Ed Murrow is one inspiring man.
I love films about politics, freedom, history, and journalism.
McCarthyism sounds strangely close and familiar to what we sometimes see today, doesn't it?
After watching this film, I feel ignited to do what is right, simply because it is the right thing to do.
Oh by the way, I love the soundtrack. I love jazz from that era.
Showing posts with label arts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label arts. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
pollock, the movie
I just watched Pollock, the movie directed and starring Ed Harris in 2000, about the life of Jackson Pollock.
The saddest moment in the movie was to me, the part when he was so broke and so depressed and he needed to drink so badly, he gave one of his paintings away to the grocer for a crate of beer. Only to fall from his bicycle on his way home from the shop, breaking all the bottles and spilling all the beer on the road. Somehow I strangely feel like I know completely how he felt. To have one desperate, poor material thing left in your life for solace, and yet to have it taken away from you and not be able to blame anyone for that. This scene broke my heart a little.
I felt sad when I saw the first scene of Pollock crying manically, I just felt so wronged, that talent often finds no rightful place in the world, that unique rich individuals that are such genius, often feel so frail and challenged by their finiteness. If only I was also a genius, then I could claim that as my reason for feeling the same way.
Another scene that broke my heart was when he saw an injured dog on the street at night while he was driving. He stopped the car to pick up the dog, and drove it over to the vet, saying desperately, "You gotta save him, he is such a beautiful dog, he is such a beautiful dog." And somehow, I know completely how he felt too.
It is a sad film, but very inspiring. I even watched the special features' section in the DVD.
The saddest moment in the movie was to me, the part when he was so broke and so depressed and he needed to drink so badly, he gave one of his paintings away to the grocer for a crate of beer. Only to fall from his bicycle on his way home from the shop, breaking all the bottles and spilling all the beer on the road. Somehow I strangely feel like I know completely how he felt. To have one desperate, poor material thing left in your life for solace, and yet to have it taken away from you and not be able to blame anyone for that. This scene broke my heart a little.
I felt sad when I saw the first scene of Pollock crying manically, I just felt so wronged, that talent often finds no rightful place in the world, that unique rich individuals that are such genius, often feel so frail and challenged by their finiteness. If only I was also a genius, then I could claim that as my reason for feeling the same way.
Another scene that broke my heart was when he saw an injured dog on the street at night while he was driving. He stopped the car to pick up the dog, and drove it over to the vet, saying desperately, "You gotta save him, he is such a beautiful dog, he is such a beautiful dog." And somehow, I know completely how he felt too.
It is a sad film, but very inspiring. I even watched the special features' section in the DVD.
Sunday, September 3, 2006
recruitment of art instructors
We need to hire art instructors for upcoming projects with Splashwurks. Please spread this word if you come across this post.
Splashwurks is an art education company that does visual art programmes for schools, ranging across mediums such as tempera and acrylic painting, ceramics, and digital art. Splashwurks instructors are an excited bunch of people who are passionate about art, about learning, and about serving.
The position is freelance, and projects usually last for weeks at a time; for example use the schools' whole of term 4 as a gauge. Payment is on a freelance basis, email me to find out more about how much.
We are looking for people with:
Closing date: Friday 8 September.
Splashwurks is an art education company that does visual art programmes for schools, ranging across mediums such as tempera and acrylic painting, ceramics, and digital art. Splashwurks instructors are an excited bunch of people who are passionate about art, about learning, and about serving.
The position is freelance, and projects usually last for weeks at a time; for example use the schools' whole of term 4 as a gauge. Payment is on a freelance basis, email me to find out more about how much.
We are looking for people with:
- Background in art or design, trained or self-taught. The more artistic mediums you are familiar with, the more projects you will be able to take on.
- Experience in teaching / training / leadership is critical. Good spoken English required.
- Attitude. This is critical, regardless of your skill level or experience. We are looking for people who are passionate, who desire to learn, are humble, and never mind if you are a bit mad.
