Monsters Rise Up

The American pop star's Singapore fans reveal how she changed their lives

- Yamini Chinnuswamy

FINDING A POP IDOL AND AN ART MUSE

Most fans dream of meeting their idols and perhaps getting an autograph or photograph together.

Singaporean Malcolm Luke, 27, has not met his idol, but he has something that might be better: her acknowledgement of him as a fellow creative.

In 2014, the aspiring artist who attended the Born This Way Ball concert in Singapore in 2012 was preparing for his N-level examinations at New Town Secondary School when his mobile phone pinged with a notification. Lady Gaga had just reposted an artwork he had drawn of her on her own Instagram account.

"It was 8pm and I had uploaded the sketch to my Instagram account just an hour or two before that. When I saw the notification, I jumped out of my seat, and called my mum and my friends to tell them about it. I remember my art teacher was also freaking out," says Mr Luke, who is studying illustration at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, Canada.

He flew back to Singapore in early May to attend the upcoming May 21 concert. He will also be selling prints of his Gaga-inspired artworks at the Mayhem Maker's Market on May 17.

Mr Luke has been a fan since around 2008, when Lady Gaga first appeared on the international music scene.

"I remember watching the music videos for Just Dance and Poker Face and just being so fascinated," he says.

Those were the singer's first two singles and they remain iconic hits within her music canon.

"She was so different and authentic to her own unique vision," Mr Luke adds. "She approaches fame and pop stardom almost like a piece of art. Even her paparazzi shots are so artistic, from her outfits to her poses."

That moment from 2014 of being seen and validated by his favourite music artiste was life-changing. "I decided that I would keep pursuing art, despite constantly hearing there is no future for it in Singapore."