Week 3 : Brainstorming Part I

Class Activity

We were working in group and challenged to pick a topic of "101 ways to..". We chosed 101 ways to save the earth and started working on it.

at first it was easy and mostly they were very common and general answer but usually end up into nothing because apparently brain prefers more specific detail in what exactly we can really do. But the thing about brainstorming is, you keep going no matter how unsatisfying the list is. Because each of it might invite other bunch of ideas. It was true, as we went on with more and more list, we came up with a lot more little things that we can actually do in our daily life. It was like a chain connecting one another.

It was amazing how as we dig the quantity, the quality emerges just like water coming up from the soil.

This is actually very relatable with my problem which is procrastinating, and waiting for the mood or motivation to come so I can make something in such a nice quality. I think I’ll just need to do what I have to do a lot and a lot, as the quality might not appear in form of final masterpiece on each piece of it, but it might come as other form, such as more understanding, courage, patience, technical skill, or most importantly is ideas exploration.



So this is what I made using brainstorming

spontaneous work for first prototype

Brainstorming ideas for prototype 2

Prototype 2

Week 2 : Breaking The Rules!

In this post, I am going to write about 5 artists I consider breaking the rules.

1. Pablo Picasso

Going back many years ago, while classical subject-resembled painting was most popular, Picasso brought up a new style which known as cubism. He breaks the rule which said good painting had to appear with its object recognizable. He showed that it did not have to be like that. Many of his late works were presented by breaking down the subject into line and shape. His style (cubism) had made a huge impact to art world and the generation after until today.

Joie De Vivire 

Jacqueline with flowers 

Source : http://www.pablopicasso.org/

2. Stefaan De Croock

a Belgian artist Stefaan De Croock used old wooden door material to make a mural on the wall. He did not repaint it so each door would tell its own story. The ideas of old door used for me matched perfectly with the idea of breaking the rules bcause it is unusual material and he did not just put it out there for no reason, the message intended has been nicely presented through the materials and the wall behind which emphasizes it perfectly.

Source : http://museperk.com/

http://museperk.com/artist-turns-old-wooden-doors-into-giant-street-art-murals-2/?relatedposts_exclude=100999

3. Bruno Catalano

His sculpture works did make me wonder at first glance about how did it stand. After a moment, people will get the way it stands through the tip connection of two different objects which we did not put the focus on, for in reality, it is not connected objects (take example, bag and leg).There must be something behind mindblowing works, which created by breaking the usual. 

source : http://brunocatalano.com/

4. Brandon Stanton: Humans of New York

Brandon break the rules that says a great story has to come from great imagination of his own. No doubt about it, but with imagination hitting one more crucial spot, one can come up with more breaking-through idea. Instead of writing his own story, Brandon used people he found randomly at street to have conversation with. he dig it into perspective that many people can relate and reflect. then he posted it on instagram with a photograph of each person. He currently has 3 million followers on instagram and the feedback on comment section have a lot of great responding thoughts too. many accounts followed his idea afterward.

Source : http://instagram.com/humansofny

5. Tim Nobel and Sue Webster

They made a project together by collecting numbers of trash in London to turn its shadow into silhoutte photograph. Great artist always want to find another way to make the message appear more bold, or simply appear different. Turning stack of trash into aesthetical visual art must be a project of mind by switch off some old rules and switch on another.

Source : http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2009/12/non-trashy-recycled-and-trash-art/

Class Activity : Break The Rules!

Each person was asked to bring one raw egg, straws, thread, and tape. We were challenged to drop an egg without breaking it.

at first I misheard it, I thought we should put something on the floor to avoid the egg breaking instead of dropping it with the egg.

taken by me 

As I went on doing the work, soon I came up with tape and locked the egg with more straws to avoid it flying.

 

Reema was concentrated with her work. Picture was taken by me. 

The life inside is safe. taken by Reema 

Reflection

Often happens that what we have is so little yet our vision is so big. What we need to do about it is to think, and do, and re-think, and re-do, and on and on, so we make use of what we have and dig deep into it. This activity made me realize that when we challenge ourselves more, we exercise the mind to work on "HOW" and find more way to it, in form of thinking and doing. So we will do more than usual, we will use more our mind for good.

From my breaking the egg experience, I learned that sometimes we don't need all the perfect concept in the beginning in attempt to avoid failure. Failure was surely a thing to figure out but the perfect way to understand it better is by doing. Because when we think too much, we will do little, we will explore little, yet our mind is gold waiting to be drilled out by more exploration. how can we know if we don’t jump into the problem itself? I am a kind of person who have a lot of ideas but so little action. This activity class left something in my mind. 

Week 2 : Getting Lost!

This time students are challanged to get out of comfort zone by getting lost in purpose to raise more awareness of surrounding. 

I have never been really going out since staying here (been 1 month) unless to school, supermarket, or art store near my place. So in order to get my self moving and being aware, I decided to walk wherever my legs bring me to. I went to anywhere but the street I felt familiar with.

The building inside seems deadly. 

Judging by the warning in previous picture, I expected to see one complete deadly sentence, but turns out they are lovely words to live by. 

Nice trunks. It looks as if its apperance wants to show something to urban people 

Walked through a small lonely street. 

Kind of Old styled building, where am I at? 

I spotted something and dropped by. This small table was full of stuffs on it. this kind of surprised me. It said "FREE! Take anything on this table except this sign!) truly interesting!