- Availability, to take on freelance projects, each one to completion. You are likely a tertiary student or a freelancer who can afford timeslots in your work week to fit in projects that occur over periods of a few weeks or months.
Closing date: Friday 8 September.
Sunday, July 2, 2006
Johnny Cash
I came across this MTV first in Popmatters, reviewing his album A Hundred Highways produced before he passed on 2003. It is such a moving song, with amazing yet straightforward imagery.
I first learnt about Johnny Cash in proper, through Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line, a movie detailing Cash's life and rise to fame. It is an inspiring film, and the two actors did both Johnny Cash and June Carter much justice. The songs in the film are performed by the actors themselves. (Phoenix actually did some rudimentary guitar lessons before he did this film, although he still does not actually play the guitar).
A Hundred Highways sees Cash as a much older man, uttering his death-anticipatory lyrics along to soulful playing of the guit (and piano). It may seem morbid, but really, I have not seen an MTV that interests me much, and if it has to be an old Cash that does it, well so be it.
Hope you enjoy the song.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Slinky
Acrylic on plywood, 21cm by 30cm
I finally got some free mind and time and energy to paint. Not much inspiration though, so I did this. It is very blur, because the previous versions I scanned were too big to be uploaded anywhere. But oh yeah, the 99mb version was the clearest. Even clearer than the artwork itself.
I think I like the shadow the best. And the way the floor and the background are actually the same palette of colours, just painted differently. I did a lot of layering of colours, so that through the translucency of the paint you can get a more 3D highlight/shadow effect. But the cat, is cartoonish because I was not painting with Slinky in front of me, and hence just did a cartoonish Paul Klee concept of a cartoon cat.
Oh well, I would probably frame it up and give it to Calvin.
Monday, May 1, 2006
salon solidarity: what politics does to the arts scene
"With GE coming up close and sweaty on our doorsteps, or walking over our doorsteps depending on which part of Singapore you live in, there is a fresh reminder on the issue of how the political climate affects us in the arts industry...
..."So where is the current Singaporean artistic talent really? Or is there none particularly, and we are but an island meeting place for the arts. I have nothing against foreign artists coming into Singapore to curate, perform, exhibit their art. I love contemporary art and that of those beyond our shores. However, I think: where is contemporary Singaporean art? If a historian years later were to dig up our shores and see what we had culturally, do we have a place in art history? Now, what does this have to do with politics or central governing authorities you say..."
My latest thought on Salon Solidarity.
Thursday, April 6, 2006
the arty things I did today
- Taught acrylic painting class with Miss Angela. Landscape painting of a scene at East Coast Park. See previous post.
- Made a monoprint on an old teeshirt using fabric paints. Sewed a button as decor and used fabric pastels to add details. Sounds nicer than it turned out.
- Mixed media artwork using acrylic paint with gloss medium to make it drippy, oil pastels, water colours, on board primed with emulsion paint and with a collage of different types of paper.
- Put together a simple powerpoint to use for watercolour painting.
Thursday, February 9, 2006
Monday, December 26, 2005
christmas drama
I sit here, eaten a chocolate-chip muesli bar, and with a beer, writing this as soon as I got home.
I have just returned from one of the best drama performances I have ever attended, at the MGS Auditorium, performed by superb non-artists from my ex-church. I went because I helped conceptualise and paint the backdrop with the team. But after sitting through the performance, I now know that it was my honour to have been in the audience to receive this theatrical experience.
The title of the performance is, 'Defending your life'. I cannot even begin to describe it; words will fail the impact of its presentation to the audience.
In true modern drama style, it had live music - vocal and guitar; dance, which was very well choreographed; and visual art - the backdrop we painted! and other artwork on panels at the foot of the backdrop. The drama was written and directed by Sherilyn, who I must stake claim as my Splashwurks team-mate, because she is such a gem.
I fail at writing more about it. Words will not be able to tell the experience well enough without bastardising it. I shall stop here for now.
Honestly, this tops as the icing on the Christmas cake for me. I had a great Christmas celebration.
