The Pearl Lam Podcast

Эпизоды

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  Who Gets In? Hong Kong After Dark | Pearl Lam & Gilbert Yeung 09.09.2026 38мин

  What does it take to get inside Dragon-i and what does Hong Kong nightlife reveal about glamour, status and belonging? In this episode, Pearl Lam sits down with Gilbert Yeung, founder of Hong Kong’s legendary Dragon-i club, to explore the city’s nightlife, cultural evolution and the art of creating an unforgettable social experience. From the psychology behind the door policy to the design and energy that transformed Hong Kong’s club scene, Gilbert reflects on a remarkable era he describes as “a honeymoon for 30 years.”
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Harry Lee 01.06.2026 33мин

  In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined by Harry Lee, founder and chairman of the Hong Kong Choral Foundation, for a discussion on music, education and community-building in Hong Kong. The conversation explores choral music not simply as performance, but as a form of social and educational infrastructure. Lee reflects on the foundation’s efforts to provide students from under-resourced schools with access to structured choir training, and discusses how collective singing can foster confidence, discipline, collaboration and a stronger sense of belonging.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Su Xiaobai 03.06.2026 56мин

  In this Mandarin-language episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam speaks with artist Su Xiaobai. The discussion centres on Su’s practice, shaped by material, process and repetition, with a focus on his lacquer works. Reflecting on his development, he considers the interplay between control and chance, and the role of time, discipline and surface in the formation of his paintings. The episode also addresses the philosophical and cultural frameworks underpinning his work, including the influence of Eastern thought and the tension between tradition and contemporary expression. Working predominantly in monochrome, Su’s practice resists narrative, instead emphasising texture, depth and perception.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Angelle Siyang-Le 15.04.2026 34мин

  In this episode, Angelle Siyang-Le, Director of Art Basel Hong Kong, offers a measured and direct perspective on the realities shaping the art world. Grounded in her experience, she reflects on the differences between Eastern and Western frameworks, where competition is not inherently oppositional, but can function as a form of shared advancement. A passing comment in Hong Kong, describing the city as a “cultural desert,” becomes a point of interrogation, raising questions around perception, cultural authority, and how narratives are constructed. The discussion remains focused on how value is defined and sustained, and how cities position themselves within a global cultural landscape that continues to shift.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Qiu Anxiong & David Chan 09.04.2026 1ч 3мин

  In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined in Shanghai by Hong Kong-based curator David Chan and artist Qiu Anxiong to reflect on the evolving landscape of Chinese contemporary art. The conversation explores questions of visibility, cultural influence and the frameworks that have shaped global perceptions of Chinese contemporary art. Looking back to the early 2000s, when Chinese artists dominated biennials, exhibitions and auctions, they consider whether the current shift marks a decline or a more complex structural rebalancing. They also examine the expanding cultural infrastructure across Hong Kong and mainland China, and what it means for artists to engage with global audiences on their own terms through sustained inquiry, intellectual rigour and evolving forms of cultural exchange.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Alimi Adewale & Maria Bojan 06.03.2026 51мин

