This week in PostMag: two of Asia’s biggest creatives talk work, play and fatherhood

Our writers and editors also explore how women are changing Hong Kong’s construction industry, Singapore’s bold rewilding efforts, and the unique Song dynasty history of Lantau Island

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Why you can trust SCMP

Artist Verdy has taken over PostMag’s cover this week with a custom design. It’s a collector’s edition in limited circulation – made even more fun by our printing a double cover

Cat Nelson

Published: 12:30pm, 14 Oct 2024

If you’d asked me a month ago, I’d never have imagined I’d be neck-deep in a pastel-hued ball pit at 1am. But that was me on Tuesday night.

At our editorial meetings, shopping mall pop-ups don’t often rank very high on the list of story ideas. Then again, not many are the brainchild of Verdy. The Japanese graphic artist has been a cult icon for years, but it feels like he’s only getting started on his path to world domination. McDonald’s, Nike, Blackpink … What’s next?

What’s next turned out to be PostMag. Verdy’s taken over our cover this week with a custom design. It’s a collector’s edition in limited circulation – and we’ve made it even more fun by printing a double cover so you don’t know what you’re going to get. The hunt is on.

So, is being in a ball pit in the early hours work or play? For me, the relationship between the two is an eternal question, as is how becoming a parent changes the way you see the world. Verdy and Hong Kong man-about-town Kevin Poon, who partnered with the artist on the Visty Playground pop-up, chat about this and more with Vanessa Lee.

Throughout childhood, I was very much a tomboy – dirty knees, a deep-seated distaste for dresses. I hated that girls were expected to like one thing and boys another (let’s not unpack this now). So Peta Tomlinson’s dive into the changing face of Hong Kong construction, where more women are joining the ranks of the male-dominated industry, fascinated me.

Also captivating is the rewilding of Singapore as the already-verdant city brings the jungle back into its urban core. Matteo Fagotto explores the transformation and how the city’s residents are adapting.