I met so many teenagers-turned-young-adults who I knew many years ago - and I still remember almost all their names, and many of them said hello to me, and treated me as part of them even though I left their church four years ago to join my present one.
I met my old friends, to catch up on their lives, to hear stories about them being proposed to or of their career changes.
I also, not very pleasantly but, bearably, had the excruciating privilege of having all of my exes all in the same room at the same time. Too much history in one room, I say. But oh well we are all adults, and we get along civilly somehow. At least, they are all exes and not, ugh, currents.
Thanks to Sherilyn and the fabulous team, for the amazing performance that I would have shed tears whilst it happened, had it not been that I wanted to put up a non-emotional front for the rest of the audience so that I will look brave.
I have just returned from one of the best drama performances I have ever attended, at the MGS Auditorium, performed by superb non-artists from my ex-church. I went because I helped conceptualise and paint the backdrop with the team. But after sitting through the performance, I now know that it was my honour to have been in the audience to receive this theatrical experience.
The title of the performance is, 'Defending your life'. I cannot even begin to describe it; words will fail the impact of its presentation to the audience.
In true modern drama style, it had live music - vocal and guitar; dance, which was very well choreographed; and visual art - the backdrop we painted! and other artwork on panels at the foot of the backdrop. The drama was written and directed by Sherilyn, who I must stake claim as my Splashwurks team-mate, because she is such a gem.
I fail at writing more about it. Words will not be able to tell the experience well enough without bastardising it. I shall stop here for now.
Honestly, this tops as the icing on the Christmas cake for me. I had a great Christmas celebration.
I met so many teenagers-turned-young-adults who I knew many years ago - and I still remember almost all their names, and many of them said hello to me, and treated me as part of them even though I left their church four years ago to join my present one.
I met my old friends, to catch up on their lives, to hear stories about them being proposed to or of their career changes.
I also, not very pleasantly but, bearably, had the excruciating privilege of having all of my exes all in the same room at the same time. Too much history in one room, I say. But oh well we are all adults, and we get along civilly somehow. At least, they are all exes and not, ugh, currents.
Thanks to Sherilyn and the fabulous team, for the amazing performance that I would have shed tears whilst it happened, had it not been that I wanted to put up a non-emotional front for the rest of the audience so that I will look brave.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
review of frankie's play
Update: I am reviewing my review on this, in order to give it more justice, that it deserves.
Read Frankie's self-written synopsis on the play.
It is based on Cyril Wong's poetry. I am not one to have memorised local poets, but after watching a play that translates words into visual, theatrical display, I am keen now to know more about this Singaporean poet.
It got me started on reading his poetry.
Few poets move me with their words...
Frankie and his team chose the poems and strung them into a story, and thereafter punctuated them seamlessly with songs, conversation, props, other poems and bits of prose.
No it is not a musical, thankfully. I still maintain, that I really do not enjoy musicals.
Bits of the poetry were presented in textual display - art in itself, written poetry soometimes without verbalising it audibly - overhead, forming the backdrop. I like this, though some may not. It was however too high above the action on stage; non-habitual subtitle readers may not acclimatise well.
The fact that this is a multimedia performance, in a different, less in-your-face way, and that is abstracted without losing meaning, comprehension and allure, it is a severely good setup. It can outdo performances that I paid for and attended in similar or even larger capacities.
That said, the only thing that I may not like about it, is that, it should have been a bigger event.
Monday, November 21, 2005
the mad splashwurks team and one particular art gallery
We just finished an artspace. Here are some really silly cool pics of the gallery.
This is Clyda in her chio-bu contractor outfit. The artworks in the background are not painted by us; we only managed the gallery to the extent of designing the space for these works as well as hanging them up - more work than it looks, really. The butterfly sculptures are really alive and nice; more about them below.
This is H, aka Mr Koh, or Ah Koh the main contractor. Work in progress.
The butterfly sculptures we designed with the students that Clyda and Enid taught Pop Art to, through much screaming and punishing no less.
And here they are, the digital art teachers and part-time splashwurks coolies (aren't we all). Tired and silly for sure, but that's what distinguishes us from others: we are always mad and upbeat about our job, regardless! That's why I love the team.
