theROGUE - Issue #1

Autumn Winter 19/20 Isuue # 1

theROGUE curated dialogues

theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

theROGUE

credits its birth to Daisaku Ikeda, for being my lifelong mentor and pushing and encouraging me to the boundaries that limit our unfathomable expanse.

My father, mother and brother for their unrelenting support and unconditional love.

Sky, for supporting me mentally and emotionally to allow my creative juices to endlessly flow.

Robbyn Carter, for seeing and believing in me, and teaching me how to design a magazine.

Neha Jamani, for being my eternal best friend and collaborator in this journey together with theROGUE. This could not have happened without you.

Nitin Upadhaye and Kunal Soonderji for their incredible talent in photography and trusting in my vision.

Siddiq Kosh, for working odd hours of the day to deliver us with an array of graphical concepts and our website design.

Michelle and Valerie from M.A.C cosmetics for working in such seamless collaboration with our photoshoots.

Manami from Walking on Sunshine for her fantastic hairstyling and support.

Oyu from Hairdreams, for not just being a friend but an amazing hair stylist.

Zack from Mount Studio for not losing patience with our constant changes in schedule and supporting our photoshoots with impeccable service.

Anna from What Women Wear, for being so generous with her curated boutique and sponsoring our first fashion editorial.

Photo by Edwin Andrade on Unsplash

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

Tables of Contents The Editor’s Note

7.

The Curious Cook

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Muilti Sensory Eating; A Dialogue With Charles Michel

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Balls Of Goodness

24.

theROGUE in her

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Fashion Editorial

34.

The Chanting Photographer

42.

The Noble Trainer

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The Charming Boxer

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The Man We Love

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The Animated Professor

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We All Have Two Sides Some of us have five, some eight, some twelve, the more layers, the more the fun of discovery.

Credits : Photograher - Nitin Upadhye, Fashion Editor/ Stylist - Hen’a Yadav, Hair - Oyu from Hairdreams

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

No, I am Not Really An Editor Photography by Nitin Upadhaye and Article by Hen’a Yadav

No, I am not really an Editor however I call myself a daring creative. One who sees no boundaries in the different creative disciples that exist. “The choices we make in life in discerning what we ought to do are invariably limited by our perception of what we can do“ - Maria Mitchell, the pioneering 19th century astronomer. I resonate with her words as I am constantly challenging myself to develop my creative muscles by submerging myself into unchartered high frequency of creative territories. This new self-declared role as an editor is also part of this quest for my expansion to have a richer understanding of the world.

Being an active Buddhist and daily meditator for the past sixteen years of my life has made me extremely aware of my inner world.

I find myself embroiled in dynamic contemplation and observe my mind as if watching a movie. I notice that my role as a human being in this universe is often on my mind. Racism is often on my mind. Compassion is on my mind. Injustice. Love, Jazz music. Brownies. Dreams. Fashion. Hotels. My dog is often on my mind. And all these bits playing on my mind have culminated into the birth of theROGUE. In ‘The Act of Creation’ Arthur Koestler coins the term bisociation to illustrate the combinatorial nature of creativity. The reason it operates like a slot machine, relies on the mind’s pattern-recognition machinery, and de-

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mands the synthesis of raw material into ‘new’ ideas, theROGUE is a perfect example of the nature of creativity.

My other life as an Interior Design Director is vibrant, playful and calls for an acute aesthetic eye. Over the past fifteen years, with unwavering dedication to the hospitality industry, my work has evolved, matured and gone through an entire shift as I’ve been fortunate to have worked in different parts of the world, from Montreal to Medellin, Dubai to Hasselt, and more recently Hong Kong to Singapore with some incredible mentors along the path. My current mentor, Robbyn Carter tops the list as she saw me as I am.

The way the two roles seamlessly merge into one another is almost uncanny. Most times I feel as if they are not two but a single occupation as each one feeds the other. The single word that I feel forms the intersection of my two lives is ‘curation’. In design I curate and embellish the physical aspects of life; objects, forms, spaces and materials, in theROGUE I curate and embellish the spiritual aspects of life; courage, power, compassion and wisdom through meaningful, honest and heartfelt dialogues. They are two but, just one all-encompassing simulacrum of the creative yearn.

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

The Curious Cook - What is Health?

Photography by Mathew Wong and Article by Neha Jamani

“Tell me what kind of food you eat, and I will tell you what kind of man you are.” Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin What is Health?

The World Health Organization definition of health, formulated as part of its constitution in 1948, describes health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” However, when the same question is posed to the average individual, the majority would bring in some reference to diet. How is it that the absence of disease in the minds of people correlated to diet?

“Your bodies are temples” Corinthians 6:19-20. Travel east The Buddha was sharing comparable insights “keep the body in good health”. It is reasonable to assume that since the beginning of time, mankind has linked good food to good health.

How is diet defining health?

Eating a food or eliminating a group is somewhat defining us socially. The diet-mentality can be one of the most deleterious mindsets, and it often brackets opinions about food and wellness and puts them into a very two-dimensional view of good and bad, right and wrong. Food choices suddenly play out in a ‘emotional realm’ for people and often food and eating become about guilt and reward.

There’s a constant noise within the food and wellness industries, eat this not that under insidious claims around health promotion. Take, for example, the current movement towards plant-based meats, the health halo around it has made it perfectly acceptable to consume a heavily processed predominately soy-based food. And it’s the same cluster of health advocates that speak of the terrors of soy monoculture farming and losing biodiversity. So, it begs the question what is health and is there a diet to best promote health?

eat communicates to others our beliefs, culture and social background. It is what we bring from our worlds into ourselves, how we choose to eat is a symbolic statement, and it’s also subject to trends and cycles. Who hasn’t for a moment of time joined a dietary tribe of being a vegetarian, vegan, paleo, pescatarian, gluten-free, sugar free, raw vegan or ketogenic eater? Nibble for one hot minute before moving on to greener pastures.

Every persons eating style is unique and therefore their version of health is personal. There is no one size or a silver bullet diet for all, and everyone needs to find one fit into their lifestyle and stage in life. A diet or style of eating can serve a great framework however it needs to be personalized to practically integrate into one‘s life.

Health - a broader view The ancient Greeks understood that ‘good health’ extended beyond the physical body. Their concept of health was a balance between a person and the environment and the unity of soul and body. Similar concepts exist in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine. We too need to broaden our outlook and look towards a more multifaceted approach to health, to include longevity, quality of life, meaning, purpose and social connections rather than being in a continuous chase for a dress size or a number on the scales. There is no such thing as an ‘ideal’ or ‘perfect’ body weight, there is however a functional, sustainable, healthy, body weight that is ideal and appropriate ‘for you’.

To me good health equates to vitality, an energetic body, emotional balance, a clear strong mind, physical stamina, being able to navigate your day with grace. If this ‘all’ fits in a size 2 dress, then great. If it doesn’t that should be great too. But to trade in the above definition of ‘good health’ to make a size 2 dress ‘fit’- well you might need to reassess your definition of health.

The quest for the best diet

So, I leave you with the question what is your personal definition of Health?

Eating is an immensely intimate act and what and how we

My New Year wish to you all is GOOD HEALTH.

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

The Perfect Diet? What is it?

Finding an ideal style of eating may take a bit of trial and error and it’s also predicated by what your needs are at that moment, so it needs to be tweaked and adjusted from time to time. It should be easy to incorporate into your daily life and shouldn’t require too much willpower. Start small and build on.

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Makes you feel strong and vibrant You feel good mentally It is nutrient dense and rich in fresh ingredients Low in processed ingredients and ones you cannot pronounce.

Allows you to maintain a balanced blood sugar throughout the day Fits your activity levels Ensures you’re well hydrated Is sustainable in the long term

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

theROGUE Ingredient - Star Anise

*

General Description

(Illicium verum) has a mahogany-colored star shaped fruit and sometimes contains a shiny seed, but it has no particular culinary significance.

