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Sunday 26 July 2015

English is difficult

Recently, my friend told me that she should use more 'difficult' English.
Since then, I've been thinking what is 'difficult' on using the language.

I think three kinds of difficulty.

First, I regard this word  is difficult when I cannot understand the meaning of the word.
For example, there is a sentence that

'John is like Picasso.'

If I've never seen the word Picasso, I 'll get confuse.
I'll look up Picasso in dictionary, and find out that is artist's name.
It will easy to overcome. I need only dictionary.

Nest, I feel this word is difficult when I cannot understand the concept of the word.
For example,

'John can use the theory of relativity.'

Theory of relativity? I cannot understand whole concept of this word if I look up 'theory of relativity' in google. I'm not good ant mathematics.
It is difficult to overcome because I need to spend a lot of time to study the concept of the word.

Third, I feel this word is difficult when I cannot understand why this word is used in the sentence.
For example,

'John can use the theory of relativity, so he is like Picasso.'

I cannot understand what mean theory of relativity and Picasso in this sentence only using dictionary.
There is no explanation what connection between theory of relativity and Picasso.
However, this problem can overcome if writer add more explanation, like

'John is only eleven years old. However, he can use the theory of relativity, so he is like Picasso.'

Then, if I know Picasso's history well, I can understand that writer mention Picasso to compare with John's and Picasso's talent in young age.
If I don't know Picasso, writer should add like

'John is only eleven years old. However, he can use the theory of relativity. Picasso was a genius in drawing at young age, so John is like Picasso.'


These examples are not good.
Maybe writer should write only 'John is genius.'


Friday 24 July 2015

Review of IFAD Final Show

Maybe you think I did copy and paste if you have already read Nozomi's art review. I apologize to Nozomi for using her way to writing but it is necessary for me to improve my English. 

'Liberty' was made by Ke Xu who is one of students of International Foundation in Art & Design at UCA.  I found the work at the exhibition of the final major project yesterday.

She expressed her work by using 3 garments, 1 photo and 1 shooting portfolio which are based on numerous research.
She is interested in sexuality that exists as social role. She focuses on the femininity that is considered as usually weak.
She told me about the Romanticism and Impressionist which she was inspired through producing her concept. She is attracted by the softness of nature and women , and reflects inspiration on her work.





There is a cloth used a lot of white cloth which have different texture in the middle of the picture. Robe is long but skirt is really short. Xu told that this work was inspired by wedding dress, but she had made that for against marriage.
Her main concept is 'Liberty'. She think about situation of female, and release women from their role in the contemporary society.
There is a picture on the wall which woman is wearing this cloth. Woman glares audience like she would like to provoke audience.
I think her works is sensitive, feeling wind, and feminine. However, Xu tries to overcome what people think about women cloth. Therefore, she makes work which likes military jacket but made from soft and white material. The shape like military jacket which used in men community, but her cloth's detail is feminine. Personally, it is interesting for me that her work has feminine detail because I think that women need power as men when women fights with their male counterparts. However, Xu thinks that feminine is powerful as manlike.





In addition, I have a question about fashion. These questions are probably too childish and not relate to this exhibition.

I wonder why nowadays, designers use only thin and tall model? Nowadays, people think that this figure is suit to show cloth cool, but why high designers make cloth only for thin and tall proportion? There are lots of designers which have different thought, but all of them use long leg model in the show.
Moreover, one of IFAD student told me that there was a trend each year, like this year is flower and this year is fish, so catch this season trend is important to do fashion promotion. This year is flower, so lots of high bland use flower patterns in their works.
However, I wonder why there is a trend of the cloth? Why does all unique high bland create same trend? Who make that?
In addition, I asked him how can you promote catwalk cloth even if they are not suit for wearing? Some student told me that Alexander Macqueen made a lot of new design for catwalk, and he sold the comfortable cloth with used expensive material, and he got money from that. I wonder it is good for his concept. He made cloth that overcome function and material of cloth but he sold cloth that people can wear comfortable! Is that why people think his work is new forever?

Friday 17 July 2015

Yoshida Hiroshi "Taj Mahal"

Hiroshi Yoshida is one of the Japanese artist worked as painter and wood printmaker from the age of 44. He traveled around the world and got lots of inspiration from trip. He pursue to find beauty from any places. It is interesting for me that he draw Japanese scenery after traveling around the world. 'World War I, making travel difficult and dangerous, held him at home. But the Wanderlust was merely localized, not eradicated; and during this period he began exploring the confines of his own Japan. Now commenced the annual trips, never omitted until his years became too many, for mountaineering among the Japan Alps; month-long tours around the Inland Sea produced their quota of pictures; from Hokkaido to Ryukyu the artist roamed Japan, seeing and painting its beauties.'(Ben Bruce Blackeney,1953)
 would introduce one of his work named"Taj Mahal" series.
Yoshida draw Taj Mahal with two different times in exactly same composition. Taj Mahal set in the center, and there is a line toward construction. The shape of tree, people does not change among these works, but colour is changed dramatically.