Here it is again, unmarred by us workers.
The 'before' pictures should give a better understanding of the transformation this space went through. The splashwurks artspace revamp started with this:
Yes, it is the same place, a month earlier. We hope to do more art spaces again soon! Art gallery management, anyone? It will get better than this, I believe it will.
This is Clyda in her chio-bu contractor outfit. The artworks in the background are not painted by us; we only managed the gallery to the extent of designing the space for these works as well as hanging them up - more work than it looks, really. The butterfly sculptures are really alive and nice; more about them below.
This is H, aka Mr Koh, or Ah Koh the main contractor. Work in progress.
The butterfly sculptures we designed with the students that Clyda and Enid taught Pop Art to, through much screaming and punishing no less.
And here they are, the digital art teachers and part-time splashwurks coolies (aren't we all). Tired and silly for sure, but that's what distinguishes us from others: we are always mad and upbeat about our job, regardless! That's why I love the team.
Here it is again, unmarred by us workers.
The 'before' pictures should give a better understanding of the transformation this space went through. The splashwurks artspace revamp started with this:
Yes, it is the same place, a month earlier. We hope to do more art spaces again soon! Art gallery management, anyone? It will get better than this, I believe it will.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
drama backdrop creation
Today I did Sherilyn one part of my favour to her. She wrote, and is directing a play for her church, and thus needs people to help her with a backdrop. We have talked about the design, and will be already starting on it.
So today, her team and I were practising some sketches at my place.
We had to paint some sketches of petals and roses, hence the new title image you see here. Her design is one of a rose, with petals, against a Surrealist backdrop. Think Salvador Dali's Meditative Rose.
Yeah, it's quite difficult. Especially since I hate painting flowers because the ordinary pigments we usually use won't do at all. You end up improvising and coming up with depressive looking flower petals. Still, it was fun.
So today, her team and I were practising some sketches at my place.
We had to paint some sketches of petals and roses, hence the new title image you see here. Her design is one of a rose, with petals, against a Surrealist backdrop. Think Salvador Dali's Meditative Rose.
Yeah, it's quite difficult. Especially since I hate painting flowers because the ordinary pigments we usually use won't do at all. You end up improvising and coming up with depressive looking flower petals. Still, it was fun.
Sunday, October 2, 2005
jap lit and film
Recently someone I met recommended I read a rather un-newly published book: Memoirs of a Geisha.
Perhaps I should, seeing that its movie is coming out.
She recommended I read it despite the fact that I usually would not love a 'bestseller'. Yeah, I am not one of those who enjoys reading stuff like 5 people you meet in heaven blah blah. I might like this one in spite of that. Especially since it is no longer a hot-item-off-the-shelf type anymore.
Also because I am rather enamoured now of Japanese literature and such. Of course, fuelled by my darling Haruki, but also, by the Japanese Film Festival. C and I watched Letters From A Mountain. I loved it. Of course, I also was the one who chose the film. As per C's words to Kenny: "If you were looking for the senseless violence sort of action flick, this one is half-a-star." If you are in the melancholic, recovering from depression, nature-loving, spiritual or Buddhist or missions orientated mood, and if you love writing - like as much as I do would be enough - then you will love this film. I also hope to catch the others, like Tony Takitani - a Haruki Murakami short story adaptation - hopefully I can. Alas many artsy things elude me for my lack of time and companions.
Having mentioned Haruki, I will definitely save up to buy Kafka on the Shore, as well as complete reading all his other novels and short stories.
I want to read and soak more and more of these Jap lit and film. Despite their crazy anoneh culture. I can't help being entranced by well-written accounts of different cultures around the world. Australia's history, London's subcultures, Irish life, and , you will never believe it, I love reading Rockson's blog - he reminds me of Peter Carey's book on the Kelly Gang. If you haven't read it before: Peter Carey wrote in first person as Ned Kelly, completely in colloqial Irish-accented English.
Meantime, I need more books badly.
