Matthew Bax: The artistic life of a top Singapore barman

It's not easy being Matthew Bax. He's one of the best bartenders in town, runs the very classy watering hole known as the Tippling Club, and as we recently discovered, he's an avid artist and painter as well. In two days his latest exhibition opens at the Fost Gallery, and we caught up with the young (36 this year) Australian mixologist-entrepreneur to find out how he juggles it all.

For a man who's known for bringing drinks such as the Velvet Fog and other cocktails to our shores, Bax is remarkably talented as an artist. This month, he will showcase his artistic flair in a new form at his exhibition of thought-provoking mixed-media paintings entitled "Is Text Cheating?" which looks at the hide and seek nature of personal-public communication in today’s world of Twitter and blogs. The series is very private and personal to Bax, who told us that "the text, questions and statements are about the tight-rope we walk in lives with our emotions and how exposed we allow ourselves to be. It's about honesty with ourselves and others."

But where does he find the time to do it all? "I don't get much sleep or have much in the way of spare time. The art comes first, it’s my main priority," admits Bax, who finds inspiration in the ordinary and everyday. "It's important for me to work in themes that resonate with the majority of people. Art that's distant and confusing can lose its power and purpose. The series is actually about communication with ourselves, the hide and seek we play when interacting with the outside world."

To pursue his artistic dreams, Bax furthered his studies in Singapore at LaSalle College of the Arts to help him grow as an artist. "The success I have found with my other career I think confuses people -- people generally want to pigeonhole you. Art comes first regardless of the luck, awards and recognition I have enjoyed in the drink/food world." 

Bax also confesses that his art practice does have an influence on his cocktail creations. "I think it’s given me confidence to take risks and research new things. If you look closely enough at the food world, especially with cocktails, this is actually a pretty rare attribute. It's disheartening how unoriginal and lazy so many 'name' bartenders are. If you are constantly looking for new things and ways of improving (as you should be in the studio) you are bound to stand out. Not every idea will be a winner but that’s the only way to find something truly special -- by making lots and lots of mistakes," he confides.

It's also clear how his artistic inclinations shows in his cocktails -- from the Kopi-O (served in a takeaway drawstring bag) to the Imperialist (inspired by traditional herbal chicken soup) and Mb’s Apple Pie (served in a golden arches-inspired cardboard casing), Tippling Club's cocktail menu is full of Bax's little touches.

"Is Text Cheating?" is Bax’s second collection to show in Singapore.