Flashing By

Introduce yourself!
I’m Amok, I’m 29 years old this year, and I’m an art handler. I handle artefacts, sculptures, paintings, and yeah a lot of artefacts ah.

That’s so interesting! How did you get into this line of work?
After my NS in 2008, I tried this out as a casual gig, but then they hired me as a permanent staff, so here I am now!

It’s fate then! Given how galleries tend to be quite intimidating spaces, have there been any unexpected mishaps in your years of work?
Yeah one thing is that art is expensive and it’s very precious and delicate, so we really have to be careful when we handle it lah. I’ll just say things have happened before, but… all okay lah (laughs).

I mean, as long as the artwork is intact at the end of the day, right? Since you’ve been in the industry for so long, what’s kept you in this line of work over the years?
When I see the paintings and artworks, I know which artists created them. We learn things all the time, and we have lots of practice and trainings sessions, which keeps things interesting.

Let’s talk a bit about your bike now. Is this your main mode of transport?
No, this one is actually for my weekends. I like to cycle along the park connectors to East Coast Park for picnics. It’s a hobby of mine. And actually this is a racing bike—got drop bar and all. I upgraded it and changed all of the parts myself. I like to play with the colours also.

Oh, cool! What’s your favourite part or feature of your bike?
My favourite part ah? I think all of it ah (laughs).

Well, this must be quite an expensive hobby!
So-called ah, so-called.

Would you let anyone ride your bike then?
I mean… it depends lah. Only when I’m there (laughs). If you wanna borrow it, nah, I would say no, no, no!

Understandable! Do you collect anything else or have any other hobbies?
I do collect shoes since I’m more into streetwear. I also collect Hot Wheels. You know the Mooneyes collection? But my collection is not so big ah. It’s just for fun, this one. I mean, I got bikes, then shoes, then Hot Wheels—it’s a lot of things you know (laughs)! Thinking about it, I would pass it down to my son the future ah.

Oh, you’re a dad! What’s one thing you hope for your kids or your family this year?
I just want to see my kids not grow lah. Because they’re growing too fast already! Now they’re 10, seven, and four years old.