Between 19 and 24 December, The Balvenie, will introduce The Makers Project at Pacific Place mall. This inaugural exhibition showcases artistic creations by three talented Southeast Asian artists, representing Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The exhibition which marks the launch of The Balvenie’s global campaign, is inspired by the craftsmen behind the Five Rare Crafts that The Balvenie distillery maintains in its whisky-making process.
THE BALVENIE Presents THE MAKERS PROJECT in Indonesia
The exhibition will bring guests on an art experience journey that will explore modern creativity, the thoughtful processes of making, and showcases how Makers pour their hearts into the arts. Craftsman paper art workshop will be available during the exhibition to deliver the craftsmanship messages to the audience. Also, the guests will explore behind the Five Rare Crafts to life – from the farmers of the homegrown barley fields, the malt men who manage the malting floors, the coppers at the cooperage, Malt Master Kelsey Mckechnie, who has spent close to 10 years honing her craft.
The collaboration with The Makers is built on a mutual dedication to the creative journey, along with the commitment of time and unwavering attention required to craft something exceptional. The Makers have harnessed their innate talents to produce pioneering works by infusing their passion, personality, and wholehearted dedication into everything they create while embodying The Balvenie’s true spirit of craftsmanship.
Two highlighted released collections from The Makers launch in Indonesia, evoking ‘Doublewood 12’ that was launched in 1993, using a process designed by our Honorary Ambassador and Malt Master David C. Stewart in 1982, now commonly known as wood finishing and ‘Caribbean Cask 14’ that has been matured in traditional oak whisky casks for 14 years, and then finished in casks that previously held Caribbean rum. Guests can also have the chance to taste The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 and The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 during the exhibition.
Meet The Makers:
1. Indonesia - Diela Maharanie is a self-taught artist and illustrator. Her works are mostly bright and colorful with vibrant patterns of super-saturated hues but also hint a mystery for the character. She studied economics and majored in audit but really loved to draw since she was a kid. She rose to popularity for her sticker designs for Instagram and has made murals at Central Park Mall in Jakarta for Instagram’s positivity campaign, Kind Comments.
2. Malaysia - Fern Chua has been challenging the industry by bringing a contemporary approach to this ancient art form. Using sponges, brushes, drops and eccentric vibrant color combinations, Fern has successfully taken the industry to a new height. Fern also believes in collective initiative and community. Her label has been supporting local artisans in the pursuit of fine craftsmanship. For certain collections, Fern has collaborated with Malaysian block printing makers to keep pushing the boundaries of batik.
3. Thailand - Phannapast Taychamaythakool is a Thai artist and illustrator who tells her personal stories through her drawings of animal characters and flowers. Her works always tell the stories of her personal life while using different personalities of animals to represent her feelings at the time. Phannapast is usually inspired by her surroundings. Her upbringing in a Thai-Chinese family has led her to always pass on the love of her culture into her work.
“At The Balvenie, our relentless pursuit of collaboration with kindred spirits who share our fervor for crafting the extraordinary is vividly exemplified through our partnership with various Makers throughout various countries. This thoughtfully curated exhibition offers our guests an opportunity to immerse themselves in our brand's world, forging a closer connection with The Balvenie Makers and our cherished five rare crafts. Our aspiration is for this experience not only to cultivate a newfound appreciation for whisky but to foster a genuine understanding of what it truly means to be 'made by heart.' Each of our Makers stands as an exceptional creator, artist, and artisan in their own right, each with a unique narrative to share. I'm genuinely excited to witness these narratives come to life throughout our year-long series of activities celebrating them and The Balvenie," enthuses Brett Bayly, Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie in The United States.
Experience The Makers Project pop-up exhibition at Pacific Place from 19 to 24 December 2023, where a special purchase of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12, The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14, or The Balvenie French Oak 16 between the period will include a craftsman paper art workshop and special prices. For further information regarding The Balvenie and the event, kindly visit http://bit.ly/TheMakersProject.