Perhaps I should, seeing that its movie is coming out.
She recommended I read it despite the fact that I usually would not love a 'bestseller'. Yeah, I am not one of those who enjoys reading stuff like 5 people you meet in heaven blah blah. I might like this one in spite of that. Especially since it is no longer a hot-item-off-the-shelf type anymore.
Also because I am rather enamoured now of Japanese literature and such. Of course, fuelled by my darling Haruki, but also, by the Japanese Film Festival. C and I watched Letters From A Mountain. I loved it. Of course, I also was the one who chose the film. As per C's words to Kenny: "If you were looking for the senseless violence sort of action flick, this one is half-a-star." If you are in the melancholic, recovering from depression, nature-loving, spiritual or Buddhist or missions orientated mood, and if you love writing - like as much as I do would be enough - then you will love this film. I also hope to catch the others, like Tony Takitani - a Haruki Murakami short story adaptation - hopefully I can. Alas many artsy things elude me for my lack of time and companions.
Having mentioned Haruki, I will definitely save up to buy Kafka on the Shore, as well as complete reading all his other novels and short stories.
I want to read and soak more and more of these Jap lit and film. Despite their crazy anoneh culture. I can't help being entranced by well-written accounts of different cultures around the world. Australia's history, London's subcultures, Irish life, and , you will never believe it, I love reading Rockson's blog - he reminds me of Peter Carey's book on the Kelly Gang. If you haven't read it before: Peter Carey wrote in first person as Ned Kelly, completely in colloqial Irish-accented English.
Meantime, I need more books badly.
Sunday, September 25, 2005
all about this
I have been away for a couple of days, slight no-post hiatus, because it has been a busy weekend as usual with work, church, and with Cal.
Plus I have been working on a new blog. (No I have not been unfaithful to worlds upon words).
This is about art. Resources, information, wording processes, and more. It is not ready yet, but briefly I will mention it here. It is not ready because, it is bare - no fancy photos like those here of scary me - and I have yet to organise how different people will contribute to this web-publication.
In the meantime, there are some dummy posts in a rudimentary layout there.
It is called, Salon Solidarity. If you would like to see its metamorphosis - salonsolidarity.blogspot.com. It may sound vaguely artistic, but we all being intellectuals, will ponder over the name awhile. Soon I will write a paper on the meaning of this name, and what it has to do with art, and art-lovers in Singapore.
Of course, you know I won't really write a paper, I am but a regular English-speaking girl. Tissue paper, more like.
Will be back. As I always say at blogs I visit.
Plus I have been working on a new blog. (No I have not been unfaithful to worlds upon words).
This is about art. Resources, information, wording processes, and more. It is not ready yet, but briefly I will mention it here. It is not ready because, it is bare - no fancy photos like those here of scary me - and I have yet to organise how different people will contribute to this web-publication.
In the meantime, there are some dummy posts in a rudimentary layout there.
It is called, Salon Solidarity. If you would like to see its metamorphosis - salonsolidarity.blogspot.com. It may sound vaguely artistic, but we all being intellectuals, will ponder over the name awhile. Soon I will write a paper on the meaning of this name, and what it has to do with art, and art-lovers in Singapore.
Of course, you know I won't really write a paper, I am but a regular English-speaking girl. Tissue paper, more like.
Will be back. As I always say at blogs I visit.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
every art student should watch this!
Funny film that I stumbled upon while browsing an art blog! It is called the Perils in Nude Modelling, set in an art class. A short film, available on the internet. Entertaining!
Speaking of art blogs, there seems to be no noteworthy artblog that keeps everyone talking, like an equivalent of Tomorrow.sg. I wish there was, or that I could start one. Not like those spurts of artwork that ordinary folks -like me- dish up here and there, but a real blog dedicated to art in Singapore. Then at least I will have more stuff to go to on the internet when I need my art resources!
Till then, let us enjoy the film!
