Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

Hi, I am Phoo Myet Che (Pearl) and I am an arts and cultural worker. I work full time at an arts logistics company and am occasionally an artist. In my free time, I love to cook with/for my friends and go on hikes in forested areas.

 

Are there certain themes, formats, or visual styles in art books that you’re instinctively drawn to?

I am instinctively attracted to any zines/art books with bright, bold colours, illustrations and playful formats of presentations. I love witty or humorous content but also appreciate informative ones that trace the history of things/topics. My collection largely consists of photography books and illustration zines. A portion of them are published by my creative artist friends.

 

Could you tell us a little more about the Burmese zines you have collected so far?

My journey into collecting Burmese zines began as a way to connect with and stay informed about Myanmar's vibrant art scene. Having immigrated to Singapore at a very young age, my understanding of the art scene back home was almost non-existent. My specific interest in collecting these zines originated from a curiosity about the photography community based in Myanmar. By immersing myself in various publications and art books from the country, I've been able to bridge that knowledge gap. My collection includes 3-Act magazines, which offer a window into Myanmar's film community, and several publications from the Myanmar Photo Archive, which feature archival photographs mostly from 80s, 90s Myanmar.

 

 

If your bookshelf had a personality, what would it be like?

It would be a maximalist hoarder who's always flouncing around in a bright batik top and a muted comfy htamein*. She's got this thing for collecting silly little trinkets and loves showing off her quirky finds from her travels. She is equal parts sentimental - always diving into old, nostalgic photographs and yearning for the past through history, music, and culture.

 

Have you ever regretted buying or not buying a book/zine?

I regret not getting this zine - Until Death Do Us Part / 双喜 by Thomas Sauvin in its earlier editions. I first laid my eyes upon it at the Singapore International Photography Festival but couldn't justify to my broke uni student self to pay that amount of money for a small cigarette box-sized photo book with images of people smoking at weddings. The other zine I regret not getting would be this Ugly Malaysiana zine that I fell in love with on my first browsing at Bandat Record Store in Kuching, Malaysia. I reached out to the artist shortly after but I have yet to make a trip down to Kuala Lumpur to procure the goods.

 

 

What’s a hidden gem in your collection?

Lately, I have been returning to this photo book called of solongs and ashes by Minn Ma Naing. It has been more than 5 years since I have been back in Myanmar due to travel restrictions and Minn Ma Naing's photographs encapsulate my yearnings for the place. The dark and moody photographs serve as omens for what is better or worse to come.

 

 

What is the earliest and latest publication you acquired?

The latest publications I acquired would be these zines published by @lonxon.proj from my recent trip to Saigon. They are all very kitschy and I love the use of riso colours in the zine – one of the zines in particular, Sến – takes you on a journey through Vietnamese kitschiness. It is so playful and vibrant and I love how different textures are incorporated into it!

 

 

What do you generally look for at an art book fair? Do you have tips for navigating the space/exhibitors/content?

I look forward to experiencing new publications by publishers I have not come across previously. I would usually do a couple of rounds at the fair – once to browse through everything and keep tabs on zines/art books I would like to add to my collection and the next few rounds to make a decision on whether to purchase it or not. It is better to visit the fair during off peak hours (avoid the peak times on the weekends so that you have more physical space to browse).

It is always more fun to go with friends who have a sense of your taste/style you gravitate towards. Our eyes shining bright in unison as we would recommend something to each other which becomes our next object of desire to acquire at the fair.

 

*Htamein is a traditional Burmese garment, a full-length, wrapped skirt worn by women in Myanmar.

Scans of books by Pearl | Images of Pearl by Pixie Tan

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I Am [  ] & These Are My Art Books is an interview series by Thing Books that explores what makes an art book matter through the shelves of those who collect, read, and live with them.