Editor’s Letter

Usually this time of year we’d be enjoying a mid-year break and head for our favourite travel destinations. But with the pandemic still raging on, it’s wiser to stay put and prioritise getting vaccinated. Lest you think you’re stuck with nothing to do, our team has put together a summer guide to rejuvenate both body and soul and to keep you occupied indoors or out, with a great reading list from Lit Books, songs to listen to from our very own Tatler Spotify playlist, some summer glow-up tips from fitness champs Siu Lim and Mark Choo, plus styling advice to spruce up a wardrobe staple from celebrity stylist Azza Arif.

To add to your reading list, this issue is packed with great personality interviews from the arts, sports and entertainment industry starting with our cover star Bront Palarae. The award-winning actor is set to star in Edge of the World, which is based on a true story of the rise of the first Rajah of Sarawak, James Brooke, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. In the interview with Brian Cheong, Palarae shares among other things, how he got the part of the Pengiran Indera Mahkota, the ruler of Sarawak—funny story, actually—and how he is not bothered by the social media game.

Next, read up on Derek Tsang, a Hong Kong director who was recently nominated for best international feature at the Academy Awards for Better Days. Some may not realise that he’s the son of actor, director and producer Eric Tsang. Singapore’s Olympic butterfly champion Joseph Schooling is also profiled, as he talks about the prospect of striking gold again from his training base in Virginia, US. If you’re a fan of Bling

Empire, its star and producer Christine Chiu certainly has things to say about matters of representation while sharing some tips for having the best summer ever.

Fresh from landing her first Time magazine cover, artist Red Hongyi tells of her unending passion for art, the person whom she considers her biggest mentor, and the behind-the-scenes story of how she set the world on fire—figuratively, of course (rest assured, there is meaning and purpose to this project). We also had the honour of interviewing Johor princess Tunku Kamariah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah who recently unveiled her first-ever inaugural solo exhibition. Meanwhile, the enigmatic, under-theradar Korean artist Myonghi Kang is now being brought into the spotlight by the De Villepin family.

And for the grand finale, as June is the month for honouring fatherhood, check out the heart-warming tributes by some of our Tatler friends to the fathers in their lives.

I hope you enjoy this issue, and see you next month!