d+a | Issue 128 • 2023

78 design and architecture #128 design a celebration of local art The White Jacket studio is a tribute to local artists. The gallery not only offers artists a space to showcase their work; it is also where Ho Douven’s clients can familiarise themselves with local art. “Working in the hospitality design industry, we got to select artworks from all over the world, but I seldom came across Singaporean artists,” Ho Douven points out. “(With this newly renovated studio and office), I wanted to a create a platform for local artists to display their talent, to raise their profiles, and to give them a spot on the international art stage.” Some of the pieces have a special meaning for Ho Douven and her team and are expressions of their creative process and the studio’s location by the Singapore River. “David Chan’s Liminal , for example, is a key portrait in the office,” Ho Douven explains. “The image of the tiger embodies the concept of a muse and speaks of the narrative-driven approach we take to all our projects.” “ Earthing Way, a piece by Aeropalmics, is a mural that overlooks our main work area. It is an abstraction of the steps that line the river along Clarke Quay and it injects a meditative mood into the space,” she adds. Meanwhile, Zhang Fuming’s untitled piece struck a personal chord with Ho Douven. The woodblock print depicts an elderlyman lovingly tending to his ‘lucky’ bamboo, which, in the local context is considered a symbol of growth, success and wealth. The scene reminds Ho Douven of her late father, who loved plants and always had ‘lucky’ bamboo in his living room. It also draws parallels to the success of White Jacket and symbolises the care that Ho Douven continues to invest in the business. (Left) David Chan’s Liminal features an image of a tiger, which embodies the concept of a muse. (Right) Every part of the studio exudes comfort and sophistication.