Being a one-stop destination seems like all the rave these days. Restaurants are no longer sticking to just whipping up amazing meals for their customers. They’re thinking bigger to provide a fuller dining experience; and at the same time, create an alternative avenue of revenue for themselves. From retail shop fronts that sell the same farm-to-table ingredients used in the establishments’ dishes to restaurant-by-day, pop-up club-by-night spots, consider us charmed. As for Casual French dining eatery Merci Marcel, brought to us by the same people behind O Comptoir and the now-defunct O Batignolles, they’re presenting their first ever art exhibition in their restaurant itself.
In a bid to support the arts scene, they’ve invited indie pop art illustrator and designer Billy Ma to showcase his work from May 8 to mid-June. Ma was born in Taiwan but grew up in Canada. As an adult, he’s never lived in Asia, so took it upon himself to move to Singapore with his wife for what he calls “a new life adventure”. He started Booda Brand, a limited edition print company after his first few images—which were born out of restlessness from his job as an art director in innovation nine years ago—drew considerable attention. His work is inspired by spirituality and contemporary social issues, and fuses western pop art aesthetics with eastern character.
The pieces that will be on display at Merci Marcel are part of his Sexy Sin City series, which reflect the otherwise provocative histories of familiar Singapore neighborhoods juxtaposed against seemingly unassuming and less charming modern structures.
Each artwork presented is limited edition and printed on archival paper with lithograph inks. They’re up for sale from $500, if you’re looking to expand your art collection. Have a gander below.
Merci Marcel x Billy Ma Exhibition runs from May 8 to mid-Jun at #01-68, 56 Eng Hoon St.
