During one of my frequent trips to Singapore, I stumbled upon a collaboration between Porsche Singapore and |M.A.M.U|-Penguin. The piece featured a penguin dressed in a highly detailed Porsche-branded racing suit, standing beneath the famous indoor fountain at Jewel Changi Airport.
It was cute, unusual, and unmistakably Porsche Motorsport–themed. As a dyed-in-the-wool Porsche fanatic—and an admirer of all things Singapore—I was immediately intrigued. I tracked down the |M.A.M.U|-Penguin account on Instagram, skimmed through the work, and eventually messaged the artist behind it, Benjamin Tan, and scheduled a meet-up on my next trip to Singapore.
Fast forward a few months and finally, I met Benjamin over a meal.
Benjamin always wanted to be an artist, but his very conservative and traditional family insisted he finish a degree in business, followed by a post-graduate degree in the same field. After fulfilling those expectations and graduating from the University of Western Australia with two degrees, Benjamin pursued art anyway, and eventually turned his creative work into a business of its own.
Benjamin’s creation, |M.A.M.U|-Penguin, features tactical, mech-piloting penguin characters, often released as collectible velcro morale patches. The project blends military themes with penguin designs, featuring specialized roles like Operators, Specialists, and Elites. It’s best described as tacticute, meaning tactical and cute.
|M.A.M.U| is an acronym for Modular Autonomous Mech Unit, representing a fictional military-style, penguin-piloted robot. This art comprises Benjamin’s love for all things penguins, along with tactical styles and mecha, particularly Ghost in the Shell and other Japanese-themed soldier robot animes.
The core concept involves a “Penguin Commander” (the collector) building a squadron of Penguin Pilots. These characters exist within a fictional military structure, classified into roles such as Operators, Specialists, and Elites, and categorized by actions such as ‘I Protect,’ ‘I Attack,’ ‘I Repair,’ and ‘I Fat.’
His designs feature on products like stickers, patches, prints, and lanyards, products that have evolved into a thriving small business. |M.A.M.U|- Penguin has also released limited runs of handkerchiefs, bandanas, pouches, and bags.
Benjamin’s work is distinctive, almost intentionally contradictory. Cute penguins are outfitted in highly technical gear and mechanical exo-suits, creating a striking contrast between charm and militaristic precision.
The designs are also meticulously detailed, reflecting Benjamin’s precision and dedication to his craft. These aren’t simple sketches for children, they’re pieces meant for enthusiasts with an eye for detail and technical design.
Benjamin has collaborated with brands like Porsche Singapore (which is how I encountered his work in the first place) along with Carryology, which makes everyday carry bags; Chuyen Tactical, a Vietnamese brand that also makes bags; Greenroom136, which is another bag maker, this time from Malaysia; and Hexard, an urban tactical bag and accessories manufacturer.
There’s even a growing fan community known as the Penguin Commanders, where collectors share photos of their patches, badges, and gear.
So what’s next for Benjamin and |M.A.M.U|-Penguin? Well, he doesn’t want to reveal much, but we should expect nine new designs in 2026! That should keep the Penguin Commanders excited.
The bigger question now: when will we see a collaboration between |M.A.M.U|-Penguin and a Filipino brand or design studio? That would be a partnership worth watching.
