Let's Talk About Sex

Bring up the topic of sex in public and chances are, most people will shy away from participating (and/or worse, brand you as sleazy). Taiwan-born and Canada-raised Erin Chen, who currently shuttles between Singapore and Zurich, hopes to change that with SPARK Fest, an event billed as Asia's first sexual wellness festival.

SPARK, which stands for Sexual Pleasure and Relationship Konversations, is founded by Ms Chen, who is a trained sex and relationship counsellor and TEDx speaker; together with yoga instructor Sinnead Ali. The aim is to encourage the public to "love more consciously" and "break the wall" on what is generally considered a taboo or icky topic by providing a curated space to bring conversations about sex, pleasure and relationships into the open.

"SPARK Fest looks at more than just sex and sex includes so much more than just sexual intercourse!" quips Ms Chen, who adds that the only options previously available for discovering sexual wellness were limited to either porn, adult novelty type events, product-focused expos, medical focused conferences or tantra centric gatherings - settings which not everyone would feel comfortable in.

The programme includes talks and panel discussions by industry experts and speakers such as TV host Anita Kapoor, women's health expert Dr Julinda Lee and sexologist Sanderijn van Doef. There will also be a marketplace, interactive workshops, art installations as well as "live" music and food. It has been curated for everyone, from "the shy, the curious, the adventurous to the sex geek" because "sexual wellness is something that universally affects everyone, at all stages of life - whether you are single, a parent, or retired".

Various topics from pleasure to sex education and gender roles will be addressed and the goal is to empower the participants: "We are not here to tell people how sex should be - you are the expert of your own sexuality (and) we are the platform that supports your discovery of that."

Ms Chen, who holds a Master of Science in Medicine in Sexual Health Counselling from the University of Sydney, adds that a healthy foundation of sexual wellness isn't just about doing the deed but also includes understanding both the physical and emotional aspects.

While living in a digital age has given people more access to information about sex, it has also become a double-edged sword as there is a need to discern between useful and accurate information versus myth: "It is important for people to improve their sexual wellness literacy so that they can build a foundation that makes sense for them and that is aligned to their personal values and preferences."

Hence, running parallel to SPARK Fest is also Asia's first Sextech Hackathon, which Ms Chen is programming with Australian strategy and innovation firm, The Disruptor's Handbook, and Bryony Cole, who is the host of the Future of Sex podcast. Participants get the opportunity to collaborate and get involved in the fast-growing sextech industry which, according to the Guardian, is a US$30 billion industry that is growing steadily at 30 per cent a year.

Sextech is defined as any technology designed to enhance sexuality, though Ms Cole notes that media coverage till now is mostly limited to sexbots, virtual reality pornography or female-designed vibrators.

"These three headlines have perpetuated the idea that sextech is only about sex itself - no doubt, innovations around our orgasms are important and fascinating conversations, but sextech goes beyond robot girlfriends, virtual reality dates and sex toys," she explains.

Over an intensive weekend, participants will work with mentors like Dema Tio, who invented the world's first smart vibrator, and Sam Zhao, founder of China-based women's sexual well-being online community Yummy, to deliver a pitch - Shark-Tank-style - that will solve current social issues like access to sex education, the gender gap and sexual violence.

"It is also important to involve the innovators and change makers because they are the people who will keep creating solutions that help improve sexual wellness for everyday people," says Ms Chen. "We believe it is powerful for people to see that there are people driving change in this area and who knows, someone in the everyday crowd might be the next Steve Jobs of sexual wellness!"

SPARK Fest 2018: Asia's First Sexual Wellness Festival takes place at The Hive Lavender on May 19 from 11am to 7pm. Asia's first Sextech Hackathon will run parallel to SPARK Fest from May 18 to 20. For more information and to register, check www.sparkfest.asia.