Reflection on Skeleton series (name tbc)

Been a long time keeping the plastics, some are donated by people through social media, some by myself or some by friends. Still not having right decision on what to make, how to make or limited by the caps I don’t really know.

But, there’s some comments or advice throughout the period. I listened and reflected, some points are summerized as follows,

1. using proxy is actually kind of plastic that polluting the world, even the final

Work is nice, there should be much wasted

2. The materials are really too cheap that people just stop watching it before digging into the meaning behind?

3. And the works I keep questioning are those using the waste to form the animals, for example many bottles forming a whale,that’s not difficult for me, I am sure I could do it. What I keep doing is… a piece that raising awareness of pollution.

So, here’s a recent work that satisfies me and at the same time I think the meaning behind is a way better. The skeleton series, with the various plastics wastes, the repeating pattern, the unique form of individual shape, could be assembled as the skeleton form of endangered animals. The story behind is due to the very long lasting of plastics, which definitely longer than the critical endangered animals. Then I started to think of what if in the future, those animals disappeared, and human still alive, how could they illustrate the animals like those in the natural history museum. Of course this is talking about a very long term future, but we never knows as covid 19 affecting our habit so much…what if the knowledge on internet or taxidermy all lost at a time? And the humans could only find the plastics in the ocean, will they reform the skeleton like those scientists doing at this era?

Yea that’s the idea and not yet very solid, I keep tuning it while I already immersed into the assembling process. By using pin to hold the parts, that’s a way of taxidermy, I try to make it like more valuable, thus the outcome is somehow satisfying with the reflection points above. And the works already applied to a Japanese art fair, hope could gain more comments from there.

Sea turtle skeleton all angles

Sea turtle top view

Humpback whale side view

The art journey after MA study (part 2/2)

continue for Full-time work and art development…

Now working full time in an NGO (that’s non profit making organization), a place called upcycling centre. at there, I need to deliver upcycling concepts as well as arranging workshop that could let publics enjoy and learn.

School Sharing

TV Channel interview

Students interview

workshops

VR project we developing to let audience playing and understand upcycle concepts.

*photo to be uploaded*

there are 7 studios and wood workshop, printing room in the centre, studios are rented to designers whose look for eco-friendly design. I get to know some of them and inspired me, on materials collecting, designing concept and also the passion about art and design. This maybe the best part of the job. On the other hand I got more experience on how to teach or education different age group…from primary, secondary to tertiary and also corporate clients.

However I do feel it’s time to move further and explore in some aspect. I am thinking of some phd programme which could let me concentrate on art development and also knowledge gaining. I really want to move on, hope the applications are fine and accepted by some uni.

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here’s I would also round up some of my artwork within the period I back to HK, it’s almost 4 years. by doing them….experiencing and questioning…I do thought of some knowledge gap that I should do in phd programme.

At the very early stage when I just back, I joined the group exhibition held by Hyphen, who are group of UAL graduates from HK. I try to keep my works being shown.

and I started working as full time again, less time for artworks, not only less time for making but the most importance is…less time for thinking, and yeah the reflection of writing blog is a key point too. to talk to yourself, asking what to make, how to make, how it could be improved, etc. So there’s not much work being made. I could observed how plastic bottles is so much wasted in HK, I keep collecting and collecting, would like to make some art by them, ideas in the mind but keep staying there. until I started by using some of the wrapping plastic on the bottles. and some bottle caps. Actually there are 4 parts from 1 bottle could be used, they are the wrapping plastic, neck ring, cap and the bottle.

4 wastes from 1 bottle (bottle body; neck ring; wrappings; cap)

for the above collage, I described them as illustrating futures, the concept is those plastics occupying the living habit, and the endangered animals are already disappeared, the human could only imagine or recall their appearance by the iconic shape. they are all experiences at the moment, I would like to make the centre transparent, which may need resin. and as you could see the right bottom one, made by the bread clip, that is another plastic I collect from social media, with deadline (expire date) on each of the small pieces, I think that could give a higher impact to audiences, so I collected a lot. for more plastic collected, they included contact lens package and model frames. All of them are waiting for working out.

the gradient test of bottle caps

colour assorted and being cleaned

some more materials collected

model frames are colourful and got potential in my work

so these are materials collected throughout the period, and I keep thinking of any better method to finish that, or need to do more testing. they are growing slowly…been thinking what to be at the centre, transparent or a mirror reflecting the audiences?

last but not least, I have to introduce a book that suitable for the artist who stuck at a point, it encourages and providing method, describing the truth of any problem artist facing,

right hand side should be a newer version while left one is mine.

Name in English: The Artist’s Way/ A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity

Arthur: Julia Cameron

 

Unpack show 2016 by Hyphen

After the “thank you london” by the Hyphen Project 2016, I am exhibiting another work in Hong Kong. This is the 4th unpack show by The Hyphen, it’s my pleasure to join and getting know to the fresh graduate from London as well.

