[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_image=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Tay-Yuan-Song-Horror-Artist-Header.png” parallax=”on” width=”100%” min_height=”100px” custom_margin=”-12px||213px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-50px||194px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”8vw|1px|0|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(10,10,10,0.49)” transform_translate_linked=”off” min_height=”192px” custom_margin=”215px|auto|150px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”160px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”20px|48px|20px|48px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”50px” text_line_height=”1.2em” header_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”8px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px|||” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”29px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.3em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Inside Tay Yuan Song\u2019s Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy<\/b><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”12px|129px|1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”9px|0px|||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Boo! Meet the spooky kid who\u2019s been photographing all of your nightmare fuel. <\/span>Gabrielle Ang<\/b> goes on a haunt with him to find out.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-194px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-67px|auto||auto||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-56px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The writer channels the spirit of that <\/span>one infamous Emily Ratajowski photo<\/span><\/a>. Photo courtesy of Yuan Song.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.16″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”0px|48px” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_translate_linked_phone=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”1463px” custom_margin=”-136px||-385px|||” custom_padding=”90px|||||” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-53px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”27px|0|27px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_font_size=”15px” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-19px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BY <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”1320px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|-415px|16px|-616px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”|0px|1px|0px||” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Before I met Tay Yuan Song, 23, in person, I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect from the horror artist and full-time National Serviceman.<\/span><\/p>\n With haunting photographs that might make the faint-of-heart clutch their rosaries, <\/span>Yuan Song<\/span><\/a> seems like he would be a gloomy, vampiric dude skulking away in some abandoned castle, creeping out of his crypt at night to scare the innocent like the ghouls of lore. You\u2019d think aunties would hold their grocery bags and toddlers a bit tighter while shooting him dirty looks and loud <\/span>tsks<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n When he meets me outside an MRT station on a bright Saturday afternoon, Yuan Song reminds me of any other person who works in the production field. Slight in build but strong-looking, he\u2019s wearing a black t-shirt and jeans with a pair of boots, and is carrying a heavy plastic bag full of props on top of his camera gear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He\u2019s rather friendly and easy-going, and even offers my chaperoning friend advice on surviving National Service while geeking out about cameras and rock bands with us. We\u2019re waiting for his stylishly dressed street photographer friend, MoodyDen (<\/span>@moodyden<\/span><\/a>), to help out with the shoot.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMany people think I\u2019m a weirdo which is totally understandable, given the fact that I do scary horror shoots with dolls and stuff,\u201d says Yuan Song. \u201cBut behaving normally can be very different based on the perspectives that people have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/YUAN-SONG-PROFILE-IMAGES.jpg” alt=”smu-molestation-case-singapore-meme-misogyny” title_text=”YUAN-SONG-PROFILE-IMAGES” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-35px|||||” custom_padding=”34px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”30px||-5px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Yuan Song on the sets of various shoots. Pictured on the left are some of his models.\u00a0<\/span>On the right, you\u2019ll spot one of his dolls. Photo courtesy of Yuan Song.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-24px||-2px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||14px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If you look at <\/span>Yuan Song\u2019s Instagram page<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019ll find plenty of subjects that may remind you of Slipknot or Voldemort\u2019s Death Eaters: All of them are masked, and no, not in the socially responsible N95 way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI believe that masks frighten people not because of what they look like on the outside, but rather what\u2019s hiding beneath them. They strip the humanity of the subject to help me portray a strong idea,\u201d says Yuan Song. \u201cAs masks play a big part in my shoots, I have to choose the right mask to see which best matches the styling and concept to create a strange, yet beautiful look.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Yuan Song, 23″ job_title=”Horror Artist” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As masks play a big part in my shoots, I have to choose the right mask to see which best matches the styling and concept to create a strange, yet beautiful look.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-10px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n He\u2019s also been keeping vintage dolls ever since he started his hobby and incorporates them often in his photographs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cI use these dolls a lot for my shoots to further invoke fear and terror to humans with the unsettling vibes they give,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Frankly, it was terrifying seeing Yuan Song\u2019s valley of dolls on social media. As a childhood Barbie owner, I knew this wasn\u2019t the same as my younger self collecting wedding dress Barbie, Twelve Dancing Princesses <\/i>Barbie, or Mariposa <\/i>Barbie. I\u2019ve seen too many accounts of haunted dolls leaving morbid generational curses on unsuspecting owners and I wasn\u2019t going to be the next breakout star of the Annabelle <\/i>franchise.