I have been pursuing and exploring my philosophy (about frustration of life and culture) towards the art by the time I reach the senior year in Jockey Club Ti-I College, in where I studied Visual Art for 6 years. I don't really developed the ideas in school, for the frustration of being "academically" well-prepared to the college.
The fact that "I am really tired to face my vision with my favorite music at that time" depicts in the painting. At that time, I was really stressed and always got struck. I was all alone to prepare and face the open examination.
After getting into the college, I admit that I had been lazy to do my work. It was not until the 3d-class that I am willing to let my spirit back to my body, and do my work, for the teacher's grading keeps reminding me of TIC teachers. I know I have to make a better quality of work. So I have made the tea set with the Jamon Ham in my project. Maybe the teapot was missing to accompany with the set, it makes the tea set incomplete. It indicates that culture can be long-lasting if it is preserved well like making and storing jamon ham.
In my project 2, another good idea but i am too ambitious to do my work and it actually leads to the failure of the craftsmanship in some parts. I like this idea about Chinese idiom-一毛不拔, illustrates somebody is unwilling to remove even a hair----indicates that somebody is self-centred and selfish. Although I am so disappointed about my project, I still insist on trying to make the craftsmanship better, because I remember what my art teacher said in secondary school: "Once you don't have time to re-do it and your artwork is crappy right before you hand in, you should attempt to find the best solution and try your best to fix it rather than abandon your artwork."
Throughout this experience, I think that being an artist or designer requires to be calm enough to tackle the problem they are facing. They need to maintain good mental health and be smart on fixing process. In fact, the fixing craftsmanship process reminds me of the artwork is not really finished. It is part of making process.
In project 3, it is more like a group project. My current teacher states that it is a combination of project 1 and 2. It is a site-specific installation art. I look forward to make an awesome piece after watching my former school's graduation exhibition. The Quest Of Art is an exhibition, of which my former school Jockey Club Ti-I College graduating students and alumni displayed their arts in JCACC. The location is near the SCAD, where I am studying. I took a look at the exhibition after school. (I forgot to take the photos, I try to find the artworks in the exhibition on the internet)
I walk into the alumni's gallery first. Most of them have websites and participated on the TV. My favorites are Chow Kar Hoo and Kai Wai Bong.
One of the pieces in the "Heroes next door" by Chow Kar Hoo
Artworks by Ngai Tak Lung, two of which artworks catch my eyes.
When I step into the graduation class's gallery, I feel like going back home. The graduating classes have their works done well and they show the arts, which belongs to Hong Kong. Despite the different kinds of art media used, I can feel very strong sense of belonging. Their artworks show the complexity of anxiety, hopelessness, and stress. Some of them make the nice quality pieces, which have reached the level that catches the viewers' eyes. I am so proud of the students which TIC has, The exhibition shows the professionalism of the students in the art.
What I think now is: "In what ways I am proud to say "I was proud of being TI-ian"?" The best answer is: make high quality of art.
Lana Del Rey has released her new album Ultraviolence half a year ago, yet I learnt about that few days ago. It might sound too late for me to notice her latest album, but it has never been late to comment it. I have known Del Rey's music since I was high school student. Most of my old schoolmates like her, especially her music videos. I remember once we discussed them, when we were having visual art lessons. We consider these videos as beautifully made art pieces. Although I have been rock n' roll fan, I like her music because of the interesting and relatively ancient style.
Nowadays, a year after the high school, my favorite genre has changed. I find out that the gothic, and power metal expresses different kinds of expressions (mostly negative) such as love, sad, anxiety, and pain. Some bands would talk about drug addiction, death, war, and domestic abuse. Some would tell a story in their albums. I can imagine many unusual moods and expressions in the metal. I have a space to feel and imagine the story, rather than just entertaining.
Del Rey's album definitely gives enough space to me for the imagination of the story. Similar to the first album: when I was listening to the album, I thought I was watching the movies in the 1960s-70s. But this album is about a sad romantic story of a woman (in one person perspective) who faces domestic violence, but deeply falls in love with her boyfriend. The album uses the fabulous, ancient and psychedelic pop music as the background to accompany with Del Rey's singing to illustrate the girl's story. This combination indicates the girl's speechless loss to her boyfriend's attitude. Despite her boyfriend has done many things to hurt her, she doesn't mind and still love him.
I know I didn't write about this film when I first watched it, and only until now have I decided to write about it. To be honest with you, I wasn't sure I had understood much from the first viewing, and I'm not proclaiming I understand a lot this second time around either. What I'm trying to say, is that although I picked up on a few connecting dots and could be able to see the whole picture clearer, I still failed to grasp much, nor could I learn to appreciate this film for what it might have.
(From Summer in February Facebook page)
What drew me to this love story in the first place was the Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens and his upperclass gentlemanly accent. I knew that this film was based on the book written by one of Dan's teachers, Jonathan Smith (he wrote the screenplay as well). Although Dan's (and of course other actors') performance is compelling, the film itself is a bit of a letdown, even though there were some potentially moving moments in the film.
(From Summer in February Facebook page)
Personally, the film has moments with neat lines that transform the moments into little climaxes, however, the buildup phases in-between two peaks are a bit weak, or maybe it takes too long to see the next little dramatic high point. If the story like this is to be turned into a feature film, I guess the buildup phases should be stronger, if not, then shorter.
If not making this film shorter, then I think a more in-depth portrayal of the main characters is needed. For example, I'd love to see more about the romance between Gilbert and Florence. It is rather too short. It would also be nice if I can see the development of Florence's jealousy of AJ's other women. Some of the moments, where the characters start to get emotional, ended too soon.
Still I've found some gems in the film--the music and the scenery. Throughout the film the music is utterly beautiful and brilliantly executed. It plays well with the film and the players deserve a round of applause (cue clapping). There are moments I was ready to get moved by the scene once the melancholy music set in, however, I couldn't because the scene was either not intense enough or it ended just too quick. The spectacular view of Lamorna, England opened my eye and I would like to sign up for a painting lesson just so I could go somewhere like Lamorna and paint the beauty out of it while I enjoy the view. I'd like to see the splashing waves, the shore, the colors of the sky, the grass swinging to the wind.