This year the unpack show exhibiting ten designers and artists, with various professionals like interior design, architecture, fashion, set design…etc…and including my work, which is an installation. I am showing the work “Melt Away” which was came from my lipstick collecting campaign; I collecting wasted lipsticks and spreading the message of palm oil over used, causing the deforestation problem. This is a side project from my graduation project. I am happy to display and showing  my friends, donors the work, at the same time, keep delivering the message in Hong Kong.

As I also wanna see the response from Hong Kong, where the culture and mindset is totally different from Europe. It seems the result is positive and audiences like my concept as well. And I am sure I will continue the similar topic.

video of private view:

Sculptures by Peter Gronquist

just found one artist combining taxidermy with objects like guns and company logo, to raise the awareness of endangered animals (or animals killing). By hunting, or by company like McDonald and handbag company…etc. as I stil reading his works, I cannot give any judgement at the moment…but they are impressive for sure.

obviously…hunt for horns~

hunt for food, for fashion?!

pictures all from the artist’s website:

http://www.petergronquist.com/

Art related to animal extinction

As I am writing my research proposal, so that I need to back to research on any art related to animal extinction. Found this flash page is quite useful, it have a geometric 2D form of the animals, and when we click in, got more information.

http://species-in-pieces.com/#

another editorial in 2011 showing 3 Turkish artists doing similar thing. For me, the presentation method is somehow like the beginning of my MA project development, of course they present in a fine finishing way, stil, I think there should be more concise in the reason of animal extinction. here….melting or disappearing just like the branded ideas in my project development.

http://www.treehugger.com/culture/young-turkish-artists-grapple-with-extinction-of-species-alienation-from-nature-in-istanbul-exhibit.html

and this article inspire me….different way for helping wildlife conservation…I think somehow the proposal could be develop through the points it written

http://animals.about.com/od/wildlifeconservation/tp/helping_endangered_species.htm

New York’s Empire State X endangered animals

Very happy to see New York have such performance to raise awareness for endangered animals. Since during my research I found US is not as aware as UK….for the palm oil issue.

However, maybe the death of Cecil (paid and killed by the dentist)….people are getting more and more aware the animals killing problems.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-33750711?ocid=socialflow_facebook

and recently…..I am thinking the animals art is really a very good and potential topic to develop with, e.g. animals right, endangered animals (black market/ palm oil/ global warming…), wildlife conservation, or even the beauty of animals form….or human x animals relationship…would like to further develop any of them.

Reflective from Final show

Today is the third day showing in Camberwell. I am now in the show place and seems a very good journey and sharing when talki to the audiences. The Lipbalm Tiger “Omar”, although not going as what I expected, people keep doing graffiti on it….but….that’s good! as long as people enjoy the activity and getting to know more about the story.

here’s some opinion, feedback, from my mind or guests.

1) to cast more the same size with different colour, letting audiences to crave it….and therefore, everyday journey is written on the tiger, plus more space provided to audiences

2) my pleasure to invite the sculptor, Raphael, to come and crave the tiger stripes, he suggest me a way for souvenir, using a pot of lipbalm, letting audiences to dip and take away….yea …could develop form for that.

3) so far from my observation, people in this country are really into wildlife conservation…they are interested in and supporting the wildlife.

4) inspired by Yujin’s work…..I think there should be some metal casting lipbalm (with Omar’s head) as souvenir, sell them and making money for donation to the forest conservation.

4 animals casting update

There are some problems for the casting of 4 animals, I tried twice for tiger, still not a very good result. And the mold was also wasted. The 3 main problem is…..

1) I wanna lower the separated pieces of mold…that makes the final work difficult to come out

2) the colour powder – mica powder, the more I added in, the weaker the bonding of lip stick.

3) as the model I made with smaller parts when compared with the tiger head, so that it is easier to be damaged.

things to improve from this experience

1) Make some model with similar size and volume as tiger head

2) may use some mold that could break from outside, so that when casting solidified, just cut or open the mold from outside.

Here’s some procedure reference from the casting:

prepared a lot of bucket that mixed the ingredients already

mica powder added, the mixture and movement are amazing,

cocoa powder added for brown color

casted and wait for solidified

second cast for the tiger,

yea, all of them are not suitable for the final show, still need some improvement. Thus I am just showing the tiger head in final show.

Imagine what works surround yours

Suggested by a tutor, Oscar, I try to organize my research on endangered artists so far I found. The reason to do this is….once you got this chart, you will probably knowing what you are doing. I agree with this and, the artist showing are not much….since many artist only showing, illustrating or presenting the beauty of animals’ shape, gestures….but not really giving audience an impact.

Illustration against poaching

an illustrator Robert Chew got a series of works against poaching, which showing some funny concepts…illustrate that these robotic animals can defend themselves against poachers, unlike today where they cannot defend themselves against illegal hunting.

The works are intresting, more on conceptual…..that’s a great work for illustration….I still finding my way for installation or sculpture.

where I found: http://www.technocrazed.com/endangered-robotic-animals-armed-to-fight-against-poachers-photo-gallery

artist site: http://robertbchew.blogspot.fr/

I also fiound out the works are produced during the campaign by the International Anti Poaching Foundation against the illegal hunting of protected animals such as the African elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion or leopard. I will keep an eye for the organization: http://www.iapf.org/#