Table of contents for August 2022 - September 2022 in Da Man

A Journey to the Middle East Eau Rihla by Diptyque attempts to translate the wonders of exploration into an olfactive offering. Named after the word for “journey” in Arabic, Eau Rihla is inspired by adventures to the Middle East. It is an oriental fragrance highlighting leather notes that change throughout the blend’s composition. Eau Rihla opens with a bright, warm accord of pink peppercorn and Atlas cedar notes, followed by soft notes of iris, saffron, and vanilla. The olfactory journey ends with leather and subtle powdery notes. One might find a hint of raspberry as well during the journey. Refined and complex, Eau Rihla is a perfect comrade for one’s summer adventure. Available at The Papilion. Energy of the Ocean Polo Ralph Lauren welcomed a new member to its perfume…

As one of Indonesia’s leading contemporary artists, Agus Suwage has created a significant body of work with a deep commitment to the exploration of the subjective individual and their complex relationship to society and politics. Intriguingly, this is explored through the inclusion of popular symbols, mythology and iconography, as well as self-portraiture. On this note, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (better known as Museum MACAN) has recently unveiled its latest major exhibition titled “Agus Suwage: The Theater of Me.” This is essentially a major survey exhibition covering the works of Suwage, who came to prominence in the mid-to-late 1990s and has been actively engaged in both local and international art scenes. “‘The Theater of Me’ is a journey to revisit the works that I’ve been creating…

A Twist on the Classics Arts Café by Raffles (Raffles Jakarta, Jl. Prof. DR. Satrio No. 5, Jakarta; +62 8558155888; rafflesjakarta.com) welcomes a new Executive Sous Chef, Lukman Hakim. After cutting his teeth in the kitchens of Japan, the Netherlands and Dubai’s five-stars hotels, Chef Lukman moved back to Indonesia in 2015. He brought home his expertise in French, Italian and Japanese cuisine while resolutely rediscovering Indonesian cuisine, one region at a time. Since joining Raffles Jakarta earlier this year, Chef Lukman has been revamping Arts Café by Raffles’ culinary offerings and reinventing the menu, adding his globally-inspired stamp and playful twists on the classics. Some of his creations are Smoked Magret Duck served with piquant red curry and lychee sauce, vibrant mango salsa and sticky rice; Josper-Grilled Octopus, marinated…

A mid the rise of electronic vehicles, Indonesian car fans and the country’s automotive industry are also seeing the comeback of a more classic trend: the station wagon. What’s intriguing about the wagon revival is how many high-end automakers are re-entering this market and how station wagons have been featured at automotive shows around the world by a number of upscale automakers—and BMW Group Indonesia is one of them. The storied German brand recently unveiled the new BMW 530i Touring M Sport which combines innovative design, technology and functionality. FIRST IMPRESSIONS At first glance, one of the most distinctive features of the revised front end of the BMW 530i Touring M Sport includes the bold BMW kidney grille with modified contouring and the headlights sporting a new light graphic. In…

Louis Vuitton’s history has always been defined by innovation in travel. So, it came as no surprise when the Maison advanced its Rolling Luggage series for its third collaboration with Marc Newson. Among the most influential industrial designers of his generation, Newson has previously collaborated with Louis Vuitton back in 2016 to work on the Horizon and the Horizon Soft duffels. This time, Newson reimagined the Rolling Luggage series through the Pégase. In a way, this new collaborative collection is simply a natural continuation of the already successful partnership that Louis Vuitton and Newson embarked on a few years ago. The historic Pégase design is now reimagined using new materials and techniques that the two creative entities have developed for the Horizon and Horizon Soft ranges. As a result, all…

