“questionmark”

Perhaps the use of acid-free paper & good quality pigments, combined with proper care throughout the years make these pieces appear as if they were fresh off the printer! The texture of the pigments used, the layering of inks and the mad riot of fresh colours are revealed & their impact felt only on closer scrutiny, when one sees the actual work of art.

Such qualities are rarely/never captured in the glossy prints of the paintings in books or magazine graphics.

Here’s another chance to catch these paintings live if you missed the previous exhibition!

See details- 100 Warhols Plus Twenty Servings Of Soup On The Side.

keen on an art exhibition… anyone with a space for rent?

Beijing, Winter 2007 -3 to 5 degrees C. brrrrr.
Shanghai, Winter 2007 -2 to 10 degrees C. brrrr.

I wonder how colddd it feels to be in Beijing a few weeks back. Just when it seems as though the temperatures couldn’t go any lower two months ago… brrrrrr.

But such is the impact after a good two weeks of travelling the much hyped Beijing and Shanghai and also touching base on Shenzhen (mainly for the HK-SZ biennale)- you dig the China vibe. The trip has ignite an interest in these ‘new’ Chinese cities and its people, especially its living architects, artists, film makers & writers who- more than anyone else, care about making sense of this radical phase the entire nation is traversing.

And thankfully, the way we perceive a city is often very subjective. So here’s a honey pot of personal highlights, recommendations- just some stuff to share.

China Walk (19.12.07- 02.01.0

Beijing will be, or already is the next coolest city & tourist hot-spot in the making! - for all its vitality in reinvention (and pimping the city) , in cultivating a spirited art scene and a whole new world of bold architectures, transformations & openness! Shanghai on the other hand feels relatively more stable, a city that is probably worth spending some time living or working in and you get to explore the various aspects of its urbane life on a more micro level. Beware though, people are generally less friendly, quite nasty. hmm. Shenzhen in comparison is a less developed Chinese city whom unlike HK- its neighbour across the border, feels mostly empty, spacious and sparse. Until you walk into the heart of this mini shopping district that is, where almost everyone seems to be.

798 Art District, Beijing

17 pavilions situated in an agronomic small city, Jinhua. Probably the longest stroll through a park ever- Architecture elemental and poetic.

I suppose what also makes these travels more meaningful at the end of the day is when they evoke thoughts & reflections about your urbane life back in your own city- when you begin to ask “Why not?”.

And of course with just a mere 2 weeks plus of travelling and 3 cities, we can’t get too far on ‘Mapping China’- here are some other fragments that could possibly make up the bigger picture:

DVD China

Shop. Along 自忠路 near 新天地 this shop with a surprisingly wide selection of films which got us pretty excited. A gem yeah.

盲山 (Blind Mountain, 2007)
Li Yang

We got this non-pirated DVD for a mere 21 yuan and it came bundled with 天堂口 (Blood Brothers). An earnest offering from independent Chinese director, Li Yang- his second feature film after the award winning 盲井, Blind Shaft. Beautifully shot almost entirely in a remote Chinese village, Blind Mountain paints a picture of suburban Chinese society through its take on one of China’s social problems- sex trade and slavery. Unvarnished and gritty in realism, it depicts a society in the throes of moral collapse. Certainly worth shoving China chic aside for a moment to spend some time on this gem of a film. Looking forward to more films from the director!

Read China

Shop. Books, Bookstores, design bookstores are not an uncommon sight especially in cosmopolitan Shanghai. Good for picking up cheap copies of the Chinese editions of A+U and Detail- we also found copies of Chinese Conception of Space (中国空间) by Li Xiaodong, ex-Professor and design tutor in NUS. Written in both languages, and it is about erm, Chinese conception of space.

Commune By The Great Wall (长城脚下的公社 ) -
Catalog/ Book/ DVD
A really decent book which documents all the houses of the private collection in drawings in pretty pictures, in Chinese and in English. Got this from the souvenir shop within the Commune itself.