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Vintage-Baby-Doll.jpeg” alt=”rabak-tinder-profile-2-dating-apps-singapore” title_text=”Vintage-Baby-Doll” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Haunted, or haute couture? I can\u2019t tell what it is with this 1910s doll from Australia. Photo by Gabrielle Ang.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-4px||15px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n When Yuan Song casually unzips his bag to show me the doll we\u2019re using, I feel a lot more relieved. He doesn\u2019t seem extremely cautious or careful with it and no exorcism rituals were involved, for better or for worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis one\u2019s from Australia, and it\u2019s from the 1910s. So that means it\u2019s confirm haunted,\u201d he jokes wryly before passing me the doll. It\u2019s a little heavier than the average rubber baby doll, with a slightly eerie painted face.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPersonally, I feel that the vintage dolls that I\u2019ve collected are interesting, as they used to be some kid\u2019s favourite toy many years ago and now it\u2019s just there in my house sitting like a lifeless body all day long with frozen expressions. Every bit of decay, such as the cracks on their faces tells a story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Yuan Song, 23″ job_title=”Horror Artist” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Personally, I feel that the vintage dolls that I\u2019ve collected are interesting, as they used to be some kid\u2019s favourite toy many years ago and now it\u2019s just there in my house sitting like a lifeless body all day long with frozen expressions. Every bit of decay, such as the cracks on their faces tells a story. [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-6px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Feeling less terrified with a potentially haunted doll in my arm and a gold Guy Fawkes mask on, I\u2019m mostly concerned by the heavy, fragile headpiece sitting precariously in my hair that Yuan Song tirelessly readjusts every few minutes under the hot sun.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stepping into the famous <\/span>lalang<\/i> field frequented by wedding photographers in Singapore, I make Emily Ratajowski jokes and TikTok videos while posing for him.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s an interesting experience playing a character other than myself for a shoot. I\u2019m quite grateful that I\u2019m familiar with leg workouts because I was contorting myself into various shapes that might have been painful, and also extremely embarrassing if I looked like myself. \u201cStick your arm out! Give me something more dramatic,\u201d he\u2019d say, and I\u2019d just try my best while asking: \u201cLike this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n I went crazy on the shoot under his artistic direction because it definitely stripped any kind of vanity I might have had in a regular context. I don\u2019t know, do <\/span>hantus <\/span><\/i>think they look fat in photos like teenage girls do? Normally, I\u2019d feel slightly insecure with so much attention thrown onto me. This time, I chose to let loose with my new identity. It was easy to laugh around Yuan Song and MoodyDen, even with a creepy doll in my arms.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Tay-Yuan-Song-Haunted-Doll-scaled.jpg” alt=”why-women-are-not-funny-google-misogyny-humour” title_text=”Tay-Yuan-Song-Haunted-Doll” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-10px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cMake your hands a little more god-like. Put some fingers down. Yup, keep doing that!\u201d Photo courtesy of Yuan Song.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_3_font=”Montserrat|600||||||#e02b20|” header_3_text_align=”left” header_3_text_color=”#233956″ header_3_font_size=”24px” header_3_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”-20px||16px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n I was told to give my poses more elegance, to act in a god-like manner and was shown tirelessly curated reference photos, most of which were Renaissance paintings of royal and biblical women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOi, run faster la!\u201d I joke to the onlooking runners at Jurong Lake Gardens, who gawk at my more-than-unusual appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/YUAN-SONG-HORROR-IMAGES.jpg” alt=”why-women-are-not-funny-google-misogyny-humour” title_text=”YUAN-SONG-HORROR-IMAGES” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Yuan Song\u2019s friends, Isabelle (left) and MoodyDen (right), modelling for various shoots while holding his prized vintage dolls. Photo courtesy of Yuan Song.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-22px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A connoisseur of macabre taste, Yuan Song collects a melting pot of influences from heavy metal to pop-punk music. I slowly realised that MoodyDen and Yuan Song were part of the brood of millennial emos<\/span>, <\/span><\/i>as they joked about the line-up for the <\/span>When We Were Young Festiva<\/span><\/a>l and buying band tees and half-coloured skinny jeans from Peninsula Shopping Centre in its glory days. Prior to the pandemic, the two even clubbed at Emo Nite<\/span>, <\/span><\/i>a popular party formerly held at Kilo Lounge that played exclusively pop-punk and emo music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Inspired by TV shows such as <\/span>American Horror Story<\/span><\/i> and musicians with spooky aesthetics such as American shock rock band Marilyn Manson, there\u2019s something geeky about his disposition, even while he sought to create eerie works that would disturb the comfortable.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMusic significantly inspires my shoots. I grew up listening to heavy metal, pop-punk, post hard-core, metalcore, rap, et cetera! Bands like My Chemical Romance, Avenged Sevenfold, Alesana, The Devil Wears Prada\u2026 These artists make songs that produce a strong emotional response in me that really helps a lot with my creative process,\u201d muses Yuan Song enthusiastically, as he and MoodyDen recall gigs from Simple Plan and Bring Me The Horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n While listening to music serves as creative fuel, ultimately it is working on his craft that helps Yuan Song cope with the difficulties of everyday life, helping him express his emotions and thoughts in a productive manner that would be hard to replicate.<\/span><\/p>\n Like any Singaporean child growing up in the 2000s,\u00a0 it was impossible to evade local horror through one of local horror\u2019s most prominent influences: Russell Lee\u2019s <\/span>True Singapore Ghost Stories<\/span><\/i>. This first flirtation with Singapore\u2019s dark side threw a younger Yuan Song into an obsession with horror, including Singapore\u2019s own folklore.