at L1 of the Design Orchard Retail Showcase — a reference to the bustling night life of Orchard Road, the installations bring back 60s cabaret through the glamorous use of feathers, velvet, and old-school stage props.

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities.

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities.

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

'Javan Mynah Appreciation Society' by Robert Zhao Ren Hui, at the external staircase — a homage to the famous, bustling mynah population at Orchard Road, Zhao welcomes a fictitious club that's inspired by an actual 1980s group of nature lovers called the Singapore Javan Mynah Society, who had led tours out to Orchard Road to witness the roosting of the birds.

'Javan Mynah Appreciation Society' by Robert Zhao Ren Hui, at the external staircase — a homage to the famous, bustling mynah population at Orchard Road, Zhao welcomes a fictitious club that's inspired by an actual 1980s group of nature lovers called the Singapore Javan Mynah Society, who had led tours out to Orchard Road to witness the roosting of the birds.

'Totem TV' by Urich Lau, at the L1 window display — made up of old-technology screens and cameras, this one's an ode to ideas of surveillance, biometrics, metadata, and the conscious and unconscious desire of looking at the self.

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

'Javan Mynah Appreciation Society' by Robert Zhao Ren Hui, at the external staircase — a homage to the famous, bustling mynah population at Orchard Road, Zhao welcomes a fictitious club that's inspired by an actual 1980s group of nature lovers called the Singapore Javan Mynah Society, who had led tours out to Orchard Road to witness the roosting of the birds. (Photo credit Colossal Photos)

'WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?' by Marla Bendini, at the L1 window display — the use of the butterfly motif, text and mirrors prompts us to reflect on the ephemeral and transformative sectors of society, including nomadic travellers and expatriates who frequent Orchard Road, as well as, according to the artist, "subcultures that don't get to participate in consumerism" such as transient workers.

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities.

One of the programmes of The Non Season, 'Dragged and Drawn'. Hosted by Becca D'Bus.participants are invited to sit down and draw a model posing in looks created by fashion luminaries from the Singapore scene. ​

One of the programmes of The Non Season, 'Dragged and Drawn'. Hosted by Becca D'Bus.participants are invited to sit down and draw a model posing in looks created by fashion luminaries from the Singapore scene. ​

'Tubemen Forest' by Kristal Melson, Howie Kim, Mojoko, Sheryo, at the Design Orchard rooftop — a forest of irreverent tubemen take over the rooftop of Design Orchard, decorated in colourful and fun that makes for the most photogenic opportunities. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

'WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?' by Marla Bendini, at the L1 window display — the use of the butterfly motif, text and mirrors prompts us to reflect on the ephemeral and transformative sectors of society, including nomadic travellers and expatriates who frequent Orchard Road, as well as, according to the artist, "subcultures that don't get to participate in consumerism" such as transient workers. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

'WHERE ELSE CAN WE GO?' by Marla Bendini, at the L1 window display — the use of the butterfly motif, text and mirrors prompts us to reflect on the ephemeral and transformative sectors of society, including nomadic travellers and expatriates who frequent Orchard Road, as well as, according to the artist, "subcultures that don't get to participate in consumerism" such as transient workers. (Photo credit: Colossal Photos)

The Non Season: the capsule collections

On top of these, The Non Season also features exclusive fashion and lifestyle collaborations, which sees Singapore-based artists pairing up with local brands and designers to offer a range of apparel, accessories and lifestyle products. These collaborations are made possible by Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFF), and feature homegrown brands such as The 1925 Brewing Co., Ans.ein, Cocoonese, Sabrina Goh, Singapore Memories and Wet Tee Designs, available  exclusively at Design Orchard.

Here are the collaborations:

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Sabrina Goh x Ashley Yeo — The Whale and Irises Collection. The local artist's original drawings adorn homegrown designer Goh's contemporary apparel, in a 10-piece collection that also includes a hat and a fabric bag.

Sabrina Goh x Ashley Yeo — The Whale and Irises Collection. The local artist's original drawings adorn homegrown designer Goh's contemporary apparel, in a 10-piece collection that also includes a hat and a fabric bag.

Sabrina Goh x Ashley Yeo — The Whale and Irises Collection. The local artist's original drawings adorn homegrown designer Goh's contemporary apparel, in a 10-piece collection that also includes a hat and a fabric bag.

Cocoonese x Victoria Hertel — a capsule collection of tote bags, sling bags, handbags and clutches showcasing an array of biomorphic shapes from a fusion of painting, digital imaging and textile printing.

Cocoonese x Victoria Hertel — a capsule collection of tote bags, sling bags, handbags and clutches showcasing an array of biomorphic shapes from a fusion of painting, digital imaging and textile printing.

Cocoonese x Victoria Hertel — a capsule collection of tote bags, sling bags, handbags and clutches showcasing an array of biomorphic shapes from a fusion of painting, digital imaging and textile printing.

ANS.EIN x Deborah Chan— the artist's painting Transition is turned into wearable art by combining it with lurik fabric, a traditional fabric made using hand-woven techniques.

ANS.EIN x Deborah Chan— the artist's painting Transition is turned into wearable art by combining it with lurik fabric, a traditional fabric made using hand-woven techniques.

ANS.EIN x Deborah Chan— the artist's painting Transition is turned into wearable art by combining it with lurik fabric, a traditional fabric made using hand-woven techniques.

The 1925 Brewery in collaboration with Nadia So, Clare Chong, Toh Bee Suan, Tian Yuan, Eudora Rusli, and Julia Tay — reimagined labels for their flavoured craft beer bottles, whilst interpreting the overarching theme of Singapore’s Dream Beyond COVID.

Wet Tee Shirt worked with four artists, Toh Bee Suan, Ben Puah, Daiso One, and Zhang Ming Yang for a t-shirt collection that features their signature art.

Wet Tee Shirt worked with four artists, Toh Bee Suan, Ben Puah, Daiso One, and Zhang Ming Yang for a t-shirt collection that features their signature art.

The Non Season
Date: 17 February – 10 April 2022, Monday – Sunday
Opening Hours: 11am to 9pm
Location: Design Orchard, 250 Orchard Road, Singapore 238905

More information at designorchard.sg.