Asia Hotel Art Fair 2013, Mandarin Oriental

An invitation to the Asia Hotel Art Fair (AHAF) press opening is hard to resist – a look at some interesting art and a snoop around the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, checking out various room types? Two of my favourite things in one, couldn't get better.

That said, I didn't expect much from this event, not having been before. Over the years I have come to love ARTHK and seen it improve and become more dynamic in terms of what's shown.

But I was wrong, the AHAF was not boring at all. Showcasing a range of galleries including some smaller independent Hong Kong galleries like Above Second and Voxfire, as well as an awesome range of contemporary Korean art and jewellery. I've interviewed quite a few Korean artists now, and they really are a creative bunch.

The AHAF has been held since 2008, in various hotels across Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul. While it's supposed to help visitors imagine their work at home, I saw property developers walking around trying to fill their new buildings for Tokyo and a number of VIPs.

But one thing that's undeniable is the price range. Not everything is too expensive for the average person. I nearly fell into buying a piece by Korean artists Park Tea-who. So it's worth visiting if you want to adorn your home – more affordable than ARTHK by far.

Korean artists 

Ahn Jun is a highly popular Korean artist, who takes photos of herself on the edge of buildings, including the one where she lives. Here, you can see the Shun Tak center in Sheung Wan.

Bae Chan-hyo is another popular Korean artist. His self-portraits remind me of Yinka Shonibare's self portraits like Dairy of a Victorian Dandy.

I was pleased to find a bit of Korean whimsy by way of illustration, care of Kim So-hee.

But this is the artist who stole my heart, through our shared love of birds. Park Tea-who represented by Nine Gallery on the 4th floor (room 423).

Korean jewellery was a real treat – inspiring, attractive and well-made. Check out room 612 and look here.

I want a dog too. But the ring by Shin Moonyoung will do and I presume it's less maintenance...

They have ceramics too...

And some interesting things to boot.

Hong Kong artists 

One of the reasons I wanted to go to the fair was to visit Hong Kong galleries like Above Second, who were representing Federico Fiorentini, who I love...

and Voxfire, who recently had an exhibition featuring my friends Danny Kostianos and Shann Larrson, who is featured in the photo below:

To see my tweets from this event, look here.

Driving in snow

***This blog entry is based on my experience and for guidance only. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of others. If you disagree with the below, please leave a comment.

Living in the warm and comfortable temperatures of Southeast Asia, we’re not used to driving in snow. But while some of us regularly visit the US and Europe, others of us might also visit colder Asian countries like Japan. And snow did fall in Hong Kong in 1975 (ok, only on the mountain tops, but still).

It’s useful to know how to handle snow, especially for those either out of practice or who are virgins to driving on freshly laid snow.

// These tips are for those driving normal, manual cars. If you have snow chains, then you shouldn’t have any major problems, but always watch out for other drivers who might be less practiced or confident at driving in snowy conditions. //

Before you drive

You should fully defrost your car, before setting out. With a scraper (which you should always keep in your car) remove as much of the snow as you can before driving – wind-blown snow coming from your vehicle creates a cloud of snow, which reduces visibility for those behind you. Use the defroster on your rear window to help along with the internal AC system.

Make sure that all of your windscreen wipers have mobility. Use de-icing spray if you need to. It’s also a good idea to make sure that all of your lights are in full working order and that your license plate is visible.

**It is always advisable to keep a warm blanket inside the car (not the boot) when driving in wintry conditions in case you become stranded.

**Prepare to take longer than usual to get to your destination and don’t rush.

Starting out

When driving in snow, you should never use first gear. To start out, use the clutch and gas pedal to hit the bite point in second gear.

Do not over-rev. This will cause your wheels to spin on the spot, either creating a slushy base or a smooth pad beneath your tyres. If you do get stuck like this (even after you’re started out) don’t hit the brakes hard or you might skid. Try to steer gently to fresher snow or a snow-free area of road. Allow the engine to naturally slow.

While driving

Remember that beneath the snow there can be a surface of ice.

**Black ice is another hazard. It is not usually visible, which is what makes it just so dangerous.

Never drive too fast and watch how the cars around you are behaving. This can be an early warning for icy patches. On top, you can never rely for the safety or skill of those around you.

In general, try to drive in the path of those in front of you if it doesn’t appear to have become icy. Note that as the sun goes down, those slushy patches easily become icy so take note of the weather, sun and time of day.

While slush can seem like a safer path, remember that it also hides ice. Driving on slush is also different to driving in simply wet conditions, so remain careful until you reach roads which are well-thawed and only wet.

Hills and slopes

It can be difficult to go up or down hill in snow. While you might assume that upwards would be awkward, downhill is actually more challenging especially if there are cars in front of you, because in slippery conditions, the last thing you should do is hit the brakes or push down the clutch.

When moving downhill, if you need to slow, allow the engine to naturally rev down by removing your foot from the gas. Steering over fresher snow (as long as it’s not too deep) will also help to give traction and create a friction to slow you. Move down to second gear if you can.

Should you think that a crash is possible, try to steer towards the curb (assuming you are not moving too fast and there are no pedestrians walking by or trees to hit head-on). If you are at a safe low speed and only skidding, the curb will help to slow you.

Braking

If you do need to brake in the snow, remember that you could skid. Press on the brake gently and allow the car to slow. Then, release the brake and reapply. Don’t hit the brakes with sudden force and don’t push down the clutch until you are nearing a stop because a sudden force on the brakes with the clutch down is more than likely to let you skid.

Skidding

If you do skid, particularly while braking, then remove your foot from the brakes. Check that you have not automatically pushed down the clutch. If possible, move to a lower gear – if engaging the clutch won’t make you skid more.

Don’t try to steer the car, this will encourage the wheels to spin on the spot, which is why you are skidding. As above, press on the brakes lightly and at short intervals to allow the car to slow.

Aftercare 

Once you have reached your destination, try to store the vehicle in a covered area or garage.

Remember that countries susceptible to ice and snow tend to grit roads, using salt among other things. Salt and water will quickly irritate the metals on the underside of your car, causing rust spots, so it’s advisable to regularly wash your car in a proper car wash during the winter months.

Travel safe and take care! 

We Just Clicked – online dating in Hong Kong

Dating is never easy, even for the best of us. In Hong Kong, it somehow seems harder and I don't think it's just because of the population mis-balance – we currently have the worst on record in Hong Kong, with official figures reporting only 876 men to every 1000 women.

Here's a story I wrote for SCMP.