It has a strong sweet smell similar to anise.

Flavor group - Pungent Parts used - Fruit Indigenous to Southern China and Northern Vietnam. *

Purchase & Storage

Has 8 distinct rough, dark brown arched pods, and best purchased whole.

When stored in airtight packaging away from extremes of light, heat and humidity star anise will retain its flavor and fragrance for up to 3-5 years. *

Medicinal Properties

Traditional use and anecdotal evidence reveal that star anise may have sedative properties that could aid in calming nerves.

Some studies have shown that star anise and its extract/essential oils have antifungal abilities. *

Food Affinity

Beef, carrot, chilis, cinnamon, fig, ginger, honey, pear, soy sauce and white chocolate. *

Uses

Savory soups, meat dishes and stir-fries, but can also creatively be integrated into sweet dishes.

Photo by Mae Mu on Unsplash

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theROGUE

curated dialogues

Multi-Sensory Eating A Dialogue With Charles Michel Photographs by Charles and Dialogue with Neha Jamani

Classically trained French-Colombian chef Charles Michel came into the spotlight after being featured as a contestant in the Netflix television series The Final Table. He has worked in several Michelin starred restaurants in France and Italy before diving deep in into exploring the science behind taste and perception as the chef-in residency at Oxford University’s Research Laboratory. Having published over 12 papers in peer-reviewed journals exploring the exploring plating, visual aesthetics and flavor perception, the rogue chef and culinary designer has been renowned for throwing out many ideas we have about food, what we eat and how to eat it.

NJ: Charles, tell us about your journey from chef to multi-sensory science researcher.

CM: I went into cooking because I wanted to learn a universal language that would enable me to travel around the world.

My big passion was culture and learning about the diversity of humans and landscapes, and that’s what initially attracted me to food. My real passion was science, astrophysics fascinated me, and I wanted to be a physicist and work in renewable energies. Cooking is a life skill, so it felt good as a first profession that I wanted to learn, and I knew that it would be something that would allow me to travel in a professional capacity.

When I started off, I went deep into the rabbit hole of culinary arts diving into a military style training in traditional French cuisine. It was a wonderful experience where I learned the

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technique and the precision, and the organization required to run a restaurant.

I went on to explore a more feminine approach intentionally looking for a less aggressive pragmatic way of seeing food, looking at a more nurturing and connection to nature approach to cooking. I ended up working in a three Michelin star restaurant with one of the great ladies of gastronomy Nadia Santini and her family.

A couple of years in, I realized, I loved the craft of cooking but cooking at restaurants would not be my main occupation. Restaurants are a very stressful place and they confine you to a physical space. I returned to Colombia, where I had spent part of my childhood and started traveling the country, learning through food. I started working with artists in Bogota where I played with food as a medium to communicate ideas. After four years of playing and doing events and collaborations with other musicians and artists, Professor Charles Spence invited me to do research in experimental psychology at Oxford University, and that’s how I ended up as a science researcher.

Curiosity of experimentation brought me there, and for threeand-a-half years I was very much a rogue researcher because I wasn’t a PhD and I didn’t have an undergraduate degree, so I couldn’t apply to a PhD. but I published over a dozen papers on the topic and did some interesting work that had and still has impact both in the fields of experimental psychology and culinary arts.

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theROGUE

curated dialogues

Curated DialoguesFashion.Fitness.Food Fashion Fitness Food && Faces

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

“Olfaction is a dominant sense” NJ: As a child, what was your relationship with food? Is there a memory or a moment in your formative years that triggered your curiosity in this field?

sense, when you have a headache, you sense it, and not any of the five canonical senses so there must be something else and we need to think beyond just five.

CM: Everyone’s childhood is related to food. We are born shouting out for food since food is the most intrinsic need very much like breathing. In my personal childhood, I had some transformational moments food in connection to nature as a source of food. In France with my grandparents, my grandfather would grow tomatoes and I would go harvest them and give them to my grandmother who would chop them and turn them into a salad. I’d pick up eggs with my grandmother and she would transform them into an omelet and turn them into a souffle fromage.

NJ: You believe flavor is a perception rather than a sensation, and vision, audition, olfaction and touch play a role in creating this perception, tell us more about multi-sensory eating.

In Colombia all my family were from the countryside and had farming origins, so growing up I experiencing traditional cattle ranching from Colombia. During celebrations we would sacrifice a veal in the morning and cook it over the ember until it was ready in the afternoon. The community, the fires slowly roasting, stayed in my memory.

NJ: In a recent video you touch upon how we eat with our seven senses. Could you give our readers a little more insight on this idea?

CM: When we talk about sensory experience, we often think about the canonical senses (taste, sight, touch, smell, and hearing), the senses through which our body interface with reality. Aristotle was one of the early philosophers to create a hierarchy of the senses, sight and sounds being the higher senses and all the other senses being the lower; the more animal senses. The higher senses sight and hearing were the ones that you could relate to art and to beauty and the other ones were satisfying basic animal needs.

That school of though is over two thousand years old and today that paradigm feels outdated. There are several theories of us having over five senses, so when I mention seven senses, I relate it to the first person who triggered my curiosity regarding sensory perception was Chef Nadia Santini. She referred to the sixth sense as the sense of psychological wellness and the seventh sense being digestive wellness. That idea made me think because you feel and sense things in your belly but that is not touch, it’s not taste, smell, hearing, seeing, it’s something else, so there must be something over five senses. There are theories and research of thirty-three senses. Pain could be a

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CM: Eating food is the only human experience that involves all the senses. Vision sets expectations in terms of color, memories and shapes; and these in-turn inform and shape our perception of the actual sensing. Hearing plays a modulatory role in taste and smell; so certain sounds might enhance how sweet something is and vice versa certain sounds may impair your ability to taste.

Olfaction is another dominant sense; we might often think flavor is being sensed in our mouths. But it’s happening in our brains where the information is integrated from all the senses. Scientists believe olfaction is the dominant and important flavor sense, so when we taste a strawberry, we’re not tasting it rather predominantly smelling it.

Touch is the other sense that makes food real; Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan research suggests touch brings things to life, and it plays an important role. What we touch with our hands can also influence what we think we touch with our tongues. There is a need to make a connection which is the study of these connections across senses is of cross modal research.

Taste is a blind sense that only happens in our tongues through gustatory papillae, the little mushroom shaped protuberances that we have on our tongues. The number of papillae we have vary, some people have more than others. We all live in different taste worlds, there are the four basic ones sweet, salt, sour, bitter then the fifth one umami which is provoked by a molecule of monosodium glutamate, also known as MSG and it’s naturally present in many foods. However, there are more sensations that we are discovering, our tongues perceive fatty acids, Kokumi is another molecule that’s been discovered that increases mouthfeel and how long things linger in mouth.

The tongue is a chemical sensing organ, taste happens on our tongues, but if you close your nose and put something in your mouth, you’ll realize it tastes very different from when you let go of your nose, a very simple experiment to show the power of smell.

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theROGUE

curated dialogues

“There are theories and research of thirty-three senses” NJ: You describe your work as the intersection of science, art, community and entrepreneurship, tell us about the projects you are currently working on.

CM: I started as a chef, turned it into a kind of art which evolved into science, what has come of is an intersection of the food, art, science the result is a myriad of things. I feel it’s an interesting time and history of humans and the planet. In terms of entrepreneurship, I am running some ideas that could eventually become commercial products where the innovation and the intersection of food, art and science can offer solutions to better human lives and one of those is Michel / Fabian, a company where we are using science and art to design the cutlery of the future, a different technology to interact with food. We don’t quiet realize how important this technology is, but we put it in our mouths everyday just like a toothbrush and it plays a massive role in shaping our flavor perception.

Another exciting company I’m part of is designing space food for the international space station, and it involves and thinking about solutions for complex food systems that could provide solutions and bring more energy and nutrient efficient foods to market.