This works represent different atmosphere between two situation in the day, morning and nights.
On this picture, detail of  color make subtle difference. In the morning, air is clear, Taj Mahal is white and tree s are dark green, this contrast make picture clear. I can watch the color more vivid than the picture of night. On the other hand, about the night,  all color is unclear and dark tone than morning scenery. Taj Mahal, people and trees are blend into one scenery.

I think that Yoshida attempted to express his mind world from Taj Mahal. He is known as using a lot of colour, over 30 or 40 to printing. Sometime he involved all process. It is amazing because it is generally to involve only design. However, he tried to use his hands and relate to almost all process, designing, carving, coloring to reach his purpose. On the picture, I saw many slightly different colors with texture of printing. Wood block printing can express beautiful gradation with ink and paper texture. I think he want to represetnt silent atmosphere through various power of color and thin outline. He draw water very carefully to hold water moving moment on his picture. The shape of people is exactly same among two picture, but Yoshida succeeded express difference of people feeling.

Yoshida succeed to get his famous in his life. I think his work suit to his age. He traveled around the world, and made lots of pictures, most of theme is scenery and local people life. He combine his inspiration from many places with Japanese traditional technique and view to draw picture. European and American evaluated his work highly. It is interesting for me to see his work and his life.













Bibliography


Encyclopedia. (1953) Yoshida Hiroshi: Print-maker Part One [online] 

At: http://woodblock.com/encyclopedia/entries/011_16/part_one.html (Accessed on 18.07.15)

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Richard Long

In today's lecture, I learnt the detail of "How to lose yourself". If I try to lose myself, serendipity- good result come out from unexpected. The way of lost is not easy, However, the process is important to get serendipity.


Richard Long is an artist who try to get ideas from journey with walking in landscapes.

"Long made his international reputation during the 1970s with sculptures made as the result of epic walks, sometimes lasting many days, to remote parts of the world. " (Tate site) 

He has interest about the relationship between nature and human. He did long adventure, and lost and find himself in there.

He told that "In the nature of things: Art about mobility, lightness and freedom. Simple creative acts of walking and marking about place, locality, time, distance and measurement. Works using raw materials and my human scale in the reality of landscapes." in his site.

He always blends his work into nature. One of his work is ROAD STONE LINE (China, 2010) below.
He took stones on the way and lined these along the way. He left his footprint carefully not to destroy landscape, but people feel a sign of life at once.

Sometime he uses stone, sometime ice. It depends on nature because he tries to create all things  with his hands. As he said, he makes the work with the emphasis on his human scale because of reality. 




He makes his work as it is the process of agriculture. 



or it looks like ritual.



or an sign after children are into playing.



I can think many meaning from his works, but it is only certain thing that Richard went there and do something and left something in nature. 


Moreover, in the exhibition, he displays different type of artworks.



This is named MUD HAND CIRCLES (New York, 1989). He lined his hand prints as his work in nature. It does not looks like hand prints. He turn himself into artwork. I feel anxious from repetition of handprints because his body sign has strong will but I cannot predict meaning.




I think it is interesting that in the exhibition in a museum, his work seems to be different from in nature. He constructed his work to fit building as if building is nature landscape. In the building, natural stone is unfamiliar stuff. 



This stones are nor cut. However, he replaced these with his will and show it looks like between nature and artificial.

I feel fragile and strong life of human and nature from his works.This is why people are attracted to Richard Long.

Tuesday 14 July 2015

Pitt Rivers Museum

Pitt Rivers Museum is one of the best museum I have ever visited. I'm inspired when I visited Oxford.
Let me introduce the feature of this museum.






Pitt River museum is known a collection of half a million objects from around the world.
Augustus Pitt-Rivers collected all kinds of artifacts past and presents.
Some of them are from Japan, which is my home country. 

Actually, I saw some of them in Japan, but I found new interests from here watching many items collected same glass shelves.
I suppose some people complain that these artifacts displayed too messy and not well organized. However, I think it is one way to show all motifs fairly even if it is not good looking. There are many museums which consider a lot how show objects beautiful, but Pitt Rivers Museum is little bit different. I feel like to visit my friend who is a collecter and lots of interest to collect every unique artifacts.