Speaking of art blogs, there seems to be no noteworthy artblog that keeps everyone talking, like an equivalent of Tomorrow.sg. I wish there was, or that I could start one. Not like those spurts of artwork that ordinary folks -like me- dish up here and there, but a real blog dedicated to art in Singapore. Then at least I will have more stuff to go to on the internet when I need my art resources!
Till then, let us enjoy the film!
Sunday, September 18, 2005
from the blog artwork comments archive
issac said...
What is the difference between an artist and an art educator?
3:26 PM
elaine said...
An artist makes art to communicate what he wants to communicate, through an excellence of artistic demonstration.
An art educator communicates the process of making art well to others, thus relaying the beneficial skills and values of art-making to students.
10:37 PM
issac said...
How can one know, and thus communicate, the process of making art well without being an artist himself/herself?
12:30 AM
elaine said...
That's true.
In the process of perfecting the profession of being an art educator, one is in the by-process of being a better artist.
But the motivation is different. The art educator wants to be better, and so learns to make art better - making art thereby being an artist. The artist always wants to be better, for the pure sake of making art better.
In both forms, making art better equates to perfecting skills, creative expression, and maturity of thought and ideas for communication.
In some ways, the artist is seen to be 'for art's sake' and thereby a purist. He puts up an art exhibition and moves the public that views it and takes it in. The art educator can be seen to bastardize the purity of artistic expression because his purposes and intents are different.
But the art educator seeks to communicate the values of art, through communicating the skills of art-making. This is how he relates with his public. Hence he will always look to perfect his teaching skills. An artist may not necessary be a good teacher.
4:32 AM
What is the difference between an artist and an art educator?
3:26 PM
elaine said...
An artist makes art to communicate what he wants to communicate, through an excellence of artistic demonstration.
An art educator communicates the process of making art well to others, thus relaying the beneficial skills and values of art-making to students.
10:37 PM
issac said...
How can one know, and thus communicate, the process of making art well without being an artist himself/herself?
12:30 AM
elaine said...
That's true.
In the process of perfecting the profession of being an art educator, one is in the by-process of being a better artist.
But the motivation is different. The art educator wants to be better, and so learns to make art better - making art thereby being an artist. The artist always wants to be better, for the pure sake of making art better.
In both forms, making art better equates to perfecting skills, creative expression, and maturity of thought and ideas for communication.
In some ways, the artist is seen to be 'for art's sake' and thereby a purist. He puts up an art exhibition and moves the public that views it and takes it in. The art educator can be seen to bastardize the purity of artistic expression because his purposes and intents are different.
But the art educator seeks to communicate the values of art, through communicating the skills of art-making. This is how he relates with his public. Hence he will always look to perfect his teaching skills. An artist may not necessary be a good teacher.
4:32 AM
glazed pigeons
Huanjie says, "..I need to glaze and fire the pigeons first.."
Exotic dish?
A euphemism for something politically incorrect? Slang for some kind of drug-use or sexual position?
No. He's making some bloody bird sculptures with clay. You will find them eventually being exhibited in some school in Bishan. Sweet and sour baked pigeons glazed with a barbecued sauce, served at Gong Jiao (air-con) Restaurant.
Exotic dish?
A euphemism for something politically incorrect? Slang for some kind of drug-use or sexual position?
No. He's making some bloody bird sculptures with clay. You will find them eventually being exhibited in some school in Bishan. Sweet and sour baked pigeons glazed with a barbecued sauce, served at Gong Jiao (air-con) Restaurant.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
first blog artwork
Finally, because the camera is in my house, and so is the sample artwork I did during my teaching demonstration today.
Thanks to Pam who shared with me her photos, taken with a SLR camera on her travels and ecological escapades in Singapore and around the region.
The class today was for a group of primary school art teachers, on painting in the Impressionistic style - again! the easiest to teach for beginners - using a theme of seascapes. Yes, the school is near the sea. Hence, the theme.
Impressionism has to be semi-realistic, painted with lots of colours being emphasised, and with creative brushstrokes. Not the usual neat kind, but rather, a little blurry, and what I told the folks at school - an 'astigmatism' effect. As you can see, I emphasised the yellows and pinks a lot more than the blue, because I enjoyed the clouds swathed in pink a lot more than the impending darkness. It looks a bit orange here though, but that's because of the lighting in my living room, and my orange couch.