  In this episode of the Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined by artist Alimi Adewale and curator Maria Bojan for a conversation on art, authorship and the complexities of the global contemporary landscape. The discussion examines the Western tradition of “art for art’s sake” and the expectation that artists must occupy fixed positions within cultural discourse. Together, they question the role of taste in shaping art history and address the persistent “fetish of authenticity” that continues to frame how non-Western artists are perceived in a global context. The conversation also considers what it means for artists from China, Africa, Europe and beyond to engage with one another outside imposed narratives — focusing instead on artistic strength, intention and shared creative language. A dialogue on cultural exchange, critical frameworks and the shifting structures of the art world today.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Georgina Adam 12.02.2026 44мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam is joined by art market journalist and author Georgina Adam to examine the evolving dynamics of the global art market. Drawing on historical insight and current developments, the conversation explores structural challenges such as liquidity, high transaction costs, and the art market’s fundamental differences from traditional financial systems. It also addresses the influence of technology and digital art, alongside ongoing concerns around transparency and environmental sustainability. The discussion considers generational shifts, geopolitical uncertainty, and demographic constraints in emerging markets as continuing pressures on the sector. Despite these complexities, the exchange conveys a measured optimism that a sustained commitment to art will continue to underpin the market’s long-term resilience.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Charles Li 29.01.2026 53мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam speaks with Charles Li, author and professor of linguistics, in a conversation shaped by history, culture, and lived experience. Drawing on a transcription rich with significant historical dates and timelines, the discussion traces transformative periods in China’s political and cultural evolution, situating personal narrative within broader historical change. The exchange reflects deeply rooted cultural values, examining how traditional Chinese icons such as Lord Guan and Confucius continue to influence personal ethics and collective identity. Li’s journey highlights personal resilience and academic achievement, revealing how education and cultural negotiation shaped his path across China, Hong Kong, and the United States. Economic realities are woven throughout the conversation, from the cost of a modest meal in 1958 to the long-term significance of academic royalties, offering a vivid picture of past financial conditions and the support systems that sustained intellectual life. The dialogue also addresses experiences of racial prejudice and institutional discrimination, underscoring a critical stance toward unfair cultural and political practices. Bridging Eastern and Western perspectives, the conversation invites reflection on how different cultures approach art, education, power, and individualism in an increasingly globalized world.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Dr Eva Cwynar 16.01.2026 27мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam speaks with Dr. Eva Cwynar, an endocrinologist and metabolic specialist whose work focuses on hormones, metabolism, and longevity.Their conversation explores contemporary thinking around anti-aging and the enduring search for a “fountain of youth,” examining how advances in hormonal science, metabolic health, and regenerative medicine are reshaping ideas of ageing. Dr. Cwynar discusses the role hormones play in energy, resilience, and overall vitality, alongside emerging interventions such as peptides and their potential impact on cellular repair and biological ageing.Moving beyond surface-level aesthetics, the discussion considers anti-aging as a broader framework for sustaining health, function, and quality of life over time. Throughout the episode, medical insight is balanced with personal reflection, grounding complex science in lived experience and practical understanding of longevity in everyday life.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Daniel McClean 07.01.2026 35мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, cultural influencer Pearl Lam sits with art aficionado, lawyer and art magazine writer Daniel McClean who regularly writes and produces shows in the art world. To Pearl Lam’s delight, this is a man who wears many hats and who has also authored and edited several books while acting as an independent curator with commercial gallery experience. “I see the good, the bad and the ugly,” says Daniel McClean about his bird’s eye view of the ever-changing art business. The duo discusses the importance of authentication as Pearl Lam draws viewers to the fact that despite the increasing digitalisation the art world is enduring, people’s interest in Old Masters is actually being revived instead of dwindling. This is where Daniel McClean shares his experience, using an example where AI authenticated a Caravaggio in an auction. The lawyer believes that artificial intelligence could provide valuable assistance in this process, with careful human guidance, since he doesn’t believe that AI-authentication could be entirely definitive. This illuminating episode also delves into blockchain technology, the rising concerns of maintaining legacy through art, the changing role of art custodians and how art is currently being showcased and curated in exciting new ways.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Michal Korman 23.12.2025 32мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, cultural influencer Pearl Lam sits in Slovak-born academic painter Michal Korman’s art studio in Burgundy, France. Candid discussions about delicious French delicacies aside, the conversation with artist Korman paints a sumptuous picture of a man who since childhood began a lifelong career in art. Having thrived as a Parisian painter, Korman brings Pearl Lam and the audience into a fascinating world of meditative brushstrokes, the transformation of Soviet symbolism into Greco-Roman inspired landscapes and the thought-provoking differences between East Asian and Western Renaissance art. Pearl Lam steers the talk into the territory of AI art and the dwindling demand for fine-tuned skills, a trend which is on the rise in the increasingly digital art world. Here, Korman explains the enduring power of the hand-painted art he creates while sharing one frustrating experience when he “painted” with a computer and found the process severely lacking in craftsmanship. Overall, this episode provides viewers with a fascinating insight into the future of art, the globalisation of styles and places where ancient Eastern wisdom has influenced the artistic traditions celebrated in the Western world.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Anders Petterson 21.11.2025 52мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam meets in London with Anders Petterson, founder and CEO of the art-market research firm ArtTactic. Anders traces his path from investment banking into contemporary art and examines how the market has shifted over the past 25 years, noting that the present moment represents a significant turning point for many galleries.The discussion covers the pressures associated with major art fairs such as Frieze and Art Basel, the effects of geopolitical instability and economic slowdown, and the widening divide between mega-galleries and younger spaces. With Pearl contributing her perspective as a gallerist, the conversation expands to consider sustainability, risk, and the forms of art ecosystems that may be viable in the decades to come.