Noh mask is used Japanese play that has been performed since the 14th century. I saw it in Japan, but display is not like this. Usually, only two or three type of character play the drama. Actor express emotion with a slight difference of inclination of mask. No mask is very sensitive to use. This museum doesn't care about this matter. It is first time for me to see lots of masks at once. However, I enjoyed looking them like I don't know at all Noh and it is first time to see. I realize some time I see other countries cultural things that way. I only look fragments of them and get inspiration without understanding the essence.

It is interesting experience that look variety of artifacts from all over the world at once.
Let' go to Pitt Rivers Museum!

Thursday 9 July 2015

Art school confidential

Today, I watched a funny and unhappy movie named 'Art School Confidential'.
This movie represents art school student's realistic situation.

One boy went to art school to be artist, but he had only his big dream, and not faced to his situation; talent, appreciation, knowledge, connection, and so on. He avoided to accept that he didn't have enough ability as much as he thought. He only tried to succeed in his dream.
In the end, he become famous with other's work. The way is shocking, but it is not main point.
I think many people face same problem. Many people want to succeed as their dream. However, it is hard to complete. People notice this some time, and make another story themselves.
The end of this movie show people look what they want to look. People need story to understand, and  not think what is the real value of art work. The people around the boy live in their dream, too.
Finally, the boy become famous as he dreamt, but never kiss women directly.

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Review of Shifting Sands

Do you want to have a tattoo on your body?
I'm afraid not.
The reason is because not only the pain, but also the meaning is too strong for me.
Painting on skin has magical meaning from the far past.

"Shifting Sands" exhibition has theme of these magical, traditional folkloric rituals especially  from harvest festivals in Sussex to Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.
This exhibition is held by two artists. One of them, Dr. Lakra is an artist and tattooist live in Oaxaca, Mexico.
"The drawings and imagery he uses to embellish his objects and images are taken from the traditions of tattoo culture; sex, death, family and religion."(Modern Art Oxford page)

This exhibition represents how people think about community, culture and their life.
I think this is relate to cultural heritage, which I learnt last week.

Why don't we go to the Modern Art Oxford?
There are wonderful artworks which contain human fundamental emotion.



                      Shifting Sands: Hybrid Rituals & Symbols in Contemporary Culture Project Space / 23 May — 12 July 2015                                                                                                   
Grouping-1-248x170.jpg




Next, I recommend to go to this gallery , too.
The Funky Art Gallery sells urban art globally.
Are you interested in the name of this gallery?

"We travel all over the world with our Urban Artists it might be that we will be near you soon. To receive Collector and Private View invitations to our events, please signup to our mailing list or drop us an email. The Funky Art Gallery has exhibited before in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Oxford, Cotswolds, Vienna and is heading to Tokyo and Moscow next year. Funky goes around the world! Find out where you can see our cool artwork in real-life next."( The Funky Art Gallery page)


read-me.html.jpg

This photograph is taken by Fillipo ioco. There is a woman sitting chair and reading magazine.
I think the theme of this picture is advertisement. Almost all things in the room filled by advertiser. Women's face is like applying a face pack. The picture tell us this world is made by advertisement.
It is interesting that there are eyes right of the picture!
It is like advertise watch us carefully like reading magazine.

The reason why I recommend to go there is because this gallery show picture for sell.
You can by these works online. For example, "Reads me" by Fillipo ioco held £1950.
It is good experience what is sold and who sell artworks today.



What is Luxury?

Unfortunately, I found more new from nature.
Spider move rapidly like teleportation.

There's more to be said about that, but putting all that aside, I consider the exhibitions I visited in V&A museum.

First, I am impressed by "What is luxury?" exhibition.
The way of display was interesting.
Two different works displayed together, and named each section "passion", "future", like that. There is a collaboration between two works which was made for different aim, in different age, and at different place.
I rediscovered the appeal of ancient works. They are attractive because not only they are old, but also they show excellent craftsmanship. I imagine how time spent on the works.

This exhibition's theme is reconsider the meaning of luxury.
For example, there is a work that represents monkey try to open treasure chest. I found there is a crown made in Portugal at 16th century next to monkey object. This crown is made of gold, diamond, ruby, and so on. This work is made of extremely expensive material and high craftsmanship. However, I rethink about value of this work. This is what thief wanted to get in the remote past. I looked lots of these type of antique in the museum many times.
Monkey thief object lead me think these antique still exist in same time as me. I feel like the monkey says "I want to steal this and get money. Why are you standing in front of this? What do you want to do with this treasure?"
It is interesting that monkey thief object is decorated with swarovski glasses.

