Shopfront.

I’ve been going to Star Enterprise since I was a little kid. It’s a stationary shop in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. From the beginning it seemed like Aladdin’s cave, and as a grown-up person I find that it still has that ‘treasure stuffed in every corner’ feel of my childhood.

Ever since ARTERI started I wanted to do a photo gallery of the place. I think it’s been a big part of my artist life – from stickers to colour pencils to green rope to a particular brand of pen (Sakura) and a specific brand of locally produced art paper – I’ve always found what I needed at Star Enterprise. Maybe you will too!

Part II will feature more photos and a short interview with owner, Mrs. Tan.

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Figure template with movable joints. A favorite pass time of mine was to contort one into impossible positions, trace the outline and then fill it with patterns.

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Color pencils. This is the dangerous aisle for me.

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Can’t resist a cute pen. A plastic heart filled with little plastic hearts… oh man.

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Did you use this gum in school? I remember it had the consistency of snot. I may or may not have eaten some as a child.

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Crepe paper is one of my favorite materials. The color runs off when it touches water. I made some works for my first exhibition by cutting out shapes and putting them under the rain.

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Paper. This wall makes me feel like a kid a candy shop.

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Toy swords. My mom told me they also sell the wooden ones used for Tai Chi.

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It’s really hard to find the traditional marbles with the little swirl in the middle these days. When I saw these oversized ones I got them straight away. I want to turn them into jewelry.

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Cute umbrellas with all kinds of quirky handles!

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A friend once told me a story about how he was given money by his parents to go and buy his own cane.

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What can I say. It’s a load of baskets!

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Uh-oh. It’s ribbon-central. Star Enterprise has a really great haberdashery section.

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Ribbonzzzz!!

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Tulle netting in all sorts of candy colors. Reminds me candy floss.

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Beads! Beads! Beads!

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Detachable bowties. I guess this is the gentile version of the clip-on tie. Classy! I want one in every color.

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Foam forms.

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Alphabet stamps – little ones and big ones.

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Star Enterprise is located at 112 & 114 Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur. Phone: +(603) 77270757. Fax: +(603) 77290013

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