Lin Zhipeng and Liu Ren, respectively. The private view at Privé Restaurant.

The evening was hosted at Privé, one of Singapore's new signature destinations. Set along the new Keppel Island Marina, it has a stunning view of Daniel Libeskind's emerging Reflections project and picture-perfect garden harbour views.  It included a range of participants and a top-notch food and wine selection from Michel and Yuan, Privé owners.

Who was there?

Lisa Botos, OoiBotos, Hong Kong's hot contemporary gallery

Araya Solomon, Accenture

Erica Dubern, RioTinto

Nadav Lehavy, AIG

Virginia Yang, Yahoo Mobile

Philip Hemnell, a VC and collector

Jon Kiehnau, meitimedia.com - a media consultancy

David Dietz, working with the US Centers for Disease Control in Washington DC

The discussion kicked off with a Carnival cruise ship setting out through lush foliage only meters away from the group, framing a surreal perspective as a sea of yellow windows glided past. Blackberries flashed.

Lisa starts: "Photo based art is so hyper-real now people expect to see things in a grittier way... people want flawless... photo is the medium of the 21st century and it includes video and installation." Her gallery, OoiBotos, specializes in contemporary Chinese art. Lisa sees it shifting radically as the Chinese explore their new world with photography, their principal medium of expression.

On aesthetic, Lisa points to artists like Russell Wong, Yee I-Lann, Liu Ren, Lin Zhipeng, and others photoshopping works that take months to complete, forming a hybrid photo-digital art experience.  This manipulation is stretching the definition of "photo" to the point that "the definition of photograph needs to shift." These artists represent a new aesthetic that combines many photos into a single 'hyper-real' image, one that tells multiple stories.

"There's incredible art out there and its on Flickr." Philip, a collector, embraced the hi-lo: not only does he buy at auction from leaders like Christie's, he also regularly trolls Flickr for beautiful images to add to his collection. 

Everyone agreed on the idea that photography has widened dramatically in recent years, driven by digital and the idea that anything can be shared - but not everyone felt that anyone can be a great photographer. Who judges? It quickly fell into three camps - the collective, the expert, and "ME".

Nadav gravitated toward the idea that experts still control the aesthetic we experience - "Everybody can take a good picture, but that doesn't mean they are a good photographer," a sentiment echoed by Araya, who maintained that photo greatness "comes down to repetition. Can you repeat your success? If not, it doesn't matter."

Virginia, who works on mobile design interfaces for Yahoo, took the Silicon Valley approach, that crowd sourced wisdom would win out over the expert.  In her world, the best aesthetic floats up, filtered by millions of users who collectively judge the value of images and ideas.  "The internet has changed the definition of what success is in photography," she says. "Flickr made it possible for everyone to distribute their art." But from an aesthetics point of view, this translates to: Would you rather have your photo embraced by many with little financial return, or acclaimed by an expert for large reward?

The final view came from Philip: "For me, the only thing that matters is what I think of a piece."

David shifted gears, telling a story about a health ship connected to the US Centers for Disease Control he has been working on.  The ship visits villages, clinics and hospitals around Asia.  Recently in Vietnam the group and locals helping them were shooting scenes in a ward, and one of the photos taken by a local youth turned out to really capture their idea of the moment.  It found its way into the CDC briefing booklet, and eventually to the desk of US President George Bush.His point is that a great image defines a moment and our memory of it, and instantly becomes larger than the person who created it. But perspective defines the photo - only the Vietnamese kid saw what he shot, and it was his view that later defined the moment for all.  Today, a good photo can come from anyone and travel anywhere.

The perspective example was highlighted when the group suddenly switched sides: half had been watching a neon bridge shift colors over the harbour, while the others had a view of Privé, its happenings and lush foliage.  After the change both sides felt they liked "their side" better, until they settled into their new view.

Erica expanded on this, introducing the group to "thought pollution." Because she has limited time to appreciate photography and art, she is finding that "ingrained visuals" are increasingly reminding her of brands.  As car companies co-opt winding roads and alcohol brands barrage us with images of friends having fun, Erica increasingly finds herself thinking of these brands when she encounters a real-life experience "that feels like an ad."  It happens with music too, where the youngs unwittingly have brand triggered memories instead of their own experience memories.  If you only know a Bob Marley song and Caribbean beach from a rum ad, when you encounter the real version of either, people increasingly associate it to the rum instead of building their own experience with it.

"My reality is too real" she says, reflecting on how this glossed expectation can breed disappointment with real experiences, because an image of a location is almost always better than the real thing.  "That's because you didn't get up at 5am and hike 10 miles covered in tsetse flies to get the shot," says Philip, with a touch of regret.

From here the conversation veers into the surreal - snuff films and nudes vs. porn - what is art, porn or news in a world that is so visually manipulated?  "Context is fundamental," confides Virginia.  Jon offers: " Some things are just because they are.  With all photography a piece is only worth the storytelling it does."  But what about now, where images are increasingly altered to match our changing view of what's aesthetically pleasing?  "No pixels, no graininess allowed" says Lisa, referring to more than low quality images but to the very idea of sight - we want everything sanitized and perfect, with little regard to TRUTH.