I also work as a community builder and one of my passions is getting people together. Being involved with Burning Man for five years now and other communities around the world that come together often around food and to discuss big issues and to inspire and to learn from each other and create experiences for personal and professional growth.

NJ: Unconscious eating is one of the major contributors to environmental degradation, and you published a #ConciousEating guide to raise awareness and support regenerative eating movement. Can you share more about the project and how it came about?

CM: On the celebration of Earth day I wanted to inspire people with a few easy ways to become better, softer, more conscious about the impact of what we eat on nature. For years I have been doing research, with the academics in Oxford on the future of food and on food systems and on consumption behavior. Bringing all these aspects together, I’ve harnessed a good insight

on why people choose the food they do and also on the other side of the coin, the impact of our food choices has on communities, the land and on nature.

Initially I drafted just six points saying “hey you should eat fewer animals and more plants but not falling into the extremities of food choices, just eat more plants”.

That was one point and like that there were a few more and people liked them, and I decided to together with my patrons we co-created this living document for six months until it was ready to be shared. We created a ten-point manifesto on the best wisdom and philosophy of eating that we could find and the ten most relevant points. It is still a living document, we published it in November 2019, and it’s being translated into ten languages by volunteers.

Version two will come out next year and I invite anyone to come and edit and add ideas. It’s a document for everyone because we all eat and if we care about our health and about health of our planet, we must learn, we must question, we must evolve the way we eat because it is the most intimate connection we have to nature.

NJ: What has been the most memorable experience in your career?

CM: Somewhere along the lines of fishing with friends, harvesting sea food and cooking it outdoors on a beach with good wine on a beautiful improvised hearth on the beach with stones and wood, making fire and just cooking. Cooking outdoors have been the most memorable experiences I’ve had.

Using food as a community building tool, to remind us of our human origins because we are forgetting what it means to be human especially in the last 100 years where technology has taken over our lives. I feel we are no longer human and have become a kind of cyborg connected to our technology devices, connected to machines almost all day. The memories that are more prominent are the ones where I feel the most human where I am the freest and connected to nature and the elements. The beauty of being in awe and being alive right now in this little corner of the universe.

“We all live in different taste worlds” Page 20

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“I was trying to see how I could inspire people with a few easy ways to become better, softer, more conscious about the impact of what we eat on nature.”

NJ: Lastly, what does the rogue in you have to say to your readers?

CM: On a pragmatic level, learn at least two professions. Studying and getting a university degree and diplomas only give you a paper to say you are qualified, but it doesn’t give you experience. I think we all need to go beyond one profession, we need to go beyond academia and question everything and learn, become expert in at least two professions to innovate and bring something new in the world. For me it has been psychology, food, and now its community building and facilitation and I love it.

I also feel there is an urgent need for us to be aware of the responsibility and opportunity that we have in this century as creatures. Everybody is a creature and all of us and we have a massive responsibility to be conscious creatures and we need to play our part in the way we consume in this planet. We need to think of ourselves as a living legacy because we are the ancestors of the future and future generations will look back at us and will question a lot of things we were doing. We are living in the most crucial time for this planet, for human civilization and our action matters a lot.

So, I invite you and everyone to leave out a positive mark and leave as little trace as possible when it comes to footprint. But if there is a trace to be left, then let it be a beautiful trace.

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

Balls Of Goodness Photographs by Dominique and Dialogue with Hen’a Yadav

Dominique Rauber is the woman behind the brand Nuture Your Happiness. She is a Nutritionist, living in Singapore originally from Switzerland with an Austrian nationality. A fitness enthusiast and a passionate baker with a love for healthy food, we chat with her about her journey.

HY: Tell us a bit about yourself and your journey towards creating your brand Nurture Your Happiness.

DR: Food has played a significant role in my life since I can think back. In high school, I fell victim to anorexia and food was my enemy. I split every bite into calories and the less I ate the prouder I was. When I went on an exchange semester in Scotland, I lost part of this control and quickly the number on the scale increased maybe the Scottish food played its part too just saying. When I was back home, I felt miserable. Diets became my new best friends, and I tried everything from Atkins, metabolic balance, Montignac, detox weeks and any low-carb diet I could find. During all those efforts to lose weight, I lost my joy of life and everything in my head was just circling around food and exercise. I wondered how I can squeeze in another gym session before meeting up with my friends. And even when I managed to drop some weight, I wasn’t happier.

However, only once I started my education in nutrition, I finally started to understand the role food has. Food Is here to fuel our bodies, to give us energy so we can enjoy our life and Nurture our Happiness! This is how my company came to life. I want people to see food as something joyful and something that makes us happy rather than miserable or guilty. There are also some recent studies that show that our brain is connected to our gut and that the way we eat affects our mood. So, by teaching people how to enjoy food and pick the right ingredients, I want them to feel healthier and happier.

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HY: One of our favorite picks from your selection at theROGUE are as we call the Balls of Goodness. Delicious little bites, what is the concept behind them?

DB: When talking to my clients most of them struggle with a good mid-afternoon pick me up or pre-workout snack.

My balls are the perfect match for both. They will fuel your workout but also give you the energy kick mid-afternoon to finish that project you are working on. Their size is perfect to go with your coffee/tea and even little ones like them.

They contain less than 5 ingredients and are handmade with lots of love. Not too sweet, not too chewy, just perfect!

HY: How many varieties do you make?

DB: At the moment I have 4 different types: - Choco Bomb - Cocobello - Lime Coconut - Black Orange HY: Where do you source your ingredients?

DB: All my ingredients comes from a Singaporean certified organic raw foods importer.

HY: There are always little discoveries that we learn from when we venture out on our own, would you like to give some advice to the future entrepreneurs?

DB: Don’t try to be perfect before you start, just start and improve along the way. Being an entrepreneur will open up so many doors, you just have to step through yours first.

You will have many ups but also many downs the important thing is to believe in what you do and to continue with a lot of passion.

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

“I fell victim to anorexia and food was my enemy. I split every bite into calories and the less I ate the prouder I was.�

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Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

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theROGUE

curated dialogues

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

The Rogue In Her

Photography by Kunal Soonderji and Dialogue by Asha Soonderji

In conversation with Ketaki Jani; the first Aelopecian model in India. She has won numerous awards and beauty pageants in India and worldwide. Mrs. Inspirational in Mrs. India worldwide, Mrs. Universe Women of Confidence 2018 in Mrs. Universe in Cebu, Philipines, and Inspirational Women of The Year 2019 Award - The V Award 2019 for exceptional contribution in modeling are a few to name. As we begin our dialogue with her; she explains

In olden times when women became widows, they had to shave off their hair so that if she was young, she would not attract other men in the family. We regard hair to be the crowning glory of a woman. The ritual tonsure practice has reduced in recent years; however, it stills exist in some rural communities. The life of these women often come to a standstill and they resort to covering their shaved heads with wigs, scarves or caps as they are often shy away from being out in public.

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

“Every day my tattoo artist used to work on me until my threshold for pain lasted. After fifteen minutes my whole body used to pulsate with pain and that was his cue to stop. Eventually I got used to the pain, and he completed the whole head.”

AS: How did you react when you were first diagnosed with Alopecia?

KJ: When I first felt the small patch in my head, I did not realize the seriousness of this illness as many people get these patches and get cured. I thought I too will be cured, and this will pass. However, despite the treatment my patch did not grow any hair, but the patch started to grow and cover my whole head. I became completely bald! The doctors diagnosed me with universal alopecia, an autoimmune disorder in which all the hair follicles all over the body die.

AS: How old were you when you were diagnosed?

KJ: I was 40.

AS: How did your family react to the diagnoses?

KJ: My husband simply asked me to wear a wig and get on with life. This didn’t sit with me; I didn’t want to live a false life. My daughter supported and encouraged me to be open and true in the face of a conservative society. So, I decided and found courage to live for myself.

my bald head and realized this was an empty canvas. The artist refused to tattoo my head as he felt it was risky and too painful for me to bear. He thought I wanted to kill myself, but I was adamant and convinced him to tattoo my personal design.

