Men With Style: Ashley Chiam, Comme des Garçons Collector And Founder of Supper House
The art curator tells us about his creative inspirations, endeavours and more.
By Gracia Phang - published
Photo: Ashley Chiam; Tee Hao Wei Owen
Having dreamed of being an architect, Ashley Chiam’s career spanned visual merchandising and interior design prior to setting up Supper House, a unique space where he holds exhibitions, events and projects. Describing his own style as "quirky" and "questioning", the 40-year-old wears only Comme des Garçons, and looks up to Rei Kawakubo—for her ability to continuously innovate, reinvent and champion a rebel spirit through the years.
Ahead, Chiam shares with us some of his creative inspirations.
Building Art: The Life and Work of Frank Gehry
“Growing up, there was never one person whom I looked up to. I was always hopping from John Galliano, to Karl Lagerfeld, to Zaha Hadid, to Madonna and Frank Gehry. They were huge influences in my formative years, even now. I never understood why, but it fascinates me how multifaceted they are.”
Jean Paul Gaultier haute couture fall winter 2021. Photo: Showbit
“A favourite collaboration would be the inaugural collection that Sacai’s Chitose Abe did for Jean Paul Gaultier. It showed that nothing is really permanent, and time moves on. To be able to allow
someone into your archive, into your life, and give them the keys to the kingdom to reinterpret. Now, that is innovation.”
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Chiam in his most treasured piece. Photo: Ashley Chiam; Tee Hao Wei Owen
“My most prized possession is the most recent Comme des Garçons runway piece I acquired: look 18 from the spring/summer 2023 collection.
“I believe in the power of dressing: it helps me work better. I have the habit of playing dress up with my
fashion archives to take on a different persona, very much like the many hats I wear.”
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“teamLab’s digital works have the ability to ground me—I find peace and solace in them.”
2046 DVD,
$46.50,
Amazon
2046 DVD
“If my life were a movie, it’d be Wong Kar Wai’s 2046. Organised chaos, multiple story arcs in a nonchronological and illogical order, avant-garde fashion, and of course, a fantastic soundtrack.”
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Mount Fuji in autumn. Photo: 123rf
“Profoundly modern yet deeply rooted in tradition, Japan is where I’d love to live.”
While every creative direction is temporal, I have my pulse set on the refreshed Alaïa and Bottega Veneta. Not forgetting New York-based Singaporean Grace Ling as well.”