So when it comes to our expanding ability to manipulate an image, and therefore manipulate the truth, where is the line? The aesthetic is defined by the images we receive.  "It's hard to believe what I see" says David, because he knows the news is first edited, then manipulated, to create an image the editor thinks the reader wants.

"Everything hinges on a photo" and the images polarize the view:  "Stewart and Colbert are the Rather and Cronkite of our generation."  "Barack is the new black."  It all boils down to a "fist bump, vs. I can't raise my arm" - images that decide everything for us, regardless of the facts.

As the neon links on the bridge fade to black, someone summed up the deepening mood perfectly. "Trust is truth, but truth isn't trust."  Which means: in a world where images are totally manipulated, we can believe what we see, but that doesn't mean it ever really happened.

For generations Ibiza has captivated the hedonist imagination, a magnet for hippies, clubbers, DJs,European sunseekers, and increasingly, the rich. The Balearic island is situated in the Spanish Med, and enjoys a well-deserved reputation as an epicenter of global Bohemian life. Yet change is afoot with Spain's newly elected leadership, resulting in a fast moving sensibility reinventing the very idea of Ibiza - finally morphing into something a little less frenetic.

Click for details on Hub's Summer Residency in Ibiza.        Get Weekend Pass

The north of Ibiza offers pristine views, and Hub Culture Secret Beach No, the red circle isn't it - that's Benirras, a popular hotspot.

Arrivals

Rampant over-development in the last twenty years across Spain has resulted in a host of infrastructure amenities that have eroded the natural vibe of Ibiza, but made it an easy place to visit and consume.

Arrivals at the well designed,modern airport are a breeze, and its just a short ride into Ibiza town, which features a walled village perched on a high part of the island.Endless traffic jams and the pressure of high season tourism mean that taxis can be a pain, so its best to rent a car and use it as an escape mechanism to the beautiful, less visited parts of the island to the north and southwest. Try BK Rentals, which offer the best rates and easy bookings through doyouspain.com — a website that makes car rentals an unusual cinch.If you need a private driver, try Antonio on +34670067888.

Where to Stay

Avoid the western town of San Antonio, (site of the world famous Cafe del Mar and Mambo Cafe), at all costs, as it features completely the wrong type of crowd. In Ibiza town on the east side, the new Hotel Nord and Ibiza Gran offer easy access to many restaurants and clubs. They are a good option if you are just there to sample the nightlife. Es Vive, a European favorite, is more nightclub than hotel and a fun option for those who don’t plan to sleep at night.

For a better experience, try getting out to a private villa in the surrounding hills, or head to the smaller boutique estates in the north. Ibiza Moving Arts, near Sant Llorenc, offers a tranquil setting and lush gardens in a 400 year old Ibizencan country house, with a yoga studio and regular classes at very reasonable rates. Xavier (a well connected Uruguayan who also runs the cafe at S’Estanyol beach) is opening a new property in the far north called Hotel Astante. It is near Ses Casetes and features beautiful rock hewn rooms, chill out areas, and hiking trails to private beaches on the estate’s 14 hectares of land — heaven.

Beach!

Ibiza is largely known for its two best beaches, Sa Trinxa and Salinas. Both are packed all summer long, and a host of beach clubs and cafes offer full service menus, lounge chairs and activities for the intrepid onlooker. Sa Trinxa offers better people watching. On the west coast Cap la Bassa and Cala Salada at Punta Galera are great beaches, and the white sand at Cala Salada and Cala Conta are locally known as some of the best on the island.

In the north, Benirras offers a stunning view and acceptable sand in a cove surrounded by green lands protected from development — with the occasional drumming concert. Farther north, near Portinax, are a series of small beaches with clear turquoise waters.

One of these includes Hub Culture Secret Beach, an isolated location with access as part of a suite of scheduled activities in Hub Culture’s summer 2008 residency project in Ibiza. It runs from July 15 - September 10 with a number of local partners, with a special weekend of activities 1-3 August.

Restaurants and the Social Scene

Hub Culture is teaming up with the Macao Cafe group to create a residency programme for summer 2008, which will include VIP access at a temporary beach pavilion for the season for Hub Culture members. Macao Cafe will operate the location, with Hub Culture running activities throughout the season that include yoga from Quantum Yoga, beach massage, sports, and special events.

New clubland laws are set to have a big effect on the Ibiza scene for the busy summer season, with new closing regulations that reduce the 24 hour club cycle that has existed over the last several years. The clubs have become very bottle-service and VIP oriented, financially shutting out people who really just want to enjoy the incredible music Ibiza has to offer.

Pacha, Space and KM5, three of the Ibiza’s biggest and best clubs, will thus reduce their hours of operation to close from 6AM to Noon, and DJ King Pete Tong will be moving his famous Friday set from Pacha to Wonderland at Eden “to encourage bringing back the music” to the center of the Ibiza scene.

Rob Marmot, another top DJ who performs with Pete, will be spinning at Blue Marlin Beach Club on Wednesdays (great party!) and Es Vive. Don’t miss Sven Väth, the hot new thing on the scene.