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Ben Luke 20.11.2025 41мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam sits down with Ben Luke, one of the most respected voices in contemporary art criticism and host of A Brush with… and The Week in Art for The Art Newspaper. Drawing from his extensive experience speaking with artists, curators, and cultural leaders, Ben reflects on how art can serve as a bridge across social and political divides. The conversation moves fluidly from the question of whether curators need formal art history backgrounds to the wider role of the humanities in nurturing empathy and critical thinking. As they discuss the state of Britain’s cultural landscape, both Pearl and Ben consider how education, creativity, and open dialogue can foster a more connected and compassionate society.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Romy Jacobson 16.10.2025 39мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam sits down with numerologist Romy Jacobson for an insightful conversation about intuition, energy, and the numerical patterns that shape human experience. Romy explains how numbers reveal hidden aspects of personality, behavior, and destiny, offering a lens through which to understand the rhythm and flow of life. Pearl reflects on her own relationship with intuition and the ongoing dialogue between logic and energy that informs her worldview. Their discussion moves beyond numbers into broader questions of consciousness, synchronicity, and the unseen forces that guide everyday experiences. Together, they explore how awareness of these energetic patterns can deepen self-understanding and help navigate the world with greater clarity and purpose.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Cleo Roberts Komireddi 30.09.2025 33мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl speaks with curator and art historian Cleo Roberts-Komireddi about her journey into Indian art and the shifting dynamics of the global art world. Cleo reflects on formative encounters with performance art in India that challenged her perceptions and inspired her lifelong research, leading to her forthcoming book on Indian art history. The discussion explores the challenges facing academia and the art market today, from the impact of technology and AI to generational shifts in collecting and museum-going. Cleo and Pearl consider the rise of immersive art, the changing role of institutions, and the future of patronage in an uncertain economy, while also touching on Cleo’s passion for writing, research, and building cross-cultural connections through art.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Suzi Godson 18.09.2025 41мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam sits down in London with Suzi Godson, psychologist, journalist, and author of the long-running advice column Dear Suzi. Their conversation explores themes of emotional well-being, modern relationships, and the challenges of navigating vulnerability in contemporary life. Suzi reflects on how her insights are shaped by both personal experience and professional practice, offering perspectives on empathy, connection, and the ways people navigate the complexities of human emotion.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Kevin Kwan 03.09.2025 40мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl Lam sits down the internationally acclaimed author, Kevin Kwan. Kevin’s rise to fame can be attributed to his bestselling book, Crazy Rich Asians. During their discussion, they delve into the intricate dynamics of East–West cultural dialogue and emphasise the significance of telling Asian stories in a global context. They also explore Kevin’s journey to becoming a prominent author, delving into his childhood experiences in Singapore and the United States. Kevin candidly shares how many of his characters are based on real people and experiences, providing valuable insights into how personal histories can shape storytelling and resonate with audiences across the globe.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Damian Elwes 14.08.2025 45мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl travels to Los Angeles to meet British artist Damian Elwes. Renowned for his depictions of the studios of creative figures such as Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet, Elwes has built a career marked by both artistic curiosity and historical imagination. After studying at Harvard and an encounter with Keith Haring that inspired him to paint, Elwes debuted works that were exhibited alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat. His career spans diverse chapters, from experimenting with graffiti in New York to years spent living in Colombia. In their conversation, Pearl and Elwes trace these formative experiences and reflect on the journey that brought them together.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Keyu Jin 25.07.2025 40мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl sits down with renowned economist Keyu Jin, Professor at the London School of Economics and author of The New China Playbook, for a nuanced conversation about China's evolving global identity. Together, they unpack the layers of misunderstanding between China and the West, the myths surrounding the Chinese economy, and the generational transformation reshaping ambition, consumption, and individualism within the country. Keyu gives a rare insider’s perspective, bridging her academic insights with her lived experience across Beijing, London, and the United States. From economic reform to innovation, from demographic shifts to soft power, this episode invites listeners to challenge assumptions and consider how cultural context shapes economic behavior. Whether you’re curious about the future of global trade, the rise of Gen Z in China, or the broader implications of China's rise, this episode offers both clarity and complexity in equal measure.
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  The Pearl Lam Podcast | With Alex Han and Ed Lee 09.07.2025 32мин

  In this episode of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Pearl sits down with Alex Han and Ed Lee, the founders of RED FLAGGED, a London-based platform created to support and amplify Queer East and Southeast Asian communities. What began as a response to the lack of visibility and safe spaces for queer Asians in the city has evolved into a vital cultural movement grounded in activism, creativity, and care. Together, they unpack the deeper purpose behind RED FLAGGED’s mission, creating spaces where marginalised voices are not just included, but actively celebrated. From late-night parties that challenge conventional club culture to curated community events and wellness-focused programming, Alex and Ed share how RED FLAGGED focuses on solidarity and connection across generations and identities. Pearl, Alex, and Ed delve into the emotional labour involved in holding space for others, and the transformative potential of being truly seen and heard. Throughout the conversation, themes of identity, cultural belonging, representation, and chosen family come to the forefront. Check out REDFLAGGED on Instagram: @redflaggedorg