Italian Masterpieces In just ten years, the Octo Finissimo collection from Bvlgari has made its mark in the world of haute horlogerie with its technical prowess, iconic shape and unmistakable monochrome style. To celebrate this icon of slimness and style, the Roman jeweler unveils two-anniversary editions of the Octo Finissimo Automatic and GMT Automatic Chronograph featuring the first pencil sketches made by Bvlgari’s Product Creation Executive Director Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani. These contain the initial vision that would give life to the unmistakable Octo Finissimo line. The case, dial and bracelet, which embody the aesthetic signature of the Finissimo collection, are made from ultralight titanium, guaranteeing a modern look. Available as 200-piece limited editions, these highly impressive anniversary models showcase Bvlgari’s watchmaking and creative brilliance by fusing design and cutting-edge technology.…

Extraordinarily Relaxing An opportunity to relax is always a nice little gift to have, be it after a long day at work or on a calm Sunday afternoon. And Vitra’s Grand Relax reclining lounge chair is the perfect choice for perfect relaxation. Designed by Antonio Citterio, the piece provides exceptional comfort with classic aesthetics. An adjustable and integrated mechanism hidden inside the seat enables the chair to automatically recline when somebody sits down on it. To ensure better comfort, the backrest can be easily adjusted. Personalization options include a choice of six material options, including fabrics and leather, and more than 70 colors. Furthermore, the Grand Relax recliner can be rotated 360-degrees and pairs well with a matching ottoman as a footrest. Available at MOIEHAUS. A Refreshing Delight Mentha Spicata…

Elevated Retreat Plataran Bromo Resort & Venue (Ngadiwono, Pasuruan, East Java; +62 812 3587 9673; plataran.com/plataran-bromo) has unveiled its recently added Suite Wing. The resort itself is nestled on the highlands of Mt. Bromo, at the gateway of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The aforementioned new Suite Wing features 14 well-appointed guest rooms, divided into four categories: Suite, Premiere Suite, Platinum Suite and the Presidential Suite. Each unit boasts a spacious bedroom area embellished with solid Ulin wood furniture and fitted with a work-space and living area, a private balcony, a king-size bed complete with heater and a thermal blanket. Stays at any of the suites will also include personalized butler service. The Suite Wing reflects modernity through is sleek designs and…

This has been quite an exciting year for fans of TAG Heuer, as the avant-garde watch brand has introduced quite a lot of exciting novelties. There are new Aquaracer models that continue last year’s revamp of the collection, a new iteration of the Connected Watch and so much more. Not too long ago, DA MAN corresponded with Edouard Mignon, Chief Innovation Officer for LVMH Watches and Jewelry, to learn more about TAG Heuer’s new launches in 2022. Below are excerpts from our conversation… DAMAN: Is there an overarching theme or message that underlies TAG Heuer’s novelties for 2022? Edouard Mignon: The TAG Heuer novelties introduced during Watches & Wonders 2022 represent a real leap forward in terms of durability, quality and innovation. DA: Last year, TAG Heuer revamped the Aquaracer…

For the past couple of years or so, the Pasha de Cartier has been at the forefront of Maison Cartier’s horological offerings. While the collection has always had a loyal following, the famous Pasha is certainly getting more attention these days … and 2022 is no different as a slew of exciting variants of the famed watch has been rolled out since this year’s edition of Watches and Wonders Geneva. BACK AND FORTH IN TIME Like so many of Cartier’s creations, the Pasha de Cartier has a rich in history, where the brand’s ever-evolving craftsmanship continues to push the collection ever forward in keeping with the advances in watchmaking, all while paying tribute to its origins and its transformation through the decades. The Pasha’s history, as many fans of Cartier…

Maison Louis Vuitton recently presented what was arguably the most highly-anticipated fashion event of the year. After its runway debut in Paris in January, the Louis Dreamhouse finally landed in the vibrant city of Bangkok, Thailand, back in June, with the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall-Winter 2022 Spin-Off Show. Circularity has always been essential to the late Virgil Abloh’s design language, as many fans of the brand will probably know by now. The Men’s Artistic Director’s legacy at Louis Vuitton is built on arcs, including the notion of coming of age, the global viewpoint, and the creative cycle. Circular motifs are used at the Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2022 Spin-Off Show in Bangkok to explore these concepts. Moreover, the show itself consolidated the motifs and sentiments of the eight-season arc Abloh designed…