At some point all that dancing requires fuel, and Ibiza has no shortages on the food scene. Beach goers like to eat at Tropicana Cafe and then bump down to the afore mentioned Blue Marlin for the social scene, and Macao Cafe offers locations around the island and their upcoming beach pavilion, Macao Cafe on the Rocks. Casa Colonial, Sole Luna and Bambudda Grove are all good locations for a nice evening meal.

Before you leave, its worth taking a little drive up north to Santa Juan de Labritja, a tiny village that has become quite the in spot for sophisticated people watching. Here you can pop in on the lovely Gisela, a German native of Ibiza who has watched the scene evolve for over 30years. From running the door at famous clubs in the 1980s, she opened her own clothing label and gallery, which eventually turned into Gisela, a collection of beautiful Ibiza style clothes.

Favored by everyone from Kate Moss to JadeJagger to Calvin Klein, every custom piece is both revealing and a true work of art. If you’re lucky, maybe she’ll sit down with you for a cup of tea inher studio, and share a story or two about the old Ibiza and its bohemian roots. Although those days are gone in the busy, clubby south, you might just believe it still exists in the north, if only by the twinkle in her wise blue eyes.

Every so often it's necessary to follow the earnest advice of friends and visit a place outside your comfort zone. Baghdad isn't ready for you, and it's sticky in Dhaka, so may we suggest Beirut? It's on the verge again and could really use some tourist dollars to help patch things up. Quietly, they say the city is on the road to recovery following recent dramas. Beautiful weather this time of year also makes Beirut an unsung spot. It may not be heaving the way it was, but trust us, you can never travel too far for a good shwarma!

arrivals

Inside B018... still kickin' it after 10 years

If at all possible, arrive with your Lebanese friends who are now all living in Dubai, if only just for the weekend. This will vastly improve your chances of getting the VIP bottle service at an over-rated night club later on, and since so many have decamped for the GCC, you might find Beirut more fun with them back in town.

You don’t really want to drive in Beirut, but the countryside is so stunning you’re eventually going to want to go for an adventure—either up to the mountains or down toward the beaches south of the city. You might as well at least look like a low-level local in your inked-out Benz.

your stay

There are a few beautiful hotels in the center of Beirut, and located so close to the waters of the Mediterranean, you can’t really go wrong by taking your chances. The key to the hotel scene is to make sure you can be seen, preferably sauntering right out to an adjacent beach. If you want “cultural old town,” try a different city, Amman perhaps. Beirut is about beach proximity.

The well informed choose either Le Vendome Intercontinental (great roof-top lounge views) or the Albergo, which has a cool little roof-top pool and a great general manager named Michel. The Albergo is all about cozy and feels like you’ve just entered your industrialist great-grandfather’s private retreat kingdom.

food and entertainment

Beirut is a city for the soul, especially if your soul is connected to your stomach. Where else can you sit in a beach-side jacuzzi munching a fennel-laced focaccia with a cedary wine? While local wine (which strangely CAN be recommended) does not taste of “hint of cedar,” the idea seeps into the consciousness, casting a stately aroma in the mind as you swirl the red concoction across your tongue at sunset.

For lunch, pop into Abdel Wahab, home of Beirut’s best chicken shwarma and a beautiful crowd stuffing their faces ever so delicately. Lunch can be at noon, night, or late night, depending on how late you were out last night. You could always surprise yourself and try Cactus for great Mexican food, not the first cuisine you would expect, but the local in-crowd swears by the fajitas.

Cactus Gemmayze
961-1-445-544

Beiruts bunker mentality doesn't stop the beats

Two clubs in Beirut have achieved such legendary status they make Studio 54 look like a dry run. The only possible comparison to Crystal and B-018 might be Tramps in London or Les Caves du Roy in St. Tropez. You know the scene: lots of cheese and ladies who please.

But despite all that, Crystal remains the place to shake your moneymaker with rocking house and ambient groove all night long. Later (like only after 4 a.m.), you can venture to B-O18, still the underground bunker king of Beirut nightlife. The generation-z kids will have departed by then, leaving the hard-core partiers in charge.

Slightly more sophisticated and ever so fun are Music Hall and the Sky Bar, the latter at the top of the Palm Beach Hotel. It’s a few minutes from the center, but everyone loves the LA-inspired bar setting, and it's the perfect place for sunset.

culture

Beirut is a city of nightlife, not cultural snobbery. That said, why not check out Beirut’s growing contemporary art scene and the hip little gallery Espace SD? The gallery promotes homegrown talent with an eye toward lesser known foreign artists but really shines with its weekly movie club that screens old and new Lebanese movies in a virtually private setting since hardly anyone goes. The movies are very cool if you don’t take them seriously, and the space provides a great respite from the party-hearty atmosphere across the rest of the city.

Espace SD
S. Dagher Building
Charles Helou Ave.
961-1-563-114

If you pop into town during the summer, it’s worth checking out the Byblos International Festival, in mid-July. It features the most random lineups in the world, but is on hold in 2008 due to the recent trubs. Even though some claim Beirut is the “New York” nightlife capital of the Middle East, reality requires a wry sense of humor to enjoy it, so go with the mission of getting this once thriving capital back on its feet.