Abasi Rosborough

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Antwaun Sargent

Author, Art Critic, and Curator

This year, Sargent authored The New Black Vanguard: Photography Between Art and Fashion (Aperture), a book championing the work of young black artists.

What made 2019 meaningful for you?

The response to my book affirmed why I critically engage art, and reminded me that it is an opportunity for us to consider fundamentally who we are, the power of beauty, and the future possibilities we can imagine. I also think that organizing exhibitions has been an opportunity for me to propose new possibilities of seeing.

What is your goal as a writer and art critic?

Today to be an art critic is to really reassess the history of art in America and the wider world and to think about the spaces that exist in that history to help tell a fuller story of us.

I always think about the artists that I grew up knowing. And I want to make sure that the generation that comes behind me has an opportunity to really engage with a rich past that could be informative to their futures.

What inspires you?

I’m super fascinated by the fact that we all live in the same world, yet the ways that individuals respond to that world are infinite. When we’re thinking about notions of identity, we might have some commonality, but what you see on the canvas or what you see in the photograph or in a video, it’s just wildly different. That level of interpretation, that level of fantasy, really is endlessly inspiring to me.

What’s on the horizon for 2020?

In 2020, I will continue my commitment to Black artists by writing criticism, curating exhibitions, and engaging in public dialogues that explore the power and possibility of black art. These are really just ways to show your thinking and the ways you hope the world would operate.

Menswear Design Duo

In 2019, Abasi Rosborough designed their entire collection of tailored suiting in 3D, a process that drew major attention in the fashion world.

How was 2019 meaningful for you and your business?

ABASI: I look back and take stock of those dreams that I had 10 years ago. And it’s amazing to realize those in real life. We did that this year, which was incredible.

How did you land on Abasi Rosborough’s mission?

ABASI: Every experience I’ve had thus far has brought me to where I stand today. From being born a first generation Nigerian-American, to joining the US Army and finally studying Menswear Design in New York.

ROSBOROUGH: The first time I put on a suit in college, I didn’t like it, I didn’t feel like myself. I told myself I would never have a career where I had to wear a suit and tie. As I grew up and became more interested in design, I found that many people felt the same way.

I think when you’re speaking about identity, it’s important at this day and age with everything being enveloped in technology, there can be a bit of a coldness to it. And I think fashion, when it speaks to identity and it’s done right, still speaks to the individuality and there’s a warmth to it.

What inspires you?

ROSBOROUGH: We live in New York City, the greatest city in the universe, and I think when we walk outside, we’re inspired by everything, whether it’s architecture, transportation design, or communication design. It’s very important that our suit functions in different microclimates and situations, so New York City is like the testing and proving ground for us. And it’s also where we call home.

What are you most excited for in 2020?

ABASI: For the 2020 collection, we designed everything in 3D. And it’s a quantum leap forward in the design power that the designer has. It’s kind of like going from a sketchbook into a computer. Your ability to iterate quickly is incredibly powerful.

What’s your greatest achievement as designers?

ROSBOROUGH: Clients who come in and say, “I wore this for this event or this presentation and I felt more like myself than I’ve ever felt before,” that’s the highest compliment we get. Beyond any awards or anything else.

Kopitiam Kopitiam

Award-Winning Restaurant Owners

Malaysian for “Coffee Shop,” this Lower East Side restaurant garnered nominations in 2019, a nod to fans who see its innovative cuisine as a creative homecoming.

Why was 2019 a banner year for your restaurant?

MOONLYNN: We’ve both been so lucky and blessed to have had such a magical year. The hospitality industry is so finicky—especially with restaurants. We received a lot of accolades this year, and it’s been rewarding seeing our team, which is comprised mostly of high school students hired from the community, grow and really take ownership and pride in their work. Also, it’s been so wonderful seeing Malaysians being so proud of their cuisine!

What is your mission for Kopitiam?

KYO: Most coffee shops are easily replaced. When Kopitiam was founded, I wanted to create a space where people like me could feel connected, a place where people could be their true self rather than the ideal self they have to present to the outside world. Malaysians have a lot of very interesting traditions that New Yorkers are also keen to learn about. They appreciate the tradition and don’t want it to fade.

If Kopitiam is a person, I would say Kopitiam is like a grandfather or a grandmother that you haven’t seen for a long time. Then whenever you come back, we always greet you with the same heart, the same smile, and full of hot soup.

What do you hope people feel when they enter Kopitiam?

MOONLYNN: When we were going through construction, it was important for both of us to create a haven in this concrete jungle where a guest is instantly transported to a space that exudes warmth and a familial feeling.

What does it mean to create a real-life space in the digital age?

KYO: I think the best thing is that we were born in the mid-’80s. We love how convenient the digital world can be, but we are still able to maintain and appreciate the traditional ways of connecting before the Internet and social media.

What’s on the horizon for 2020?

MOONLYNN: I’m slowly weaning off of having to be at the shop working the floor and now get to focus more of my energy on business development and brainstorming creative ways to grow Kopitiam into not only a restaurant, but also a hub to promote awareness of Malaysian culture.

Noah Rubin

Athlete and Mental Health Advocate

As a professional tennis player, Rubin chose to delve deeper into athletes’ stories with his project Behind the Racquet, which launched this year.

What made 2019 a milestone year for you?

Behind The Racquet was created in 2019. Before I started telling other players’ stories, I had many ups and downs in my own tennis career. I nearly gave tennis up. Starting Behind The Racquet gives others an outlet to share and discuss the lesser known realities of the sport, but it also really helped me get out from a dark place.

I think we’re fortunate enough to be in a day and age where people are talking about mental health. The stigma is being broken a little bit, but I think we have to take it a step further.

What is the purpose of Behind The Racquet?

Ultimately, I want everyday people, not just professional athletes, to feel comfortable sharing their own stories and struggles. A lot of people have said that Behind The Racquet is like a therapy session. It’s a place to talk about really tough mental health topics that normally aren’t in the coverage of the sport. People need a community to feel safe, and Behind The Racquet offers that.

How has Behind The Racquet had an impact on the tennis community?

I think Behind The Racquet is really crucial for people and players in the tennis community because it builds interpersonal connection between the player and the fan, which in an individual sport like tennis, we should have more of. It’s not just about how their forehand or backhand is that day, but about why they are the people they are, why they do the things they do, and even how they grew up.

What is your biggest inspiration?

Sometimes people see me as a cynic because I have this native New Yorker personality, but people are what inspires me the most. I try to meet as many people as possible, listen to them and what they have to say.

What is on the horizon for 2020?

There are big plans for events in 2020 to continue to break the stigma surrounding mental health and trauma in the world of sport and beyond. I want our readers, however many, to find these stories and feel accepted and supported, and to know that we are here for each other.

2020 Predictions

2020

Predictions