On The Comeback Trail HONESTLY, NEVERMIND Drake The mighty Aubrey Drake Graham is back with his surprise seventh studio album titled “Honestly, Nevermind.” The Canadian superstar singer uniquely dropped his latest full-length album just a day after announcing it to the world on his Instagram account. The 14-track album features songs titled “Overdrive,” “Tie That Binds” and “Currents.” However it only features one guest, 21 Savage, in “Jimmy Cooks.” In line with the personal message that he sent to his followers via Apple Music when the album was released, it appears that Drake created “Honestly, Nevermind” as an effort to push himself creatively amid a trying period in his personal life. RENAISSANCE Beyoncé Global superstar Beyoncé announces her seventh studio album titled “Renaissance.” This record features 16 songs in total…

THE SANDMAN Stars Tom Sturridge, Gwendoline Christie, Vivienne Acheampong, Boyd Holbrook Based on the comic books written by Neil Gaiman and published by DC Comics, the series was developed for Netflix and is scheduled to debut this August 5. Like the comic, “The Sandman” tells the story of Morpheus or Dream (Tom Sturridge), the titular Sandman. In 1916, Morpheus, the king of dreams and one of the seven Endless, is captured in an occult ritual. After being held captive for 106 years, Morpheus escapes and sets out to restore order to his kingdom of the Dreaming. BLACK BIRD Stars Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi, Ray Liotta Apple TV+’s limited series “Black Bird” is one of the latest true-crime adaptations to hit streamers. The show is based on the…

Legendary watchmaker Kintarō Hattori established the company that would become Seiko back in 1881 and then continued to lead it until he passed away in 1934 at the age of 73. Fast forward to 1960 and Grand Seiko was established. It would then become the best expression yet of Kintarō Hattori’s philosophy that his company should be “always one step ahead of the rest.” This year, as the company celebrates its 141st anniversary, the storied Japanese brand released its very first mechanical complication watch named the Grand Seiko Kodo Constant-force Tourbillon. Kodo, named after the Japanese word for heartbeat, amazingly combines a tourbillon and a constant-force mechanism as one unit on a single axis. This marks the very first time such a combination is done in horological history. UNIQUE APPEARANCE…

Back in June, French luxury goods company Louis Vuitton held two special events in Bangkok. First was the highly awaited and star-studded event Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter 2022 Spin-Off Show held at The Pinnacle in ICONSIAM. And then there was the Louis Vuitton’s High Watch Collection, which was held at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok. Essentially, the maison showcased a unique selection of exceptional timepieces—pieces that are arguably at the pinnacle of high watchmaking savoir-faire and creativity—in Bangkok. The focus was decidedly on La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton’s meticulous craftsmanship and innovative prowess. Speaking of which, the latest release from Louis Vuitton that earned a spotlight in the horology world—and arguably the most special timepiece on display during the event in Bangkok—is none other than the Tambour Spin Time Air…

June 4, 2022, was a sweltering day, even for Jakarta standards. Temperatures on that Saturday were reported to reach 33 degrees Celsius and the humidity rarely dropped below 90 percent. Still, the roads leading towards Ancol were a bit extra congested. It was, of course, the day of the Jakarta ePrix, and a flood of race enthusiasts and proud Jakartans flocked the newly-built Jakarta International e-Prix Circuit. The occasion marked the first FIA-sanctioned race in Indonesia since 2006 and was the ninth round of the 2021–22 Formula E season. It’s safe to say that this inaugural showdown of electric racecars in the country was a momentous event. And on that historical day, DA MAN joined a team from TAG Heuer—the Swiss watch brand has been the official timekeeper of the…