I stress, I am not an artist, but an art educator. Hope that is disclaimer itself!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
symposia, the arts, books
On Friday night, Huanjie and Enid and myself went to the History Museum - how cool is that! - And we stumbled upon Eric's Khoo's film-screenings. It was part of the Asian Film Symposium.
Symposia have been happening everywhere. It is the latest happening of the elite artist-like crowd.
That night, we saw all the who's whos, or as H put it, the Khoo's whos. We sighted folks whom we saw at an earlier artsy symposium we went to - Arts in Education Now 2005. And of course, other folks who are naturally occurring the arts scene.
Well, we decided not to watch the show in the end - we had thought it was free, but, no. Not that we were being cheapo but we had initially thought it was free, so, cognitive dissonance and all that.
Anyway speaking of symposia, at the abovmentioned we last went, they mentioned that symposia were meant to be enjoyed with alcoholic indulgence while talking intellectually.
Currently I am reading Milan Kundera's 'Slowness', with great pleasure I might add, and he mentions symposia in the context of, a particular subject being highly suitable for one to be enjoyed among the various European literati.
I guess in his context, the symposium would hardly be boring.
In the book he broadcasts the concept, on behalf of someone he respects but who never publicised his viewpoint, that of politicians being like dancers. At that, I leapt in my heart. Because when I was reading HRM in uni, I chanced upon this concept of politicking being like dancing - making a show, looking good, narcissism at its pleasurable best. And when I wrote a piece of writing for my company website, I included this statement about the arts - dance like politicians. In our studio, there sits in our lounge, as part of our wall mural design, the same verse. It had finally come full circle. I found where that wonderful imagery came from.
Books are great. It is the one thing that will unite me with many I enjoy the company of.
We could have, symposia on books we love. With the alcoholic indulgence or without. Perhaps then, we shall call it, chilling out, a simple term, something that makes it sound less poser-ish, atas and dancer-like to the point of almost-nausea.
Symposia have been happening everywhere. It is the latest happening of the elite artist-like crowd.
That night, we saw all the who's whos, or as H put it, the Khoo's whos. We sighted folks whom we saw at an earlier artsy symposium we went to - Arts in Education Now 2005. And of course, other folks who are naturally occurring the arts scene.
Well, we decided not to watch the show in the end - we had thought it was free, but, no. Not that we were being cheapo but we had initially thought it was free, so, cognitive dissonance and all that.
Anyway speaking of symposia, at the abovmentioned we last went, they mentioned that symposia were meant to be enjoyed with alcoholic indulgence while talking intellectually.
Currently I am reading Milan Kundera's 'Slowness', with great pleasure I might add, and he mentions symposia in the context of, a particular subject being highly suitable for one to be enjoyed among the various European literati.
I guess in his context, the symposium would hardly be boring.
In the book he broadcasts the concept, on behalf of someone he respects but who never publicised his viewpoint, that of politicians being like dancers. At that, I leapt in my heart. Because when I was reading HRM in uni, I chanced upon this concept of politicking being like dancing - making a show, looking good, narcissism at its pleasurable best. And when I wrote a piece of writing for my company website, I included this statement about the arts - dance like politicians. In our studio, there sits in our lounge, as part of our wall mural design, the same verse. It had finally come full circle. I found where that wonderful imagery came from.
Books are great. It is the one thing that will unite me with many I enjoy the company of.
We could have, symposia on books we love. With the alcoholic indulgence or without. Perhaps then, we shall call it, chilling out, a simple term, something that makes it sound less poser-ish, atas and dancer-like to the point of almost-nausea.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
art history joke
"Recently a guy in Paris nearly got away with stealing several paintings from the Louvre. But, after taking them off the walls and eluding the guards, he was captured only two blocks away when his van ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a theft and then make such a blunder, he replied: 'I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh.'"
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