One by one person dropped by too, one of white man was more explicitly surprised and kept saying "wow this is nice, so is this what singaporean doing with their old stuffs? its nice! (four times in repeat)" And then he went on walking with no stuff carried away.

Smells like a perfume, it is hard to find what it exactly is like.

I took this one away because the cover looks attractive.

Red.Wait for it.

Go!

Somebody is getting lost too! (But not intentionally)

I actually kind of expected myself to show up in Little India or Chinatown because it is a place where some origin-based groups of people are concentrated, so they might appear more authentic and unique. But.. wait.. What?

This surprised me! after long walk, I had brought my self to orchard unintentionally! (Believe it or not I have never been to orchard road before)

Blended with the crowd

Row of big boys

I thought it was interesting so I took a pic of it. But when I walked past it, a girl approched me and said she wanted me to say to the camera what is the thing I live for. I got nervous all of sudden because I have watched some youtube videos with such a project. I said yes anyway. I came facing the camera and said that I live for inner peace because I want to bring the best out of me to this world. After two takes and saying thanks and bye, I went on walking. 

I wondered what would they do about it. And kept thinking how contrary my word is with the way I say it to the camera.

I walked past MRT station thinking if I could get home by getting lost again walking...

But apparently this "getting lost" game is getting more serious. where is the crowd? 

I was trying to spot familiar building to get home but of course I had no clue.

 Feeling secure.

Glad to feel familiar again. (Bugis street) 

Reflection

It is pretty amazing how unexpected things happened as I went out of my comfort zone. Would I ever be involved into strangers' movie project if I was home? would I ever find a litttle table with some stuffs and cute sign on it? although I felt insecure walking alone and taking picture here and there, but it was addictive to have my self spotting new things, have something to figure out, being surprised of what I found, and making up decision and be responsible of it. it was also pretty amazing how I could manage myself walking straight that far and not complaining at all, because it was purposeless Journey! I had no idea where would I go so the journey itself was the one that matter! 

I watched a sign, the crowd, and building to have clue where I am at, and what decision to take. 

It is pretty much same like when you are in the situation, and once you decide to become attentive toward your surrounding, you would take more wise decision according to situatuion.

At first, this homework brought me uneasy feeling, but apparently I am going to do this again to shake my nerves, feel more comfortable being alone in the crowd of strangers, and spot little things..

(All pictures were taken by me)

Journal Week 1

This picture was taken while I was playing my brush with the water during my painting. I put a long stare as it moved dynamically and mingled with one another, creating new beautiful movement of color. One little touch of color would mean so much on the water. It reminded me about what I recently put concern on, of how everything that we think, we do, or that happened, even in its simpliest form, is impacting one another in magical way.

----------------------------------------

On the very next day on July 24th, I was asked to join my friend's family trip to Sentosa. Before that, I went to her place by 25 mins walking because I feel the need to move a little. We met at the lobby as her mom did a check in. After spending some times at the room, we went out.

The Symmetry of everything 

They always have been in green. I don't know if green in this case has connection with color theory, and in this case is balanced energy, well-being, and protection from anxiety. Because finally to the world outside we feel more secure than inside a building with all its vulnerability. So whenever we see "exit", we feel relief.

----------------------------------------

On the night, We went to Sentosa and watched a show called "Wings of Time". I went on taking photograph as many as I can to capture the movement from one form to another for they change very quickly.

The phoenix (or at least thats what I got) showed up surprisingly in such a strong bright color. It was cool, but I wish they could make it 4D as if the bird is coming upon me, maybe someday. 

The water sprayed up in such a beatiful color, with its rhythm resonates the music. 

it was astonishing what aesthetic and science/technology mixed can result. 

The water bursted as if it was full of joy, which also grows joyness to the viewer. the color blue is very calming.

It was full of surprise.

I was amazed by the ideas of what spraying water , laser show, and spectacular music combined can be turned into. As the show went on I wonder how did they make it and how long it took them. It is amazing how the common material can be very fascinafing after a work full of ideas, hardwork, and discipline. 

But one thing I noticed while taking all those pictures is the fact that I was honestly not enjoying it to the fullest. It was like few senses of me turned few levels down, so as soon as I have many enough captured, I took it down and tried to pay full attention to the show. No such a regret for the pictures though, they worth a little of that time for anybody to enjoy later.

----------------------------------------

I made a blue brush stroke inspired by water which I am recently impressed by.

Evey now and then, I sat or stood by the window just to watch the view or feel the warm breeze as I slided the window open. Something nice is always up to see. 

Those two small dots in the sky are jet planes. I would always rush to the window whenever I heard a sound of jet plane's drone, which happened to be once in a few days due its rehearsal for SG 50 celebration. I love those frightening buzzing sound in a way it gives me something unusual. It also sometimes gives a flash idea of how frightening that sound would make me if it happens in war situation.

One small dot this time.

--------------------------------------

I also found a man hanging on the building, which I assumed was cleaning.

I wonder how it feels like to look down.. How could he manage his fear of falling? How long it took for him? And I was thinking perhaps he distract his fear by focusing on his work. That is enlighting, we should focus on the positivity, the solution, the beautiful things.

Sometimes I found an old man doing streching at the rooftop, two man having conversation at the back balcony, or a man smiling to me through the window of nafa campus 3. The attention put in a full focus made the small thing become interesting. 

--------------------------------------

I live in the 6th floor, Not high enough for such a glorious fancy city light night view, but not bad to enjoy.

This curtain reflection happened accidentally, but it appears nice and artistic to me, so I went on playing with it.

My hand's reflection. