Olivia Rodrigo with an Aupen bag (Photo: Aupen)
If you have been in the fashion realm, chances are you may have seen Aupen, the Singaporean luxury handbag brand, known for its unique, asymmetrical bags that have been carried by some of the world’s most famous celebrities, from Beyoncé to Olivia Rodrigo. Their bag’s sleek and refined design makes it a popular choice for many, having showcases and pop-ups in global fashion hubs like Paris and Singapore.
So, for all the fashion lovers in the metro, you’re in luck because Aupen is finally having a pop-up in Manila, but not in the way you may have expected.
Aupen founder Nicholas Tan returns to his design roots from his years developing the brand’s silhouettes, bridging luxury handbag design to fine art by expanding into sculpture, painting, and installation for his first solo exhibition at 125 Projects in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.
Nicholas Tan at 125 Projects (Photo: 125 Project)
When asked why he chose Manila for his debut in the art world, Tan told The Diarist, “I wanted to be able to experiment with the space, make mistakes, change things, and allow the exhibition to develop almost like a studio.” And from the way the exhibit came together, there’s a sense of freedom to showcase his multidisciplinary skills.
“If something no longer has use, what else can it become?” Tan has been quoted as saying.
Tan’s first solo exhibition ultimately raises the question of what happens when a form has a life outside of its original purpose.
Once you enter the space, you can see how Aupen’s signature asymmetrical Purpose bag silhouette serves as a recurring shape and visual language throughout, demonstrating that when the handbag’s form is removed from its functionality, the meaning shifts rather than seeing its value disappear.
Artworks by Nicholas Tan (Photo: 125 Projects)
This is evident in Tan’s most personal work, a hand-carved wooden heart-shaped sculpture that reads in handwriting: “I thought you broke my heart, but you showed me the cracks that were already there.” Tan said he created the piece during a difficult time of his life and that it helped him see things from a different perspective.
Artworks by Nicholas Tan (Photo: Nicolette David)
Moving past the sharp, geometric form patterned on the cloth draped beneath and drawn on the sculpture itself, the meaning has evolved to become a visual vehicle conveying a message that many can relate to, whether they’d want to admit it or not.
Artwork by Nicholas Tan (Photo: 125 Projects)
The structured shape can also be seen in other pieces of the gallery, one being an LED sign that speaks of a regret we may have kept to ourselves.
Nicholas Tan’s LED sign (Photo: Nicolette David)
There are also slanted box-like frames for various materials, such as a mirror, as well as paintings and prints featuring newly created designs and signature Aupen shapes as patterns on canvas, sculptures, and fabrics. There’s even the asymmetrical silhouette displayed on glass, as though spray-painted on, accompanied by text reminding visitors that they are art.
Tan reminds viewers, ‘You are the art.’ (Photo: 125 Projects)
Photo: IG Story from @nicholastanstudio
The form is then no longer only for function, but rather something self-reflective or simply showing how a figure can take on new life as a sculpture, symbol, and memory.
Nicholas Tan at 125 Projects (Photo: 125 Projects)
Stepping into this full solo show is only the start. When asked about the most challenging aspect of bringing this exhibit to life, Tan said, “The hardest part was letting go and embracing the process of creation without having solutions or answers.”
He explained that having a background in science from his university degree and design from AUPEN trained him to want answers, but creating his art pieces required almost the opposite instinct.
From this collection, Tan looks forward to going beyond handbag craftsmanship, stating, “I see this exhibition as the beginning of a vocabulary rather than the conclusion of an idea. I’m interested in the opposite: moving freely between design, sculpture, and other mediums without insisting that they remain separate disciplines.”
Tan may not have a specific next project in mind as an artist, but his deep love for his craft drives him forward, embracing a future of shared discipline to show that his art, whether it’s in a different form or message, can still resonate with us.
Besides the art pieces, if you are a handbag connoisseur, Aupen has a pop-up in the exhibit with Tan’s highly acclaimed bags. This includes two of his purple Nirvana bags that are a love letter to Manila, as they are a city exclusive.
One is embellished with rhinestones, while the other features the asymmetrical Purpose bag shape on the print, which is a limited edition with only 125 pieces available—the quantity being in dedication to where the exhibit is held.
Tan’s Manila-exclusive Nirvana bags (Photo: Nicolette David)
If you also like Aupen’s Purpose bag, there are three editions on display: black, tweed blue, and tweed Sakura, and all designs will only be available at the gallery.
Tan’s Purpose bags (Photo: Nicolette David)
Aupen founder Nicholas Tan’s debut exhibition and designer pop-up is open to the public until August 30, 2026, at 125 Projects, NBS Park, 125 Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. Opening hours are from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm.
Photo: 125 Projects
