Globetrotter/ Yayoi Kusama X Tate Modern, London

① Yayoi Kusama at Tate Modern, London 

期待已久的草間彌生展覽由巴黎 Centre Pompidou 抵達倫敦 Tate Modern。生於1929年的草間彌生自幼時患上神經性視聽障礙疾病。從此，草間彌生看到的世界都被覆蓋著一層點狀的網。藝術，對於她來說是一種長期飽受精神折磨的救贖。

 

② ‘I'm Here. But Nothing’ 

展覽其中一個展廳。踏入房間的一剎那就如真實地進入魔法童話故事中。當懷疑是否處於地球上的一個角落時，留意到所有物件都被貼上具有螢光效果的圓形貼紙，成了觸得到的精神錯覺，特別感動。

③ ‘Infinity Mirrored Room - Filled with the Brillance of Life’ 

不得不提最後一個展廳展示的燈光裝置藝術，每隔數秒轉換顏色的小燈炮配上有限的鏡子，延伸形成無限的空間。最驚喜的是正當陶醉在繁華星海中時突然漆黑一片的瞬間，霎時意識到在宇宙中自身的存在感。

離開草間彌生的魔幻國度，眼前看見的城市才是糢糊了現實、裝飾世界的佈景。

Yayoi Kusama at Tate Modern, London from 9th Feb until 5 June, 2012 

Neareast station: London Underground - London Bridge

Globetrotter/ Frieze Art Fair, London

 

 

Frieze Art Fair 2011 13 - 16 Oct, 2011 in Regent's Park, London

Globetrotter/ Yue Minjun X Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, UK

I had been impressed and inspired by Yue Minjun’s canvases and produced a series of paintings - Rhythm and Cycle in Cambridge. Owing to the excitement of studying his paintings, today I just visited Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition in Chatsworth House to find out whether his sculpture was as much fun.

 

① Hears no evil
' Contemporary Terracotta Warriors ' The 25 identical warriors by Chinese Contemporary Artist Yue Minjun (岳敏君) situated on the Cascade in Chatsworth House during the exhibiting period. My first impression is that they are like the Wise Monkey who hears no evil.

② Workman's vest, Pair of trousers & Bare Foot (From Left to right)

The clothing that these “warriors”  are wearing suggested to me that they might represent the contemporary Chinese workers – the modern equivalent of the terracotta warriors – who are forging the future of China.

③ Sweat or Tears?
This photographer used shallow depth of field to focus on the warrior in the foreground,  emphasizing the angle of the open mouth and the way the curve the nose is reflected by the curve of the side of the hand: The water droplets are beautiful – but are they also suggest sweat or tears ? (Photo Via Sjs.Sheffield)

④ Hierarchy

A hierarchy – one – the foreman? – is elevated above the others. They are identical and are arranged in a particular formation.  I was amazed by this photographer who was able to get into the temple to capture the “foreman’s view” of the warriors from the top of the cascade.  (Photo Via Jonathan Photography)

⑤ Made of bronze

When I compared the pattern of light and shape created by the verdigris patina with the marble statues nearby, the bronze seemed the ideal material for representing the characteristics of manual workers in the dirty conditions of factories – their toughness and stamina.

⑥ Value of Art
 What is the value of the entire set of warriors without the cascade with water flowing over them? I am curious about what setting the buyer of these sculptures will put them in to present the atmosphere and meaning of the artwork.

► Let's Yell

Also, I saw a young boy covered his own ears in imitation of the sculptures and YELL. It occurred to me that this might be what the statues are doing. Are they covering their ears to protect themselves from the sound of machinery or to refuse to listen to the Chinese foreman? 

Beyond Limits sculpture exhibition 2010 at Chatsworth House (13 September - 31 October, 2010)