Further Reading

In our third print issue, we intend to explore the subject of graphic design, the heart of our practice. Up until now, graphic design is still very much perceived as a ‘Western-centric’ discipline, with methods of work and perspectives that are directly derived largely from the West. This situation presents us with an imperativeness to seek more into the practice of graphic design outside of the current canon, specifically in the southern parts of Asia and its neighbouring countries, where we situate our practice. This includes its unique challenges to the region, the approaches that come from its advancement, the values that its practitioners hold on to, and the condition surrounding its cultural landscape.

Further Reading Print No.3 begins with a visual abstraction on the juxtaposition of internal and external environments which constitutes a unique way of seeing. In the following pages, history, heritage, and national identities are presented through a multitude of perspectives, each from different nations and cultural backgrounds—from Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, to Indonesia. On a more personal note, the issue also features explorations on one’s sexual identity through graphic design and accounts of living in vastly different countries in the form of a weather report. Diasporic experiences are examined through a selection of books, which is then continued by an analysis of the immigrant experience in cinema studies. In its first instalment, As Viewed By looks into graphic design as a discipline through various professional perspectives, highlighting its intersections and essence as a practice. Through this diverse form of observations, we aim to shed more light on the matters pertaining to how our practices and identities intersect and interact with each other.

To consume is perhaps as fundamental an act as it can be. Following crying, it is the first thing we do after birth. Eating and drinking are something we do everyday—sometimes mindfully, other times absent-mindedly—yet the ways in which the act enriches our lives go far beyond mere nourishment.

Serving Suggestion’s first issue begins with food as a medium of expression. In the last decades, we’ve seen how food becomes both more complex and nuanced, personal and social, a political subject and an everyday affair, embedded into memories both happy and sad, a representation of ideas from the past and ideas that are yet to come.

In the following pages, we are excited to present pieces that explore food in different contexts. Aftertaste highlights our personal connection with food through memories, told in six stories from contributors across the globe. Sharing Table translates tabletop conversations over dinner into a written form. In this issue, we are joined by Arin Sunaryo who shared about his deep appreciation of food, the connection between food and his art, and his favourite places to eat—as we have dinner in one of them. Elsewhere, ‘Fungal Encounters’ takes us foraging for mushrooms through urban areas and beyond.

The significance of food throughout different stages of life is explored in reference to Shakespeare’s As You Like It in ‘Rasa Fantasi (‘Don’t Cry Rice’) - Food, Performance, and the Future’, where each stage is related to different works of art. From Berlin, sōydivision penned a write-up on their artistic collaboration with Pei-Ying Lin, which incorporates viruses in culinary experiences.

‘What Shapes a Food Culture? A Case Study of Sundanese Cuisine’ delves into the changes of its titular food culture. In ‘It’s Not Rice But Better’, the subject of food sustainability is explored through alternatives to our staple food. Corners of the nation’s capital are visited through a list of things to taste, smell, and hear in Directory.

On the subject of drinks, ‘Drink It While It’s Hot’ examines the changing flavours of various coffees as their temperature drops. In Recipe, we present a comforting cocktail recipe you can make at home.

The dynamics of food is something that has always been of interest to us—it’s exciting, all-encompassing, and impactful. While we’re wading through the waters in our first issue, we hope you’ll continue to join us in this exploration.

While Southeast Asia often doesn't often take the centre stage in discussions related to type design, the region possesses diverse and complex writing systems shaped by the interconnected yet unique histories of its nations.

At present, the region's own distinct circumstances gives way to the emergence of vernacular typographic practices that are informed by tradition as much as the future. Further Reading Zine Series: The Southeast Asian Types No.1 is a part of the collective effort to bridge connections within the creative ecosystem in Southeast Asian countries, aimed to highlight an array of typography practices within the region, so that they can transcend their localities and flourish in a broader cultural sphere.