Mrs Lee's dinosaur pouch: Other gems in Pathlight's online store
PUBLISHED ONAugust 04, 2016 10:30 AM
When Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife arived at the White House as part of Mr Lee's official visit to the United States, Mrs Lee was seen clutching a dinosaur-motif purse.
That purse caught the attention of many people, who were then pleasantly surprised to discover that it was designed by 19-year-old Seetoh Sheng Jie from the Pathlight School for autistic children in Singapore.
That $14.80 purse is being sold through the school's The Art Faculty store, although it is currently sold out - probably because of Mrs Lee's "star power" - but available for pre-order.
We looked at some other items on sale in The Art Faculty online store and picked out some gems we liked:
1. Dinosaur-motif leather coin pouch
The companion to "Mrs Lee's" denim purse, this pouch sports similar dinosaur motif - also by Seetoh, who creates his dinosaur illustrations and figurines without the help of reference books. Hand-made with genuine leather. $28.90.
2. Made of the same material as the purse sported by Mrs Lee, this one features a dragon motif by artist Tia. Tia "has a very innocent perspective of the animals she renders", said The Art Faculty, and the dragon looks happy here. Denim with nylon lining. $14.80.
3. Another white-motif-on-blue-denim pouch, this one features floral motifs by Jolie Lim. "Jolie's characters have a mischievous streak but they have an endearing quality that show her open personality," The Art Faculty writes. Denim with nylon lining. $14.80.
4. Leather coin pouch with ice cream and lollies
Another hand-made leather pouch, this one adorned with "sweet" illustrations by Grace Ong. "Her confectionery of cakes, ice cream and sweets are deliciously created in coloured pencils and ink." Hand-made with genuine leather. $28.90.
5. Leather travel pouch featuring Feather by Selena
This is a hand-made leather pouch that fits boarding passes and Singapore-sized passports. There's a wristlet chain on the inside that can be tucked away when not in use. Artist Selena Seow Yeh Yun "achieves her feathery details" with well-sharpened coloured pencils, said The Art Faculty. Hand-made with genuine leather. $48.00.
6. Business card case featuring the Helix Bridge by Khairul
The Art Faculty describes Khairul's precise line work as playing up on the contrast of light and shadow, which he keenly observes. His perspective of bridges and architectural forms is described as "mesmerizing". Stainless steel. $29.00.
7. Multi-purpose case with Giraffes
This canvas case features giraffes by artist Tay Jun-Yi. "Jun Yi engineers subtle nuances of social interactions among the animals he draws, although he himself rarely takes the initiative to partake in such social interactions," The Art Faculty writes. Canvas. $19.90.
8. Zebras T-Shirt by The Animal Project
The whimsical zebra on the T-shirt is by the aforementioned artist Tay Jun-Yi. The black-on-grey illustration doesn't "shout", but still draws your eyes. Also available is the orange-on-dark-grey T-shirt with giraffes by the same artist. 80 per cent cotton and 20 per cent polyester. $29.90 (Women's, also available for men and children).
The Art Faculty also sells stationery, art prints, autism and children's books, and gifts on its online store.
About The Art Faculty
The Art Faculty is an art gallery, training ground, studio, and "shopping venue with a cafe", as described in its website. "A platform to promote the special talents of people with autism and related challenges". It features artwork and merchandise of students and alumni of Pathlight School's Artist Development Programme, and artists earn royalties from the sales.
sinsh@sph.com.sg