Cover Stellaire co-founders Harmin Kaur and Michael Lee (Photo: Christopher Guy Showroom)
Stellaire co-founders Harmin Kaur and Michael Lee (Photo: Christopher Guy Showroom)
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After launching in September, Stellaire has made a splash among its carefully curated community with its luxury arts and culture experiences. Tatler Singapore speak with the founding duo to find out more about what sets Stellaire apart from the rest
Money comes and goes, but culture is forever. That is the essence of Stellaire, a new firebrand platform providing immersive and exceptional experiences in arts and culture for an exclusive community of innovators with a deep appreciation of the arts. Think a VIP preview of the highly-anticipated “Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” exhibition, complete with a gala dinner and walls awash in his surrealistic swirls. Or a fabulous dinner curated by the legendary chef Yannick Alléno. Stellaire was only founded in September 2023, but it’s set to continue making its mark among the discerning few by spotlighting outstanding artisans across gastronomy, fashion, visual art, music, and more.
The platform is a collaboration between Harmin Kaur, founder and chair of Women Venture Asia, and Michael Lee, the chief executive officer of activation and engagement company Hustle & Bustle. The pair first met at Dale Chihuly’s Glass in Bloom installation at Gardens by the Bay in 2021, organised in collaboration with Hustle & Bustle. Kaur remembers how “Michael's dedication to realising this vision” despite the ongoing pandemic at the time “resonated with [her] on a profound level”. As she tells it, their shared belief in “the power of art and culture to connect and inspire” fuelled Stellaire’s creation.
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Above Stellaire co-founder Harmin Kaur (Photo: Christopher Guy Showroom)
Above Stellaire co-founder Michael Lee (Photo: Christopher Guy Showroom)
Stellaire co-founder Harmin Kaur (Photo: Christopher Guy Showroom)
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Central to this power, of course, are the “stories and journeys” of the artisans behind them. Storytelling is second nature to the duo—in her previous experience as a dining contributor for magazines, Kaur preferred to spotlight the “profound journeys” of chefs rather than their food. As a former educator, Lee also has a “deep passion for storytelling” that “engages and educates” in his work at Stellaire. It is thus only natural that Stellaire should highlight the voices of the foremost artists in their fields.
“The realisation that there are countless talented artisans, who often remain hidden from the mainstream spotlight, was a catalyst for our vision,” Lee says. “We aspire to narrow the divide between artisans and a discerning audience.” The idea, according to Kaur, is “intimate access with artisans and their legacies”, bundled within “one-of-a-kind programmes” that are “meticulously crafted” by the duo. And though Stellaire’s curated community largely consists of high net-worth individuals, Kaur insists that “luxury goes beyond material wealth”. Instead, the brand of luxury Stellaire champions focuses on “the richness of cultural experiences, the depth of knowledge, and the connection to a community of like-minded individuals who share our passion for the arts”.
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Above VIP preview of the ‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ exhibition
VIP preview of the ‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ exhibition
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Kaur and Lee are powerhouses in their own right, and bring their standards of excellence to the company. At Women Venture Asia, for instance, Kaur brings together “women entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders” to address the “gender gap in entrepreneurship”. She carries this over to Stellaire, where she mainly focuses on customer relationships, forging “meaningful partnerships with both individuals and corporations” in the process.
“Our commitment to remaining competitive hinges on the strength of our networks,” she says, pointing towards recent collaborations with DBS Insignia for Alléno’s dinner, and Bank of Singapore’s sponsorship for the Champagne Gala. These collaborations “grant privileged access to the clients of [Stellaire’s] partner organisations”, which allows these corporations to “offer their clients an unparalleled cultural experience”, solidifying Stallaire as a hub for exceptional cultural experiences” in the process.
In contrast, Lee focuses more on curating a “seamless and engaging” experience from start to finish—an unwavering attention to detail he learnt from running Hustle & Bustle. To Lee, a successful event is not just about content, but a “well-crafted user journey” that carefully considers every interaction, from event awareness to post-event follow-up. At Stellaire, this means standout experiences that leave “lasting impressions”.
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The duo, of course, bring different experiences and working styles to the table. “Meticulous preparation in advance” defines Kaur’s work ethic, while Lee rolls with the punches by “refining details” along the way, “up till the start of the event”. A deep sense of trust and shared affinities, however, make this partnership natural. “We have great synergy and we both love pushing boundaries together,” Michael says, going so far as to say that the greatest thing about working together is the support they provide each other. “Harmin can jump in to make decisions when I’m tied up, and vice versa.”
“I am always inspired and motivated by Michael,” Kaur adds. “Instead of saying ‘No, it can’t be done’, I love people who always say, ‘Yes, let’s make it happen. In fact, let’s do more.’ Working with Michael is exactly like that.”
According to Kaur, Stellaire makes its mark at a time in which, “Singapore is emerging as a hub for the arts and culture”. The opportunity to “actively advance the cultural movement here” is thus ripe. “Beyond mere memorability, our goal is to catalyse a profound shift toward a sustained and deeper appreciation,” Lee says. “By curating experiences that transcend the ordinary, we aim to leave an indelible mark on our audience, elevating their connection with the arts and fostering a lasting sense of cultural enrichment.”
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Ethan Kan was Tatler Singapore’s dining writer.