A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary For Lovers (2007)
Xiaolu Guo

Probably the only published literature/novel ever- that is rightfully written in badddd English, and thereafter shortlisted for the Orange Prize in literature. A light and easy read, the transient relationship between an Englishman and Chinese woman is examined in the format of a dictionary. Imagine ulu and shamelessly honest Chinese girl from communist China meets carefree, arty and worldly Ang moh in London. Personally, the high strung clashes in ideals and philosophies between two people and two cultures as well as the good humour as a result of this lost in translation are truly the memorable moments in this rather delightful read.
Guo is also a film director whose feature film How is Your Fish Today? (2006) was selected for the Sundance and Rotterdam Festivals. Someone to look out for!

Hear China

Ever wondered what the modern China indie music scene is like? P.K.14 is a Beijing-based art punk band who was recently voted by TIME magazine (together with local band, The Analog Girl) as one of the five Asian bands to watch in 2008. It doesn’t matter what these guys are slurring- as long as they slur in Chinese, trash the frenetic rhythms, dish out the politics, play to a largely underground scene and appear deep, dark and dangerous… slurpsss.

China.SG

Primary Colours: Feng Zheng Jie - Exhibition @ SAM - till 20th April

Renowned Beijing artist in the contemporary Chinese art scene best known for his Portrait of China series which deals mainly with the issues of a globalised China. Stylistically sensual and pop.

奥运精华游 Olympic Walkers - Channel U , Thurs 9.30pm
13 episodes across the seven Olympic cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Tian Jin, Qing Dao, Shen Yang, Hong Kong and Qin Huang Island and witness the preparations for the world sporting event!

Film: Boomtown Beijing, Dir: Tan Siok Siok, Singapore International Film Festival ‘08
A documentary by local film maker, executive producer and educator Tan Siok Siok while he was a visiting lecturer at the Beijing Film Academy- A film about the ordinary Beijingers’ Olympics experience.

and China.
__________________________________________________________

As I sieve through Singapore Design Festival’s website, I realise the overwhelming number of events being planned! Singapore is really opening up to the creative class and the creative wave. Finally being recognised and “farmed”. Here’s more exhibitions (a sequel to Part I) which should interest the culture / design / architecture junkie.

Moooi and more
LaSalle Project Space (28th - 4th) . Talk (28th) 730pm

Go!

HYBRICITY: SINGAPORE
LaSalle Level 5 (28th - 8th)

Go!

Objects As Architecture, Architecture As Objects
Sculpture Square (28th - 6th)

Go!

WOHA Reflects
WOHAGA (28th - 8th)

Go!

20/20 Base
National Library Plaza (28th - 8th)

Go!

10Touchpoints Winner’s Exhibition
National Library Plaza (28th - 8th)

Go!

President’s Design Festival
City Hall Foyer 3 (28th - 8th)

Go!

Brazilian Design Perspective: A Tribute to Oscar Niemeyer
City Hall Level 1 (28th - 8th)

Go!

Blurring Boundaries
NUS UCC (6th)

Go!

Plastik Blobular Worlds
Gallery Hotel (8th - 31st)
Karim Rashid Exhibition

Go!

Lightouch at the New Majestic Hotel
New Majestic Hotel (1st - 17th)

Go!

Interesting Venues: Old Supreme Court, City Hall, LaSalle, Emily Hill

and liberation!

I am a culture junkie, a design junkie, a living sponge, interested, attracted and addicted to the cultural offerings of the urban-polis- excited by events, exhibitions, museums, films, performances… . Culture sustains urban life, render meaning, provides insight, open minds and triggers inspirations with its constant flux and flows.. sometimes it feels as though I depend on it, and live for it. It’s ecstasy.

documentation/ cultural artifacts

icon stickers for the Singapore Design Festival 2007

Where would you place these artifacts of culture? And what do you use them for? Posters on walls, brochures in pretty piles and boxes, postcards as make-shift bookmarks, stickers on sketchbooks?