AS: Could you share a little about the experience, what were your thoughts and was it painful?

KJ: It took 10 days to complete my full head. Every day my tattoo artist used to work on me until my threshold for pain lasted. After fifteen minutes my whole body used to pulsate with pain and that was his cue to stop. Eventually I got used to the pain, and he completed the whole head.

AS: How did you pick the design, and what does it signify to you?

KJ: The design I selected is very personal. On the base of the head is a mother and child, on the side, OM, two puppies, initials of my family members and nature; in short my universe.

AS: Tell us a bit about yourself and where you grew up?

AS: Why did you enter beauty pageants?

KJ: I was born and brought up in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat, India. I grew up in a traditional joint family system where my mother was not respected and often ill-treated.

KJ: I began participating beauty pageants to prove to the world that even without hair you can still look beautiful and lead a normal life.

I have a Masters degree in Business Education and work as a special officer for Gujarati language in Balbharti Text Book Bureau, where I make textbooks for schools from Grade 1 to 12.

AS: What does theROGUE in you have to say to the rest of the world?

AS: You have a very intricate tattoo on your head, what inspired you to get it and how did people react to it?

KJ: I always wanted to have a tattoo on my body where no one else ever had and then looking into the mirror I saw

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KJ: I would like to share with everyone that please prioritize yourself and live for yourself. It’s your responsibility to take care of yourself. Today I am very happy, and I wish for others to be happy. I have done everything that I wished to do and fulfilled all hearts my desires. If I had to die today, I would have no regrets.

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theROGUE

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

curated dialogues

She Remembers “My husband simply asked me to wear a wig and get on with life. This didn’t sit with me, I didn’t want to live a false life.”

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

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Curated Dialogues- Fashion.Fitness.Food & Faces

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theROGUE

curated dialogues

Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

Wardrobe Anna Paula Teodoro (What Women Want)/theROGUE closet

Photography Nitin Upadhye

Make Up Michelle from M.A.C.

Hair Jennifer Nichol

Model Marina Almeida

Styling/ Creative Direction Hen’a Yadav

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

The Chanting Photographer Photography by Nitin Upadhaye and Dialogue with Hen’a Yadav

Nitin Upadhye is a celebrated photographer and filmmaker in India. His professional and volunteer work is centered on helping individuals and communities to enhance their individual and collective wellbeing. He works with rural communities to develop their skills and their ability to live contributive lives.

advertising and fashion. However, working in this industry did not sit naturally with me and I constantly felt incomplete which tormented me deeply. There were many nights I spent hungry, not having enough money to feed myself and this was just another challenge of living and surviving in a big city which did not suit my natural being.

HY: Tell us about your journey into the world of photography, how did you start?

My true turning point in photography and life came when I encountered Buddhism and my mentor Daisaku Ikeda. One particular quote of his is my North Star in life and in photography. It goes like this “What makes a first-class photographer? It is the love of people. What makes for moving photos?

It is the courage to take a step forward”. This answered literally all my questions.

NU: My first and eternal inspiration are my parents. My father, even though he was a doctor by occupation, was a passionate photographer. So, I always had a camera around me when I was growing up. At times my father would let me take a picture or two on his Yashica Twin-Lens Reflex camera. He taught me basics and then I picked up from there.

Photography soon became my obsession because it gave me my personal space where my camera and me were like two best friends out on a world exploration trip. It also helped me form and nurture intimate relationship with nature, amidst which I was growing. We lived in a tiny village throughout my childhood; so, nature was my university of life. I had and continue to have conversations with trees, streams, butterflies, insects, passing clouds and rain too. This dimension of ‘connecting’ deeply with everything around me has also played a significant role in my approach to photography. I am constantly engaged in conversations with my ‘subjects’ and photography are almost incidental. The pictures however are the ‘manifested results’ of these conversations. These conversations are always about admiring, celebrating and treasuring the beauty and magnificence of the life in front of me, whichever form it is in.

The financial side of this craft can be a huge challenge if you come from a very humble financial background, like me. For me, as a boy of a village doctor, the only way I could have gained training in photography was while working with professionals, as I did not have the financial means to go to an art school and study photography. I ended up learning and doing the work that my bosses were doing; which was Page 42

The desire to make money never drove me. I was seeking answers to the endless suffering of people and the disparities that existed around me. My helplessness to do something about it tore my heart and through my mentor’s advice, I found a way to contribute to the solutions of these challenges using whatever little skill and talent I had in me.

I keep going back to three photography assignments that changed my life and altered the way I witnessed the power of photography (1) an assignment to photograph water harvesting work of a non-profit organisation in central India Rajasthan state. This project was to support an exhibition launched at World Summit for Sustainable Development Alternatives. It was coproduced by my Buddhist organization and the Earth Charter.

(2) photographing the children of Slum schools (called Gully Schools) started by Dr.Kiran Bedi India’s first and highest ranking woman officer in the Indian Police Service, under a Delhi Police’s Navajyoti Foundation and (3) photographing for a book called ‘Going to School in India’ assigned to me by my now lifelong friend Lisa Heydlauff.

By the time I had finished these assignments, I knew that this is how I want to live my life. I want to be a ‘people’s photographer on behalf of my mentor.’

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

HY: You have been a photographer for VOGUE. What was that world like, tell us about that phase of your life?

NU: I was drawn into that life because that’s the work my bosses were doing.

By default, I was connected to that world. It was glamorous, but it was too far away from my reality of scarcity. So, it was a paradoxical world that I lived in for a while. I did my best and most of the top-the-line fashion designers, editors and even critics of liked my work. But I was looking for my true calling, which I found in documentary photography. And as soon as I found it, I plunged into it and fashion photography faded away. What’s interesting is that I’ve refused no assignment ever. Somehow the work that was coming to me changed on its own, as if my prayers were being answered.

HY: Your latest nudes’ series; featured in this article have a surreal nature. Can you tell us about this experience and how you locked this emotion into your photographs?

NU: Each one of these images has been born in a moment of turmoil. I have been a very emotional child, and that has not changed much even now. Earlier in life I did not know how to handle these volcanic explosions in my mind.

When I had photography as my instrument of expression however, I started photographing myself in ways I saw myself during these moments of turmoil.

To give an example, the image of me in that current of water is born from the feeling that the entire world was against me, I have been rejected by almost everyone around me for who I am and I was fighting with all my strength to hold my place of dignity and grace in this torrential current of rejection. The water provided prefect symbolic expression of the force of rejection and my being naked in that current symbolized the nakedness of my soul that I felt when stripped off every single ounce of dignity and grace.

In all the images there are two elements which are fused in their most natural form; the nature itself and the woman in her most natural form and all that I have done, tried to capture this fusion as gently as possible without interrupting that fusion. There has to be trust between the photographer and everything around him/her and this is not limited to the trust between obvious living things like human beings and animals but also between the photographer and the trees, clouds, buildings, furniture, sun, moon, stars, soil, water, waves, sand, air..... everything. When the photographer has such a relationship with her/his surroundings, then the ‘fusion’ of those surroundings and her/his life will be expressed through the camera with no hindrance of any negativity. This is when magic is possible.

The magic that you see in these images is the magic of warmth, trust and dignity - the very basic human values that makes us human.

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“There has to be trust between the photographer and everything around him/ her and this is not limited to the trust between obivous living things like human beings and animals but also between the photographer and the trees, clouds, buildings, furniture, sun, moon, stars, soil, water, waves, sand, air.... everything.”

HY: The ROGUE has given you the title of ‘the chanting photographer’, what does that phrase mean to you?

