After its initial showing in April of 2010, Day Job? the photo exhibition returns for a second showing alongside this year’s blockbuster POW WOW Hawai’i 2012. The show’s concept is to lend a platform for amateur photographers within the creative realm to showcase their approach to visual communication. The ability for creativity to transcend mediums has long been the interest of the show’s curator, Hypebeast’s Managing Editor Eugene Kan. Several notables will be showcasing their works including Bobby Hundreds, Jarrett Reynolds, Frank Liew, Edward Chiu, Brandon Shigeta, Jon Warren, Jules Gayton, Rocky Xu, Ryan Lau and Nick Estrada among several local photographers. 1 of 1 framed prints will be sold with all proceeds benefiting POW WOW’s non-profit organization. A commemorative T-shirt in association with Stussy will also release at the exhibition which will officially launch at POW WOW Hawai’i 2012 on February 18 at 6 p.m.

Loft in Space
831 Queen St.
Honolulu, HI 96813
United States

Over the course of two days, artist, illustrator and curator Jasper Wong has transformed a storefront into a giant coloring book. Best known for his idiosyncratic sketches that would often include comical-like characters, rainbows and laser beams, Wong has painstakingly drawn a plethora of creatures spanning 60 feet. This project, titled “My Little Shop of Wonder,” is a tribute to the act of coloring and his love for color. The sketched walls have been an opportunity for children to freely apply various colors using available crayons, while the whole project itself reminded everyone, particularly adults about the “innate fun of picking up a tool and leaving a mark on a surface.”

Today marked the fourth and final day of POW WOW Hawai’i. Originally conceived and launched in part by Jasper Wong approximately one year ago in Hong Kong, the event made its second stop in Wong’s native Hawai’i. The event’s basis is to highlight the actual process behind creating art rather than only focusing on the final product. Having said that, over the last few days, the event which took place at Loft in Space was created with an open studio concept in mind. People were allowed to come off the street and watch artists work in a natural and organic environment.

The event incuded a mix of both local and international artists such as Meggs (Australia), Will Barras (England), Aaron De La Cruz (USA), 123klan (Canada), Jeff Hamada (Canada), Yue Wu (France), Suitman (USA/Hong Kong) and local Hawaiian personalities including Jasper Wong, Prime, Kamea Hadar and Ekundayo.

Photography: Hypebeast

Following a successful start in Hong Kong, the art and music event known as POW WOW will change venues to the sandy beaches of Hawaii. The event conceived in part by Jasper Wong will occupy his hometown of Honolulu starting Feb. 16th through the 19th. The event’s premise will include an open event for people to stop by to watch the likes of 123KLAN, Yue Wu, Meggs, Jeff Hamada and local artists Jesico Serano, Prime and Kamea Hadar all work their creative magic. An after party will also include music from resident Hypebeast blogger Jules Gayton among others. For more information, head over to the official website and blog.

Whenever a conversation with any out-of-town personality turns towards Hong Kong’s local creative community, I can’t help but have an air of pessimism towards the local cultural landscape. In a city driven by material wealth and rapid turn-over, it’s a theme that permeates all aspects of the city. The commercial aspect of everything and the inability to take a risk results in a narrow-sighted view that often forgoes the long-term. How and why is one I can’t really point my finger on. In some regards, the way Hong Kong is set-up with its exorbitant rent perhaps requires those to really exercise caution in taking risks, or perhaps another aspect is the inherent Chinese culture of trying to maximize gains in the smallest amount of time. Regardless, what is not important now are the developments (or lack thereforof) regarding the past.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a series of events thrown by a handful of close friends which operated under the moniker of POW WOW. The pretense was simple and to the point, bring together a series of global artists in one place, in hopes of building, growing and nurturing Hong Kong’s local creative scene. Away from the dollar signs and brand names that proliferate Hong Kong on so many levels was a genuine initiative to unite the community. With a two-day event including two art shows and a DJ session from VERBAL and YOON of AMBUSH, we spoke with some of the artists involved, including Jasper Wong (USA), Yue Wu (France), Will Barras (UK) and Pat Lee (Canada), over a short discussion.

Interview: Eugene Kan
Photography: Cavan Mok
Models: Ajing & Karen Wong, Musee Wu, Avery Yoo

To cap off the artistic side of things, the second day of the Hong Kong event POW WOW last week involved a gallery showing at GARAGEWORKS. A stone’s throw away from the Above Second gallery, the show included the likes of Britain’s Will Barras, Canadian illustrator Pat Lee and Singpore’s Jahan Lohh. The show was capped off by a live performance with the roster of aforementioned artists as well as YUE Wu and The Pink Amigo who had opened their show the night before. An after-party later took place at VOLAR which featured VERBAL and YOON of AMBUSH as the DJs of the evening.

Just recently, a mix creative minds from throughout the world congregated in Hong Kong for the launch of the inaugural art and musically-minded POW WOW affair. Headed by the minds over at Double Knot, things kicked off with the “WHAM BAM THANK YOU MA’AM!!!” exhibition at the newly opened Above Second gallery in the fledlging creative district of Sheung Wan. American-born, Hong Kong-based artist Jasper Wong came together with Chinese-born, Paris-based YUE Wu as they created a series of pieces exclusively for the show. Within the showing as well were some collaborative pieces which embodied the aesthetics of both artists. With a mostly commercial art scene dominating Hong Kong’s artistic landscape, we look forward to more events and initiatives from the creators of POW WOW.

Thursday, February 25th marks the beginning of a two-day art and music event in Hong Kong titled POW WOW. Organized by creative agency Double Knot, the event is a coming together of creative minds from around the world in hopes of furthering Hong Kong’s creative community. Within the POW WOW event are two separate art shows as well as a party on Friday night featuring VERBAL of AMBUSH-fame. In a preview of the Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am!!! Art Exhibition, artists Jasper Wong and Yue WU have spent the last week creating a series of new works for the show as well as contributing some collaborative pieces as well. The Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am!!! exhibition also marks the debut of the Above Second gallery.

On Friday, February 26th, GARAGEWORKS will play host to British artist Will Barras, Jahan Loh of Singapore/Taiwan and a further live exhibition courtesy of Yue WU. Toys from the GARAGEWORKS’ Made By Monsters archives will also be on display. Both events are in close proximity to each other in the Sheung Wan area while the after-party will take place at Lan Kwai Fong’s Volar. For details regarding times and address, please refer below.

POW WOW Part 1
February 25th, 2010
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am!!! Art Exhibition
Above Second Gallery
31 Eastern Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

POW WOW Part 2
February 26th, 2010
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
257 Des Veoux Road West, Kush G/F
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

POW WOW After Party
February 27th, 2010
12:00 am – 3:00 am
Volar
Basement 38-44, D’Agular Street
Central, Hong Kong

The always bold, never boring Jasper Wong joined forces with San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and Volume in a large-scale poster-project. The poster project developed into a city-wide campaign as Jasper Wong was given free-reign in terms of creativity and design. The final prodct features some signature styles on some archival photographs hoping to jump-start the creative community.

Known for his colorful and graphic interpretations of pop icons such as Mr. T in conjunction with ample amounts of cartoon inspiration, perennial Archive Magazine Top 200 Illustrator and artist Jasper Wong recently transfered his creativity onto the medium of an iPhone case with REBEL SCHOLAR. The case features an interesting transparent design which allows lights through the outlines of the characters. Each case comes package with a series of stickers which include El Lucha Gold, Unicorn Pirate Silver, Toasty Bandit Bruiser, Chairman Wow Blue, and Pitiful Fool Pink. Five separate designs are available now at REBELSCHOLAR.com.