What about the abstract, that of the countless images, information & experiences that come and go? Do these bits and pieces eventually come together and become a whole?

feeds on culture… yummm.

The end of the year is here, and there’s surprisingly high number of exhibitions around about art, design and architecture! Well it’s largely because of the Singapore Design Festival, and it sure looks promising. Here’s the ones that I would like to attend (and you should too!):

___________________________________________________________________________________

1 Utterubbish
City Hall 28th Nov - 16th Dec

Self-professed as a “UseLess” exhibition, Utterubbish stresses on how the transition from UseLess to Use is informed by design, and the importance of design in its ability to give value to society.

Utterubbish Website

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 Neues Bauen (New Building) International 1927 / 2002
National Museum, The Canyon & The Concourse, 14th Nov - 06th Jan

(Lissitzky's Wolkenbügel 1924-1925)

Architecture enthusiasts will be interested in tracing the “New Building” movement, a Modern architecture which emerged from the German-speaking Europe. Moving away from Expressionism, this movement advocated the expression of a building’s functionalism in its external form and sought to improve people’s standard of living.

There is a total of 105 projects by 66 architects or groups of architects, shown through architectural models and photography. This is a well-curated exhibition, and looks more like an art exhibition with orthographics and perspectives like paintings and models like sculptures. Moreover, it’s free!!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 ArchiFest: Forum & Architours
Forum: NTUC Auditorium, 30th Nov - 1st Dec
Architours: 30th Nov - 9th Dec

This is a pilot festival aimed to increase awareness for architecture in Singapore and beyond. The Forum brings together many acclaimed and rising individuals in the field to discuss about their experiences and issues about the city / urban environment.

Architours (which I will be in involved in heh) will bring the visitor around various iconic and landmark buildings, discussing their relevance and importance in Singapore based on 3 themes about the global city, Singapore’s progress and entertainment architecture. We hope to engage more than a simple “tourist” explanation, and discuss what local architecture holds public eye. Do join us!

Archifest Website

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4 Alvar Aalto
NUS Museum, University Cultural Centre, 16th Oct - 08th Dec

(Aalto's Savoy Vase)

Alvar Aalto, a Finnish architect, has eluded many people with his idiosyncratic strategy and humanist approach towards design, and that perhaps is the reason why he has continued to intrigue and inspire many as one of their favourite Modern Masters. This exhibition focuses on his one-family houses, as well as NUS students’ works in analysing them. While this may not be an indepth survey of all of Aalto’s houses, it becomes interesting when they are seen via a student/learning perspective.

*Take note of a talk about Alvar Aalto on the 29th Nov 2pm at the NUS Museum.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5 Shunmyo Masuno
PageOne, Vivocity, 30th Nov (1900-2000 hrs)

(Inner Garden for "Rifugio" 2002)

“There is beauty in the incomplete. If we find something imperfect, then that is what we pursue.”

So says Shunmyo Masuno, who presents himself as Zen priest, landscape architect, professor “in that order”. Here in Singapore to work on the Nassim Park Residences, he will be sharing his design philosophy amongst the “landscape” of PageOne bookstore.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6 Inventioneering Architecture
Level 1 Atrium, Vivocity, 21st Nov - 08th Dec

(Swiss Flag)

I appreciate Swiss architecture, for their materiality and clean lines. And for once, 3 Swiss schools will be coming in a travelling exhibition to showcase the works of faculty and students. But the highlight comes not from the exhibition, but from the talks! For one, Andrea Deplazes (ETH Zurich) of our architectural construction Bible will be giving a lecture on Dec 7th 5pm at NUS and I URGE you to attend it! Of course, the other lecturers Dirk Hebel and Jörg Stollmann, Prof Harry Gugger (H&dM partner), Prof Manuel Aires Mateus (USI Mendrisio/AAM) are also impressive heavyweights in this powerhouse troupe!