NU: It is such an appropriate description of who I am as a person and as a photographer, because I base everything in my life on prayers-first approach. I start everything with a prayer because it gives me a solid foundation to stand on; it gives me absolute clarity and inner strength that is needed to create value, beauty and sustainability in any situation. I follow the Buddhist practice of chanting Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo to the best of my ability. As a man with abundant flaws, I am certainly not a great example of how well to do it, but I could be a small example of how not to give up.

HY: Your talent, life, body of work and your story is so inspiring, how do you keep this passion alive and throbbing consistently?

NU: By renewing myself every day. My mentor once said to a student “you can renew yourself when you celebrate what is great”. I have held this profound advice close to my heart, and my prayers are about celebrating what is great too. There is something great in everyone and everything. If we develop a vision and a heart to see and celebrate that greatness around us, we will always be renewed; and then there will never be in a dearth of inspiration and passion. Arrogance can kill the freshness of life and is a sure shot shortcut to the death of human spirit.

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“I have seen how people, birds, clouds, the sun and the moon react to you when you have pure love in your heart; those are the most memorable experiences.”

HY: What has been the most memorable experience in your career?

NU: Luckily there have been plenty of them, the most special ones are always with the people and nature. Being a documentary photographer and filmmaker, I have had the opportunities to be close to people and nature in the most trusting way. I have seen how people, birds, clouds, the sun and the moon react to you when you have pure love in your heart; those are the most memorable experiences.

HY: What camera do you use? Is there any brand that you feel your allegiance to?

NU: My choice of cameras is governed by the need of the assignment and the budget of my client. For my personal work, I use the best possible camera that I can afford that that time. My choice of lenses is even more so.

I’ve become more particular about the lenses than cameras off late. The character that lenses lend to the images is becoming more and more important to me. In the instant gratification media however, people are watching most of the stuff on small screens and the flaws don’t scream out as they would on a big screen. So, there is a lot of flexibility if you are shooting for small screens. I always hope to get to the highest possible standard of work in every given situation and budget.

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HY: What new techniques have you invented of you your own that perhaps you can share with our readers?

NU: I don’t think I have invented any new techniques, but I could perhaps share the philosophy of my approach. The technology has advanced so much that it’s not a big challenge to produce technically good quality results for anyone. The difference is the human factor. The difference between‘what’s ‘doable’, what’s ‘good’ and what’s ‘magical’ is the heart behind it.

HY: What advice do you have for the young budding photographers out there?

NU: My advice for the young budding photographers is to hone your spirit, prepare thoroughly and give it your all when the moment comes. To elaborate slightly on this, there are four types of preparations I recommend (1) Spiritual preparation (2) Intellectual preparation (3) Technical preparation and (4) Physical preparation.

(1) When you are in good spirit, you have the inner strength to create value even in difficult situations and your vision will be unfettered even though the challenges may be complex. Do whatever it takes to be in that state of life. Meditate, pray, sing... do whatever it takes for you to build such an unshakable state of life. It is worth it.

(2) Study your subject so thoroughly that you will know every possible perspective about it and yet be humble enough to be surprised and celebrate when you find something new on the shoot.

(3) Know your equipment and your situations thoroughly. Don’t allow blank pockets. Don’t be ignorant about your own equipment. Don’t take anything for granted. Prepare thoroughly for weather conditions, terrain, wind, sand, rain, and the people!

(4) Be as fit as you can! This cannot happen over a weekend. You need to live your life a certain way to be fit. Don’t offer your producer an unfit photographer. that’s unprofessional. Being unfit is unprofessional.

HY: Lastly, what does the ROGUE in you have to say to your readers?

NU: You are THE only you in this world! You are THAT special! Go for it!! Claim your life!!!

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Don’t lose faith in yourself. Don’t lose faith in life’s brilliance no matter what happens. Keep your seeking spirit alive and always be grateful to those around you and don’t stop at just feeling grateful; show it through your actions. If you do this, you will bloom limitlessly!!! Together, we will bloom limitlessly!

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The Noble Trainer

Photography by Nitin Upadhye and Dialogue with Hen’a Yadav

A dialogue with Razif Yusoff, the cofounder of “PushPullGive” a social enterprise in Singapore that keeps you fit. My first impression of Raz was deceptive, he had this Casanova aura paired with a charming smile along with a beautifully sculpted body, however I was far from reality. As I got to know Raz more I discovered a soft, compassionate trainer who has two sides.

HS: Tell us about your journey in becoming a trainer Raz, was it a straight or a convoluted path to get here?

RY: For sure, it’s a convoluted path! Haha. You know, when we are much younger, there’s always this question that pops up at one point that is, ‘What do you want to do when you grow up?’. As a young person, I always felt obligated to pursue a career in corporate because it seemed like a natural thing to progress to. So, any thoughts of working outside that sphere was merely a dream or an afterthought. I was groomed at the beginning to work my way there, attaining a diploma in banking & financial services and completing my bachelor’s degree in economics and finance.

Long story short, I worked in corporate for about a year and pulled the plug. I remember I had to psych myself up every morning and caught myself frequently looking at the clock to see if it’s close to go home time. I questioned if this was normal or I just lacked the discipline or willpower to push on? There were a lot of ‘what-ifs’.

To be honest, I didn’t have any intention to be a trainer, when I started it was a means for me to get by earning that extra side money until I figured things out. However, the day when I became clear of my purpose and I pursued my ambition full-on, and that’s the day when amazing things started to unfold.

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His Passion Made It Happen HY: Tell us a little about the social enterprise you co-founded PushPullGive. What drove you in this direction?

RY: I vividly remember being in my late 20s, where I was in a state of heightened awareness, questioning everything. Even though I was doing okay at that point of time with an established business together with my partners (a hobby-turned-business, parrot training & services company!) I was also an established freelance commercial model/actor, having worked on over 20 media adverts over 2 years which is not bad considering my introvert personality! But I got to admit, I was still unhappy, something was missing.

Somehow the universe connected me with the right people (Herzy and Konrad) and the next thing I know, PushPullGive was born. We provide group fitness classes and personal training, and as a social enterprise we offer employment opportunities to young adults that come from a disadvantaged background. We also have fitness scholarships for young adults who otherwise would struggle to fund their fitness education and certification.

I am grateful for the opportunity to grow a platform that gives back, and that revolves around fitness which is an area I’m passionate about.

HY: One of your initiatives is to train ex-convicts and give them an opportunity towards a new life. Can you share more about how this project started and came to fruition?

RY: I strongly believe that fitness is empowering. It empowers you not only physically but mentally as well. Before we founded PushPullGive, Herzy (my other co-founder), myself and friends from our Bar Lions group, used to jam and do street workout at our neighborhood fitness corners. Over time, we noticed random teenagers from the hood coming up to us, enquiring and eventually joining us for our weekly trainings. We found that some of them grew up in dysfunctional homes so they would rather be out and about than be at home. Having a good physical training session keeps them motivated, goal oriented which hopefully can transcend to other areas of their lives. I want to give them the tools so they can be the ones empowering others through physical fitness. This will eventually bring up their own confidence and establish a positive mindset for them to take charge of their lives.

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“A hop into my social media profile may look like I am all about physicality and worldly attributes. But on the flip side, I spend a lot of time in prayer, contemplation and meditation. It helps me to be grounded and create that balance in my life.”

HY: The ROGUE has given you the title of ‘the noble trainer’ do you resonate with that?

RY: That’s a pretty strong title! I genuinely care for my clients who put their trust in me to deliver the results.

I want to see them in a better state than before and grow in all aspects of their lives. No matter what time of day it is, I will be there. I don’t see myself as being selfless, but I see it as a two-way thing. It brings me joy to see and train my clients every week and squeezing in that wee bit of meaningful conversations.

HY: What in your opinion is a definition of a fit and healthy person?

RY: When I was a beginner to exercising, at 19 years old I’d imagine a fit person would be aesthetically in great shape.