Moreover, there are a lot of works which rethink the society. 
For example, there is a work that A Comprehensive Atlas of Gold Fictions by Aram Mooradian.
He try to think the gold from lots of points.
"He suggests an economy of gold objects valued not as financial assets but for the memories and stories that they hold."(V&A museum page)
In addition, there is a video which project the mining face and factory with information such as the annual income of worker, the name of track, even if the symbol of elements of everything on the video.

The work I was impressed strongest is "Hair Highway".
It is dressing table and combs. They had the pattern of stripes of red and black. I wondered how they made.They were similar to traditional traditional material: amber, but little bit different.
There was a video next to dressing table. The video project how they made.
Actually, dressing table and combs are made of resin, include human hair.

Firstly, many women sold their hair, and buyer selected good condition hairs. Next, hair was cleaned, bleached, and dyed. Finally, dyed hair was pressed into resin, and cut.
I think the process of making resin include hair is similar to women who works in factory.

Hair doesn't asked, "Whose hair are you?"
Women doesn't asked, "Where are you come from?" 

Hair was dyed same color.
Women always do same work again and again.

Hair doesn't asked, "Why are you collected?"
Women doesn't asked, "Why are you doing this job?" 

No one care about women background.Women doesn't know the purpose of their works.
Women lose their past and future. I think it is a big problem of this society.

The point of I was surprised most is this work is very attractive.
It is  beautiful.
I think the reason is because this work cause question. First, I thought what material is this. After I watched video, I thought why did artist make this. 
It is easy to learn some lessons from this work. However, this work doesn't give us answer what should I do about lessons.
The final work has contradiction inside. It looks like traditional material, but it doesn't. It is used for hair, but include hair inside. 
There is no answer to ask these questions, but I think this is the reason this work is attractive.
I have to think about this forever.

Another work I was impressed is "Fragile Future Concrete Chandelier".
This work represents the collaboration of nature and technology.
It is consists of dandelion and LED light and copper circuit and concrete.
I feel nostalgia from this work. I understand the reason when I watch the video of artist saying.
Lonnenke Goldijin said that dandelion is the first plant which she knew the name of plant.
The dandelion is close to her childhood.
Ralph Nauta said that since he was a child, he is always looking for the technology.
Technology is close to his nostalgia, too.
They make sensitive work from them childhood memory.
This work reminds me that I live with nature, technology both. They can not separate completely for me.

The concrete and Copper circuit like reinforced concrete building. The LED lights like the light through a window. This metaphor is very modern, but I feel life from lights, that was produced by human who must be looking for new technology since they were kids. The dandelion gain the power of life from nature sensitively.

That is my impression from"What is luxury?"exhibition.
I'll write something about"Savage Beauty"on different page. 

Monday 6 July 2015

Project 1

I went to the V&A museum in UCAPSEAD trip.
V&A museum has wonderful collections.
I can stay here all day!

I choose 3 exhibitions and reflect my experience on sketchbook, report, mind map.


I tried to put my thoughts about combination of traditional and modern in order, but I suddenly noticed that my way of making reflect is combination of traditional analogue and modern technique either.
However, I'm poor at using technology even if I am people alive today, so I have to overcome this problem and without saying, English.

Nature

5 Jul 2015

I live in Farnham now.
Farnham is a city in the UK.

I lived in Tokyo two weeks ago.
Tokyo is a city in Japan.

There are dramatically differences between two cities.

Today, I would mention about "nature" first.
People who has lived in the UK since they were kids will be surprised at my surprise, and say "Why are you so surprised? Are there anything new?".

But for me, everything is new.

1 years later, I will say "Why was I so surprised? Were there anything special?"
If I feel so, then, I should go to travel somewhere, and find new something special.

Anyway, I was surprised that birds are so fat in Farnham, and their colour is beautiful.
Some birds have black and white combination. I found a feather with these colors. It was beautiful. Next, I picked up another color feather, which has gray gradation. It was beautiful, too.

Moreover, I was surprised that there are rabbits in the UCA Campus.
I saw only stray cats in Japan.
In addition, when I looked out window, there was a squirrel on the roof with shelling a nut!
How cute.

Then, I noticed that every nature was totally different from Japan.
I thought that even if sky was different. The crowds are roundish in Farnham, and the leaves are thin and whitish. Without saying that, daylight is so long.

That is one of my impression about Farnham.
This town is like a picture book. Nature, buildings, people, everything is beautiful.
I wish that I can find fairy who never live in my hometown, Tokyo.