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/True-Singapore-Ghost-Stories.jpeg” alt=”fat-shaming-incel-yourgirlfriendiswhosia-dating-apps” title_text=”True-Singapore-Ghost-Stories” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-12px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/True-Singapore-Ghost-Stories-2.jpeg” alt=”fat-shaming-incel-yourgirlfriendiswhosia-dating-apps” title_text=”True-Singapore-Ghost-Stories-2″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-8px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”28px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Local horror books such as Russell Lee\u2019s <\/span>True Singapore Ghost Stories <\/span><\/i>inspired Yuan Song as a child. Photo taken from Angsana Books.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-21px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cI spent my primary school days during morning assembly\u2019s silent reading sessions with <\/span>True Singapore Ghost Stories<\/span><\/i>,\u201d says Yuan Song. \u201cThe author, Russell Lee, certainly inspired me when I was just a kid by invoking my curiosity through his ghost stories. Local folklore used to scare the hell out of me as a kid, but I now find myself adapting some local horror elements for my shoots. I also have a <\/span>bomoh<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>pontianak<\/span><\/i>-inspired video shoot that is underway this year too!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Armed with an arsenal of supposedly haunted dolls, horror masks and an abundance of influences, Yuan Song feels that creating horror photographs helps him express his concealed feelings in a way that he would be unable to convey verbally.<\/span><\/p>\n What started out as a means of self-expression slowly saw him invest in his work more seriously, even going to great lengths to find rare dolls and horror masks from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, some of which come at hefty prices amounting to thousands of dollars which he earns partially by serving the nation, while also selling prints of his work to international customers.<\/span><\/p>\n But to Yuan Song, it\u2019s more than worth it. \u201cMy art is like a medium for me to channel my suppressed thoughts and feelings. It guides me to look deep into my darkness to drag those monsters out and proudly exhibit them for people to see as art.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Yuan Song, 23″ job_title=”Horror Artist” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n My art is like a medium for me to channel my suppressed thoughts and feelings. It guides me to look deep into my darkness to drag those monsters out and proudly exhibit them for people to see as art.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-14px||-1px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n His friends and family have remained supportive as well. However, this wasn\u2019t the case with some people, when superstitious naysayers accused him of being a Satanist and devil-worshipper amongst other things.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs Singaporeans, many of us here are raised to be respectful towards superstitions,\u201d he says. \u201cEven in modern times, age-old superstitions still remain. Personally, I am very used to mean comments about my art such as saying that I have nothing better to do. My stance is that as long as I am respectful to the environment and people paying their respects there, I don\u2019t really see what\u2019s wrong with it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n While many might choose to disregard the beauty in the macabre out of fear, he has chosen to embrace its dark splendour wholeheartedly.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI understand that many people find cemeteries spooky and depressing. But to me, cemeteries are incredibly peaceful and beautiful. It is a special place designed in a way to make mourners feel more comfortable and relaxed when they visit their loved ones to pay their respects.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Clearly, Yuan Song is unbothered by the <\/span>Satanic Panic<\/a>. He and MoodyDen dryly poke fun at boomers that make unsolicited rude comments about their work and MoodyDen\u2019s unconventional, gothic fashion sense, and scoff at the judgemental behaviours of others.<\/span><\/p>\n By this point, I\u2019m impressed by their nonchalance towards the attempts made to discredit their talent. After all, staunch conformists are the greatest enemies of creativity, and it\u2019s not wrong to say that judgemental individuals might be too afraid to explore the darker side of human nature.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI just tell my models to wave every time someone\u2019s being weird,\u201d says Yuan Song.\u00a0 \u201cThese unnecessary opinions will just shackle my artistic potential, therefore I don\u2019t really care what others think of me. I really want to inspire more people to step out of their comfort zone to do what they really like instead of what society expects from them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_testimonial author=”- Yuan Song, 23″ job_title=”Horror Artist” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n These unnecessary opinions will just shackle my artistic potential, therefore I don\u2019t really care what others think of me. I really want to inspire more people to step out of their comfort zone to do what they really like instead of what society expects from them.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_testimonial][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Libre Caslon Text||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” custom_margin=”-16px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With a calm, \u201cdon\u2019t like then f*ck off\u201d attitude towards haters and sceptics, as well as a supportive group of friends and fellow creatives, Yuan Song\u2019s irreverence and undying penchant for darkness ensures that he continues to thrive. With a roster of subjects include dominatrixes from the local BDSM community to take part in <\/span>shibari<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Japanese erotic bondage) shoots and has even worked with a taxidermist to bring his shoots to life.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/YUAN-SONG-HORROR-DOMINATRIXES-SKULL.jpg” alt=”fat-shaming-incel-yourgirlfriendiswhosia-dating-apps” title_text=”YUAN-SONG-HORROR-DOMINATRIXES-SKULL” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”26px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Gabrielle Ang
Editor
Hype Issue #54<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
February 7, 2022<\/h5>\n
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