You know, like those you would see on the cover page of a fitness magazine. However, as I mature and grew in this industry, my idea of a fit (and healthy!) person is agile, flexible and strong with good mental toughness. The aesthetic part is just a by-product of pursuing the goal.

HY: What new techniques have you created of your own to make your personal training session stand out from others?

RY: To be fair, I didn’t create any new techniques for my training sessions. However, my training philosophy is to utilize both free-weights and calisthenics (bodyweight trai-

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ning). You won’t find me using fixed machines for any of my sessions. Being able to move freely is essential to have better body awareness. A good body awareness is the foundation as it will help with your posture and exercise form. It will do you good in the long run. Once the foundation is set, you are in a safe and optimal position to get stronger, faster and leaner.

HY: Do you agree that we all have many sides, share some of the other sides of your personality with us?

RY: Agree to that. Sometimes we don’t even consciously realize that we have other sides unless we are tuned into our inner world. Only the closest people to me know that I am a very spiritual person. A hop into my social media profile may look like I am all about physicality and worldly attributes. But on the flip side, I spend a lot of time in prayer, contemplation and meditation. It helps me to be grounded and create that balance in my life.

HY: Lastly, what does the ROGUE in you have to say to your readers?

RY: Make the best of your time while you are here. I don’t want to make you feel morbid, but our time is finite. So, if you have any dreams or ambitions, get started already!

Don’t regret things you could have done but didn’t. I am driven by two philosophies: One, continue to seek knowledge and strive to know more than yesterday. Two, try to ease the suffering of others, you’ll be amazed by how far that gets you.

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Tan @ home As a regular cleint, I want to give a shout out to the entrepreneaur Kath from Tan@home who runs a remarkable body tanning service.

All good things should be shared.

Tan@Home is the premier mobile tanning service in Singapore. Launched in 2010, it allows clients to get a non-permanent spray tan under 30 minutes by a qualified tan technician in their own home, office, or preferred location. The business has grown considerably over the last nine years to become the leading mobile tanning business on the island. Due to its excellent reputation and service, it has created a well-established long term client base.

As people become more health conscious and educated on the risks of skin damage from ultraviolet rays, it is a safer way to gain a bronzed glow. Because of this, spray tanning is a rapidly growing market with an increasing number of both Asian and western clients keen to avoid sun damage by investing in regular tanning sessions.

One colour doesn’t fit all, so a tan technician will guide you through the solution range by Australian brand Moroccan Tan which have been chosen to work well with your natural skin tone, and last in Singapore’s humidity. The products are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly, the products are also free of alcohol, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and parabens. Formulated with naturally derived and ethically sourced vitamins and organic oils, the products nourish and smoothen the skin as well.

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The Charming Boxer Photography by Nitin Upadhye and Dialogue with Hen’a Yadav

When I first met with Charlotte, there was an immediate sense of adoration for her. She was beautiful, with an alluring personality, and there was a human quality about her that stood out in my eyes. She had cultivated a wellspring of bubbling charm that also made her company so enjoyable. The more I got to know her, the more layers of her were discovered and I loved the uncommon honesty and beauty that she encapsulated.

three blondes and one brunette. Our dad intentionally hooked us on sports that were considered masculine rather than feminine. My sports were Judo and Handball and boy did I love them! Quickly, I learned that I thrived from competitive stress and adrenaline, and the joy of winning with a team. To be honest, I was average in sports and not so great at school either never the best, never the worst. However, the coaches/teachers liked me because I was easy going and never complained.

HY: Charlotte, where did you grow up? Could you tell us a little about your formative years?

My family moved back overseas, now to French Guiana, a balance of tropical lifestyle and French city roots. My dad pushed me hard to study and again to me, it was another sort of competition of proving myself to him. I think my motivation was extrinsic and mostly influenced by the desire to make the people around me happy and not worried.

CG: I was born in Papeete-French Polynesia. If you’re now picturing blue lagoons, dolphins, colorful coral reefs, lush tropical gardens, fresh coconuts, Tahitian Tamure (local dance), the distinct scent of the vanilla beans, breathtaking sunsets, adventurous waterfalls, you would be right! You should come visit, if you don‘t mind many hours of flying over the sea to a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! I think I was insanely lucky to start my life with these first baby senses captivated by the perfection of Mother Nature. My perception of life was certainly dreamy.

Then I moved to Africa, Senegal when I was 5. Here, where I discover my love for Afro beats rhythm and dance thanks to my helper named Mercedes. I have vivid memories of Mercedes dancing all day long as I clung to her back by just simple pieces of fabrics. I love the happiness in the people of Senegal. In fact, what I remembered the most, and has molded my life today, is the simplicities of life brought so much happiness to Senegalese. All it took was a smile, or cracking a joke, a quick shake of hands, and simply by being connected with people.

After Africa I moved to France, and I had to adjust to a more classic life replacing African music with proper shoes and dresses. Getting to know my parents’ family and becoming the big sister of a family of four girls,

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HY: You come across as a very people’s person, and your day job as a Business Development Director works in your favor. Do you sometimes struggle with constant networking and building relationships?

CG: I didn‘t realize I was a people person until my first job in the hotel industry. I was many things from housekeeper, to waitress, spa therapist, and receptionist any role that could connect me with guests would keep me happy. Being seated at the office, not for me! I need movement, action, and challenges.

When you build any connection with the world and people, you need to be attentive and open-minded. Luckily, I don’t find it hard as I have lived in so many countries and my family gave me a love for the unexpected things in life. I find it easy for me to connect with anyone. I love trying to make an impact, being of help, changing someone’s perception, connecting the dots with people and more, all of this is nourishing for me. It’s largely putting other people’s needs before your own self-interest.

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Fashion Fitness Food & Faces

“I was going through a tough time, and I know to keep your mind away from something negative you should embark on a new challenge.”

HY: Could you share some of your secrets on sealing the deal with your clients? What personality trait in your opinion is useful in the world of sales?

CG: I don’t reveal my secrets easily……joking! The magic comes from my creative team, not me!

These passionate people, the designers, are the essence of my job. They bring joy, ideas, sparkles, challenges, and stories every day! They became my new hotel guests! I love being surrounded by these souls that are non-stop active thinking of style and beauty around them! They constantly inspire me, they put their soul out there in front of our clients, and I feel honored and privileged to be there to accompany, protect, coach, reassure them, and then win their dreamy project! Sometimes they can have a strong mind and be a bit whimsical, but it gives me energy.

Maybe not a secret but a reminder, always dress up according to whom you will meet and what image and dialogue you will want to have for the meeting. Verbal communication is super important, but don’t forget your body language. Both aspects need to be aligned, and you must display honest empathy.

HY: There is a lot of stress and pressure that comes as part of this job, is that how you got yourself into boxing?

CG: Boxing! I am lucky I found this thread between signing deals and kicking the bags at the gym! It has helped me tremendously, from avoiding a head cold, to being organized and efficient throughout my day to avoid missing my routine classes at The Ring, my boxing gym! I deal with people all day long, clients and designers alike, it’s very much all about them. But when I head to my gym, it’s my time!

Boxing has been my partner in life over the last three and a half years. Remember, I mentioned I was never the best at any sport, right? Well, when I started boxing, I felt maybe one day I could be good. It has pushed me to get better and better. Also, when you do boxing, you don’t have time to think of something else, you need focus on your defense and attack. So at least for one hour or so, you are doing a deep dive into yourself, challenging your body and liberating your mind from the stress of work.

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“the beauty of boxing/fighting; learning the humility of leaving the ring with no anger.”

HY: Have you always been a fan of boxing? How long have you been doing it? Who is your favorite boxer?

CG: I did judo when I was younger, but I was more into team sports. Boxing came by chance when a boxing gym was opening next to my office. Sometimes life just gives you these signs! I have been doing boxing since the day this gym opened. I’ve met many inspiring people at this gym: local celebrities, mums of 4, overweight people, successful career people, and beautiful kind spirits. There is not only one profile for a boxer. All you need is to be humble and be ready to get punched by someone. This is the beauty of boxing/fighting; learning the humility of leaving the ring with no anger.