(Constructing Architecture by Andrea Deplazes)

Talks Schedule (pdf)
Swisshouse Singapore Website
Inventioneering Architecture Website

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
7 Singapore 1:1 (Island)
URA Centre, 16th Nov - 31st Mar

(Exhibition Poster)

A sequel of sorts to the Singapore 1:1 (City) Exhibition held in Nov 2005, this (Island) version showcases architecturally significant works outside of the city centre after a process of nominations. They bring to our attention some buildings which we pass by everyday but did not notice, as well as more prominent ones. Singapore 1:1 becomes like a catalogue of Singapore’s post-independence explored through architecture.

Exhibition Website

and guerilla posts!

You don’t want to miss this .
is excited!

OUTDOORS… & LIVE!…

Outdoor musical events seem to be a growing local trend.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Free The Musique Raffles Place Park

Can’t wait to blog about this!

Unlike WOMAD (will do a short post following.. soon!), this other recent outdoor musical event comes without an admission fee- yes it’s FREE thanks to home-grown gig organisers Kinemat. And that does not imply a compromise in quality, in fact the 1st installation of the series sees independent local bands such as The Great Spy Experiment sharing the stage with Koop, the Swedish electronic jazz duo who performs live as a 7-piece swing orchestra. One word sums up the night of events- Amazing, amazing, amazing.

Local acts took to a 4-hr presence of the 5-hr event and one can’t help but feel that throughout a good part of the night, people seemed to be waiting; quietly anticipating the highlight of the night. But a major act as a ‘background’ to put the minor ones on the foreground is a great move considering the local music scene is still in its defining phase and isn’t as well received, yet. Though generally, local bands are still an introverted lot- there were little interaction with the audience as if the musicians were merely focused on getting their music right.

Local post electronic rock band MUON

Local duo DJ Dean & Kaye on the saxaphone

Thus, it was of little wonder, that the entire atmosphere took to a change the moment Koop and the mini orchestra were on stage- each of the members carried such comfortable vibes & energies that their stage presence as a whole was certain. Almost without hesitation they broke into an orchestrated swing of instrumental melodies, eventually joined by singer-songwriter Norwegian Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen with her distinctively infectious jazzy carabet vocals and those gentle sways in movement that sends you off to the Carribbean-scapes with a rendition of “Koop Island Blues”.

Koop- “Koop Island Blues” Live

The event remained in an all encompassing atmosphere throughout the night- the music was free, the grounds were spacious, setting casual & Koop’s performance attracted many passer-bys to simply stop by to enjoy the musique . And just round the corner, a man in his 40s, seemingly in a ‘homeless’ plight, could be seen sleeping on one of the ledges nearby as if the music was his lullaby.

It’s a pity I couldn’t stay right till the end, but the music continues to resonate even from a far…

Musique music!

More photos of the event here

is going to get Koop Island!

TIME OUT
antagon theaterAKTion (Germany)
Jurong East

A (hypothetical) interview between Qmark and a member of the Audience.

Q. Hello! Good evening! Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? I am from qmark, an online thing that likes to ask questions.
A. Eh.. Ok. Hope it don’t take too long cos I got work tomorrow ah.

Q. Oh don’t worry it’s going to be very quick. Well, tell us what you thought happened during the show.
A. Mm I was sitting behind this very tall guy so I can’t really see everything.

From the beginning, at around 8 like that, there are around 10 people coming to the stage from the back of the audience. There’s one guy, like some master, using a rope to pull in all the other people. They were all walking on stilts like the, you know, Chinese acrobatics, and wearing white colour clothes. I think got something to do with slavery. Those being pulled were all screaming and making funny noises, abit like animals. Then when they are on stage, they started dancing and surrounding the master after some fighting.

After that it got abit confusing; got many different parts where people jump around, dance here dance there, got video projection, oh there’s the fire too! Wow the fire parts are the most exciting. They pour kerosene on the floor and burn it up, blowtorch on the backdrop, burnt a guitar and even juggle some fireballs. It’s almost like a circus, but those parts are the most interesting. The others are ok only la, but I can see that they put in effort. Then obviously the fireworks make everyone happy, all the kids went wild!

