Art is the imposing of a pattern on experience, and our aesthetic enjoyment is recognition of the pattern. - Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947) [English mathematician turned philosopher] This is the quote that my secondary school art teacher Madam Sri shared with my class, and it resonated with me today.
Like what the quote suggests, I feel that our ability to appreciate and enjoy the art done by anyone for this matter, reflects our ability to recognize pattern imposed from human experiences. This reflects our shared human ability to empathise. Hence, an art gallery like YRCAE will presents society at large, an opportunity view the world from these ex-offenders' glasses, and empathise their plague.
I was touched and amazed by many art pieces showcased today. And as such, I've chosen one art-piece for each specific question, so that I could at least talk about more of these art pieces.
It’s really difficult to rank them based on a scale of meaningfulness – and creativity.
But one art piece that took me by surprise and made the “wow” impact was the acrylic on canvas piece titled Transmogrity.
I could not help not to interpret the meaning of the strokes and colours on the canvas. My head was bursting with “stories” as my jaw drop in awe.
This is my interpretation:
The mere dust on the bottom right is morphing into a phoenix, and it is reaching to the sun.
The dust symbolises the old life of the X-offender, and the phoenix represents the current phase of his life, as he morphs into a new person and reaches above to the divine.
This was the written explanation [RIGHT]: (It varies a little from mine though)
My Superhero, is a piece dedicated to the X-offender’s mother. The art piece is very direct with its meaning. The mother is seen equivalent to a marvel-Hero. It shows, that the artist feels that the mother’s unconditional love, is sometime beyond human, something of a hero.
The Way I see It.
Is a piece that obey no “gravity” it has scenes from the artist’s past everywhere. It is mostly pop-culture inspired and it shows that we human beings are byproducts of both nature and nurture.
In that sense, we owe our very own mental make-up to what nature and situations have provided for us. Those who are fortunate enough to be born in a family that has the affluence and ability to provide one with a proper education path and shelter, should acknowledge the unearned privileges that one has received and be humbled that one is lucky.
Liu Kang’s pieces
Life by the river
Body gestures speaks what the facial expressions can’t is what I learnt from this piece.
As an O’level art student (I did silk painting for my GCE ART), I had the opinion that facial expressions are the key to illustrating one’s emotions and feelings. I am so wrong! Body gestures speak volumes more, and the empty faces allow us the audiences to imagine suitable facial expressions. AMAZING!
If I were to paint again, I will definitely go "faceless"
Siesta VS Siesta In Bali
1952 1957
2 pieces, one done in 1952 and the other in 1957, shows the same model but in very different setting.
I wonder why the artist had decided to re-work on a piece he had done before and why did he make it sensual.
The explanation provided by SAM, only focused on the changes made to the chair and how it has allowed the viewer a full view of the model’s body. But, not on the factors that has inspired Liu to go bold on the second try. Its a mystery!
Ar+ is L!/\/\!+LE55
The Reactive wall proves that art is limitless in terms of medium and ideas.
A projection of icons and characters fills the wall. The more noise one makes, the more art the wall gets filled with.
Truly inspirational!
We painted the wall with our echoes.
The visit to SAM, has revived my passion for the visual arts, and I looking forward to the "winter" vacations for some silk-painting freedom! (or maybe this time I may try mix medium) :)