It’s a sport with a lot of technical elements to learn before you enter the ring and can call yourself a boxer! I still don’t know if I’m one yet after 3 years of sweat and tears. I have a lot of favorite boxers, including my coaches at The Ring who have put so much of themselves into training us while they simultaneously train themselves for fights. Anthony Joshua is to me, one of the most remarkable boxers for so many reasons!

Watch his fight against Klitschko you will understand.

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It Was Her All Along

HY: You’ve fought inside the ring; can you tell me about the experince? The preparation, the emotions that manifested during and after the fight?

CG: I was going through a tough time, and I know to keep your mind away from something negative you should embark on a new challenge. I took on a Friendly Fight, which is two rounds of three minutes and you fight someone from another gym. I was working out daily between the boxing training, the private coach sessions, and yoga. The month before my fight was super busy with family visiting and being swamped at work. But I kept my training and health as my absolute #1 commitment to myself. I changed my diet and adopted a more a plant-based diet; it has helped me tremendously to keep my focus, sleep much better, and feeling more energized every day. The more I was training, the more I had energy and conviction to do more, to push myself. I loved the training process.

I didn’t share the date of my friendly fight with a of people, as it was my first one and the stress was intense. I wanted to do that with my mind away from being watched by people I know and love. I did not want to disappoint people and was saying, “if I do well, you can come to the next one.” The help and care from people around me truly amazed me.

My boxing partners were also essential to this challenge. I wanted to do it so right, but it frustrated me to be traveling for work and I wasn’t be in the perfect shape that I wanted.

That day I entered the ring for the first time, I had no fear, no pain, no regret. I was there, and I would give my best. My coaches, some sneaky best friends, and boxing partners were there to watch along with some 100-odd people in the crowd - it was a massive event! And in the end, I wanted to continue after the 3 rounds when the referee stopped the timer! I hugged my opponent and left the ring with an immense feeling of self-love. I did it! I was so proud to have achieved this! I broke into tears when my friends told me how amazing the fight was. I could not stop these tears, derived from self-love and pride!

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“F1 driver. Is it too late ?”

HY: What makes an unbeatable boxer? Do you have a strategy when inside the ring?

CG: Your MIND is the most important, and then your technical practice. You must be fearless and ultra-focused. Some of the best boxers focus mainly on their defense, such as Floyd Mayweather. It’s important to read your opponent very quickly when you enter the ring. And a tip: throw the first punch to scare him and display your self-confidence.

HY: If you had a chance to choose another career path, what would you choose?

CG: I would have been an F1 driver. Is it too late?

HY: Lastly, what does the ROGUE in you have to say to your readers?

CG: Do what you love the most, be yourself and listen to your instinct. Be inspired by people, become an inspiration. Help others out, constantly push yourself, learn, never stop asking questions. And lastly, be ready to push your own boundaries, you will truly discover the best part in you.

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The Man We Love Photography by Hen’a Yadav and Dialogue with Sky

In 2005, Tuy Sobil (aka KK) opened his modest home to a handful of kids he had seen working or living on the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Back then, KK had just arrived in Cambodia himself. Born in the Thai refugee camps, he grew up in Los Angeles, fell into gangs and was eventually deported to Cambodia by the US Government.

What happened next is what makes his story special.

Word spread that KK had been a break-dancer. Suddenly the very kids he saw living on the streets were knocking at his door asking him to teach them. KK saw these kids getting involved in anti-social behavior and drugs. He knew that without guidance they were in danger of repeating the mistakes of his own youth. Reluctant at first, he took on the challenge to teach these kids break-dancing.

At first, the dancing sessions were in his room and whilst cramped it still attracted great numbers. KK combined dance lessons with encouragement, support and guidance. More than anything, he believed in the kids and showed them the care and concern that was otherwise absent in their lives.

Over ten years later, some kids performed internationally from Australia to Italy and grew to become teachers at KK’s ‘Tiny Toones’ centre. Daily, over 100 children from the slums come to dance, to make music, learn computing, English and Khmer (the Cambodian language) and to enjoy the freedom that is being in being a child.

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“Karma always comes back no matter what.”

SY: You grew up in the US, tell us a bit about your childhood?

KK: I went to the US around the age of two, I’m guessing. We went to Phoenix, Arizona sponsored by some Christian family. But my parents couldn’t afford to live in Phoenix, so our sponsor suggested we should move to Long Beach, California to get welfare. So, my parents moved to Long Beach when I was four and I ended up spending my childhood there.

Long Beach is segregated, there are apartment blocks full of Cambodians, one apartment blocks full of Blacks, one apartment block full of Mexicans and stuff like that. It was racist and people didn’t get along. Within the Cambodian families barely any parents spoke English, so people made fun of us. There were many gangs but no such thing as the Cambodian gang while I was growing up.

SY: Which relationships have been the most impactful in your life?

KK: My siblings, they are good people; I am the only black sheep in the family. I got two older sisters they are solid the kind of people you could always depend on. I also have a little sister and little brother; they are live in the US and everybody is doing really good there. My mom is always worried about is me. So, everything she gets from her other kids, she sends it to me to make sure I am okay.

My mom raised me to be independent and that how I want the kids to be grounded and established in their own beliefs. If they say, ‘KK I want to be Christian or Buddhist, I’m like go for it.’ I don’t want to to tell them what to do.

My mom is Buddhist, and she once told me “it doesn’t matter what the kids want to believe in, or you want to believe in KK as long as you believe in something. There’s no bad religion, they don’t teach you bad stuff. So, it doesn’t matter what you believe, just believe it.” Now it all makes sense.

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At home growing up in LA, I was always jumping from one spot to the next and would mess up the whole house. When my mom would come home and she would see me spinning on my head, she always used to say, “you’re going to kill your brain; you’re going to be stupid.” She loves me and she was being and mom, she didn’t want me to get hurt, and she didn’t want me to land up in jail.

But I gang-member and got into fights, did lots of stupid stuff, crazy stuff. The crazy thing is that I’m happy I got caught for my own crimes, and that’s why I believe in Karma.I accept everything I did as a young adult and the only people I feel sorry for is my mom and dad. They stuck by me and cried when I first went to jail.

SY: How did prison affect you?

KK: From 17, I kept going to prison. My first time was the longest, it was almost five years. My mind was so washed with this gang lifestyle, I would say “fuck the world, I got nothing to lose only God can judge me’. In prison they told me you are so small; the inmates will kill you. I only had two little tattoos back then, so I got more and more tattoos to look dangerous. Every time I went back to prison, I got more tattoos.

One time when I was out of prison, I met a girl but didn’t expect much of the relationship we were causally dating. But I ended up having a kid with her.

After being locked up for five years, and you come home and meet a girl and you are just desperate for affection. Soon I was back in prison and she told me she was pregnant and I asked her to Keep it! and she did.

When I came out, I was about 22 or 23. I was happy when I saw him, but Karma always comes back to you no matter what and I got caught for another crime, and this time I ended up going another 3 years. I wanted to be part of my son’s life, after getting released from prison going home felt like a prayer. About a week later, I got deported to Cambodia, it was either 1996 or 1997.

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Chhoeung Shhort Reuth - KK’s partner at Tiny Toones

“it’s because we don’t trust you and we have heard about you”.

SY: Tell us about ‘Tiny Toones’ what inspired you start the school?

KK: I started the center at 24. Shhort is my business partner, I’m the fun and artistic half of the centre. Shhort is the guy that does all the other crazy work to promote and market the Tiny Toones centre.

When I first got back to Cambodia, I was confused, full of tattoos and with long hair. My mom was like go, get a job anywhere. So, I applied for a hotel job paying 100 bucks and when I went for an interview, they offered me 50 bucks for 12 hours a day for six days a week. When I asked my employer ‘why are you cutting my money? The pay is 100, why are you cutting 50?’ They responded, “it’s because we don’t trust you and we have heard about you”.