Q. Alright. This show most importantly deals with time. Do you think so?
A. Yah. There is a big clock in the background. Come to think of it, many parts of the show seem to be in slow-motion. Some parts like very fast, and there’s one part keep repeating over and over, like rewinding. Yah maybe that’s why its called “Time Out”.

Q. Good observation! Well, this show is really about taking time off, like what you are doing now, to reflect on yourself and your life. Those scenes you saw was about understanding time as a feeling, not as deadlines and numbers.
A. Oh really? It’s hard to understand all these arty arty stuff, some people I saw were leaving halfway.

Q. Well true, but precisely it also shows the state of the person and country. How controlled they are by the shackles of time. That’s why the whole show has the feel of rawness, energy, goth metal, animal tribalism and spacelessness, it’s to get you out of the timeframe! Anyway, thanks for your time. Good night!
A. Okay bye!

African to European: “You’ve got the clocks, we’ve got the time.”

Learn more:

enjoyed the live stage music. “Run Lola Run” comes to mind.

Stella was just talking to me about Henri Cartier Bresson, whose works I saw at the Arts House about a year ago.

“In 1932, he stuck his camera between the slats of a fence near the St.-Lazare railway station in Paris at precisely the right instant and captured a picture of the watery lot behind the station, strewn with debris. A man has propelled himself from a ladder that lies in the water. Photographs of puddle jumpers were clichés then, but Mr. Cartier-Bresson brings to his image layer on layer of fresh and uncanny detail: the figure of a leaping dancer on a pair of posters on a wall behind the man mirrors him and his reflection in the water; the rippling circles made by the ladder echo circular bands of discarded metal debris; another poster, advertising a performer named Railowsky, puns with the railway station and the ladder, which, flat, resembles a railroad track.”

Feels like I’m over quoting already, but more about this much admired photographer, when Stella contributes. : )

a leaf of… enjoys photography in this sense!

PROTEO PROJECT VERTICAL DANCE
by Il Posto
Raffles City Shopping Centre

We managed to catch the latest free performance that hit town! By Association Il Posto from Italy, this dance performance uses the artistic discipline of vertical dancing from the 1970s. An excerpt from ST’s Life! (June 7):

Named after mythical Greek god Proteus, who was able to change his form at will, the project has developed dance pieces to be performed on vertical planes, including towers, lighthouses and bridges.

[The project] reduced the number of dancers over the years because [it] wanted the audience to feel more intimately acquianted with the dancers… didn’t want the performance to seem like a circus act…every performance takes the shape of its environment and is new and different.

(The show began…)

The scene/show began with Marco Castelli, the composer, hynotising the audience with a Kenny G-esque contemporary jazz/new age number, being synthed to draw out the long sensuous notes into echoes of a timeless night. The 2 dancers, in plain unadorned white gear, emerged in earnest. Warm beige lights were cast next, highlighting the organic human form against the grey metallic panelboards of Raffles City.

Then they sprang into action.

What ensued were 4 different acts of varying motions: having practiced almost 3 years, the duo performed spectacularly beautiful movements in the air, captivating the crowd into gasps of fancy and flights of imagination. There was an act of ballet-like moves - the twirls and jumps made especially elegant with the “slow-mo” effect on the vertical wall. There was an act of context if I perceive it correctly - muay thai, taijiquan and shaolin ritual actions conceived as breakbeats thumped in the background. Another act seemed to be a smorgasbord of fencing moves, flying trapeze and a homage to parkour in a display of energy and surprise moves(see video)!

It made aware not only the oft-forgotten facade of Raffles City, but I believe it captures a certain theme of suspension. Suspension in the air of the dancers, suspension of perspective as one looks upwards, suspension of time as one sways to the trancey tunes, suspension of space where gravity is delayed, and suspension of the audience in their conceptions about dance and its artistic medium. Great show, great timing and most of all, it’s free!

Singapore Arts Festival 25 MAY - 24 JUNE 2007

is back with nature for a week.