fter spending a few moments with Jun Alday, there is little doubt that the man know's what he is talking about. He is a designer, primarily, who does not belong to the breed of heavily commercialised designers. There is rarely any compromise on quality or taste; suffice to say that most prospective clients appreciate Jun's style; and more importantly, there is unfaltering dedication to his art. Jun Alday by any standards, is a man committed to design.
This is immediately evident upon entry inito the newly opened Jun Alday Design Gallery in Wyndham Street. After almost 20 years of freelancing and working on international design projects, Jun decided that the time was ripe for embarking on a more commercial venture.
"I enjoyed the idleness that accompanied freelancing, working when and where I choose. I had little desire to step into any business enterprise fearing that it would become somethng of an artistic compromise. As was soon to discover however, time has a way of pushing oneself to where one belongs, and Hong Kong being the commercial place it is, I decided that I should perhaps position myself to project a business-like image." Jun explains.
The end result is a sophisticted yet very comfortable gallery that acts, as Jun says, as a showcase; not only housing the objects Jun regards with such appreciation but also as a forum for his 'sensitivities'. The pieces you see around you were selected because of a certain harmony or timelessness about them. Mine was a slow and discriminating acquisition, spread out over 10 years, during which time I further deepened my ability to acquire antiques through intuition. As anyone knows, in the antique business, the best teacher is one's own eye.
Jun Alday had a lot more to work with than intuition. Manila born and bred, he began receiving accolades for his work while he was still a student. His professional life took him from strength to strength, working with, as he did for a number of years, some of the region's best known names. Quite early in his career, Jun was responsible for creating the opulent looks of such notable and widely differing hotels as the Taj Coromandel Hotel in India, the Regent in Bangkok. There are also several prominent privte homes to his credit one of which, the Adrian Zecha residence on the Peak (completed in 1976), was featured in Architectural Digest.
But back to the gallery. The first thought that springs to mind when stepping into the domain that is now Jun Alday's pride and joy, is how calming the place is. Perhaps it is the subdued color scheme and the well placed spotlights. Combine this with soft classical music, and Jun as undoubtedly created more than just an antique store. Certainly, all the normal gallery trappings are there: the Chinese scrolls, semi-eroded Thai statues, gorgious coffee-table books. But more than that; the Jun Alday Gallery is an expression of the owner's personality, and in particular, an indication of his idea of good design. "Simplicity," he states matter-of-factly. "That is my general design concept. A simple and direct usage oand interpretation of materials with contemporary feeling."
It was this basic concept that led Jun into creating novelty and interest in otherwise purely functional items. Most of the everyday, practical items that we come into contact with, when used by Jun, become near works of art: a coffee mug, for example, glazed pottery in earthly undertones; paper-weights that are not the usual plastic and actylic but are instead rich pieces with character. As Jun stresses, there is, and well should be, beauty in everything we surround ourselves with.
Jun also explains that there should be a more of a feeling of composition in our interiors, as opposed to arrangement. Indeed, it does not take too trained an eye to perceive the very fluid, harmonising lines of Jun's gallery. Every corner has its own identity, forming part of a chain that is virtually unbroken. The precious objects d'art that line the gallery have been painstakingly composed so that, in one sweeping gaze, the gallery comes alive in a symphony of beautiful objects. These antiques are a constant source of inspiration to Jun.
"To me, these antiques represent the inner feelings of man. These inner feelings are manifested in tactile qualities or colour harmonies or even in their naturalness. Art and antiques are vehicles, that can transport you to another realm; it is the easiest thing to allow yourself to be captivated by a beautiful object, and to let it completely carry you away."
Jun advocates all things classical. "I am not concerned with fads or fashion, only with the timelessness of a particular object. My pieces transcend any culture."
This sense of 'now and always' is a permanent fixture in his mind as he tackles design projects that come his way. "My work is very graphic. I have to create space through layers of composition. If you bare a room, you are left essentially with four walls, a ceiling and the floor. Through the owners, I want to give spirit to the house, a spirit that emanates from a person who holds deep passion for items of beauty.
"Space is the last frontier of luxury, particularly in Hong Kong. Mine is an exercise in developing space, expanding space through non-physical means. It is very much a feeling; the most difficult thing to achieve is to convey this abstract feeling. All materials are merely incidental. Whatever I do, I must be consistent. If any one function is not properly designed or understood then I have failed in my role as a designer, which also incorporates a fair amount of psychology. I have to define the lifestyle of my clients and associates with a certain level of aesthetics."
Sometimes, however, reaching a compromise with clients can be the most difficult thing of all. As Jun admits, helping to design someone else's home is very much a two-way thing. "Most of my design philosophies cannot be digested by the average person. My
work carries a great deal of depth and therefore can only reach particular levels. I have been exposed to fine arts for many years and I know each piece carries its own merit. It is not everyone that can appreciate art as it is for a certain class of people. I do not say that in a derogatory way, it is fact."
Being a practical man, Jun acknowledges that perfection is difficult to come by, especially where acceptance of his work is concerned. "Naturally, I always ask for 100 per cent, hoping that my interpretation and design strategies will be closely followed. But I am also very realistic and will be happy with 80 per cent."
Religion has come to play a major part of Jun Alday's life. "I draw a great deal of tranquility from Buddism which I have followed for some years now. Although I was reared in the Philippines, which is a country very much inclined towards the West in culture and religion, I was fascinated with Eastern culture when I moved to Hong Kong. I studied many books on the subject and developed an affinity with Buddhism. Spirituality is now a very important part of my life."
Although his varied life keeps him happily occupied, he finds time for himself. "I have a good balance with work and play, for without one the other cannot exist. There is still a good deal I would wish to achieve. I hope to be able to communicate my message regarding the physical and spirtual aspect of space, which I can only do with the grace of patrons."
At this stage, that does not appear to be too much to ask. There is something very clear-cut about Jun's work, and a freshness in his approach to interior design that is bound to appeal to most people. He categorically states: "My work is very direct; either you like it or yu don't."
One look around his gallery and a scan through his portfolio makes it clear that it would be almost impossible not to like it.
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fter spending a few moments with Jun Alday, there is little doubt that the man know's what he is talking about. He is a designer, primarily, who does not belong to the breed of heavily commercialised designers. There is rarely any compromise on quality or taste; suffice to say that most prospective clients appreciate Jun's style; and more importantly, there is unfaltering dedication to his art. Jun Alday by any standards, is a man committed to design.