My mom just wanted me to keep busy and just be able to pay rent and food. I took the job and also was a volunteer for a NGO. I worked for free…… I was the 24 hours-guy for every slum here in Phnom Penh. I was the guy that if you got your head cracked, or you got shot you’d call me and l’d be there to get you cleaned up and NGO would pay for everything.

The slum kids heard I was a breakdancer and started coming over to dance this one time a little kid who was about two and a half or three years old came over. He reminded me of my son back in the USA and he started dancing, and that’s how Tiny Toones started. It started out with one hour a day and it turned into ten hours a day where the kids took over my keys, my house. One day, I walked into the house, and the kids are watching cartoons and that’s how the name Tiny Toones came up. So, it became a family where we’d all spend time and eat together.

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My mom used send me USD$100 every month for food expenses. For me it was all right, but when you have 10 kids in your house, you realized you don’t have enough rice to feed everybody. Then two months later, the 10 kids turned into 30-40 kids and then six months later I noticed 9 of them even started living with me.

I’m serious 9 kids were living with me and back then people started telling me we don’t have enough food to feed all these kids. The only pay cheque I was getting was from my mom and that was not enough for the kids. We weren’t an NGO back then; it was just my home. I used to teach every day and the kids just happened to take over my house.

I used to teach at NGO for ex-sex industry workers and the NGO leader suggested I should start doing your own thing.

But I was unsure I could not read or write, moreover I did not believe I that I was good enough. , which she encouraged me to try it and became my first donor, which helped me pay for expenses like electricity. Shhort would also volunteer at the center.

My house was getting packed; I was asking for help. From 60 kids I ended up having 100 kids. The house could not take any more, and I had to get out and promote Tiny Toones and be the guy to talk to wealthy people and business owners to raise money and that’s how I grew Tiny Toones.

Today most of my kids from the center have jobs. They are DJs clubs, Rappers, Dancers, they are all over the place. But the only sad part is that I’m getting older and beat up, and I don’t have a teacher for the next generatio

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“ In Cambodian books I don’t exist as an NGO, but in the rest of the world, we have made it to number six.”

SK: What are the challenges for Tiny Toones?

KK: When people ask me what’s the future of Tiny Toones, I can’t promise that it will be around because our budgets are small, and it’s so hard for us for us to keep this centre running. So where possible I’m trying to build the most bridges I can for these kids to cross. I’m always trying to open doors for these kids, I even challenge the Cambodian artistic world, the community and all. Initially they used to hate me here. I used to get cussed out and wagged off calling me a sell-out, calling me names but, it’s not about me it’s not about them either. It’s about the kids. I feel sometimes people are selfish, they think about themselves.

I‘ve received many certificates from everywhere, I’ve challenged everything from the artist world, all the way to the NGO world. I’ve been attacked because of my tattoos, because I’m an ex-gang member, because I’m a criminal. In Cambodian books I don’t exist as an NGO, but in the rest of the world, we have made it to number six

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The Animated Professor Photography by Nitin Upadhye and Dialogue with Hen’a Yadav

Maiya Murphy wears many hats, a polymath artist, a creator, scholar, performer, actor, director, producer and a teacher. An intriguing dialogue sparked our curiosity about the world of ‘physical theater’ a genre of theater where acting and dancing dissolve seamlessly into each other. She believes that an actor is a creator, not just an interpreter; and the program at NUS is centered on ‘thinking’ though ‘doing’. Maiya received her BA in Theatre Studies from Yale University, trained in Lecoq based pedagogy at the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA), and then went on to do her Ph.D. in Theatre and Drama at the University of California, San Diego.

HY: Growing up in an artistic family played a big part in your formative years, share a little about your childhood and a poignant moment that you still cherish?

MM: My parents created a family atmosphere where art of all kinds were encouraged and admired our home was and still is filled with music and art. As a child I grew up surrounded by my uncle’s paintings and my family members playing instruments and singing. Once, not too long ago, we were driving in a car and a woman was walking along the road wearing an unusual hat, something she had made herself.

My dad spontaneously remarked ‘how wonderful!’ moved by the bold creative spirit of the woman. If something was created with an artistic heart, even if we didn’t understand it, we learned to honor it. My mom loves dance and creates beautiful clothes and quilts, and my father is a musician. Being home to me means hearing my father rehearse in the family room, finding my mom at her sewing machine, and talking about the art we witnessed since we last gathered.

HY: The path to becoming a performer is long and needs persistence. Was there a point in your journey where you felt overwhelmed?

MM: I can be a rather impatient person by nature, and I am moved to do many things so feeling overwhelmed is something that comes and goes. Probably a more accurate term is, I overwhelm myself.

When I went to get my Ph.D. and make a shift from being only a performer to a performer-scholar-teacher, I felt overwhelmed with learning my new academic discipline and having so much reading and writing to do. I worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it work as an artist, or that I would lose my identity as an artist. But this was a lesson in perseverance and little by little as I developed my skills as a researcher and scholar, and I could add my creative practice back into my new life. Only now, about 10ish years later, do I feel like I know how to move in between these roles, and I hope to become even better at it.

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HY: Where do you find yourself most at ease, as a teacher or as an actor performing?

Her Way Of Living

MM: I have been a performer for a longer amount of time, so that is my second nature to a certain extent. But if I only teach or only act for a while, I miss the other. They speak to and inform each other.

HY: Physical theater, could you elaborate a little more for our readers to better understand this genre of theater?

MM: ‘Physical theater’ was coined to describe a kind of visual performance that often straddles dance and theater. There may be words or texts involved, but movement is central to the way this kind of theater is made and how it is performed.

Some people don’t like this term, but I think it arose in the West to describe theater that emphasized movement and visual storytelling. Many traditional and contemporary Asian forms have always done that, so sometimes here in Asia it feels silly to make this distinction.

HY: The Lecoq approach is famous for its method of physical theater training, movement and mime, however you trained as a dancer, did that aid your immersion in this program or did you have to unlearn your previous skills?

MM: I would say both! My earlier dance training helped me to feel comfortable expressing with my whole body. But also, I had to make sure not to use dance technique. My Lecoq based teachers often told me not dance, just move. I had to learn how to engage dance technique when it is appropriate and to let it go when it is not. And I had to learn how to distinguish when to do which.

HY: Jacques Lecoq along with the Italian sculptor Amleto Satori created the concept of NEUTRAL MASK. Could you tell us more about this and how you have used it in your work?

MM: I love this mask work. It teaches you how to find a baseline of theatrical presence on stage and how to tell a simple story. Before we can run, we have to walk, and this mask helps us learn how to walk. Lecoq and my teachers always said that once you have used it in your training, you can take the actual mask away because you would have internalized what it means to wear the mask. So, in that sense I would not use it in performance, but I return to the sensation of wearing it every time I am discovering a new theatrical space, function, or character in performance. I love sharing the work with my students as they learn how to walk on stage for the first time.

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“It might sound paradoxical, but sometimes being a rogue requires patience.”

HY: What’s next for you. Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

MM: I feel like I have only put all the pieces together to make work, research, and teach all at the same time. In ten years, I hope to be good at switching between these registers like one of those amazing performers who balances plates and effortlessly moves them around without dropping them. I hope to write another book or two, make more plays, write more articles, and find more friends who might enjoy doing these things with me. Most importantly, I hope to do these in good health, and with energy, appreciation, joy, and gratitude.

HY: Lastly, what does the ROGUE in you have to say to your readers?

MM: It might sound paradoxical, but sometimes being a rogue requires patience.

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“Everything begins with dialogue. Dialogue is the initial step in the creation of value.

Dialogue is the starting point and unifying force in all human relationships.�

Daisaku Ikeda.

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#berogue #gorogue #dorogue @itstheroguelife

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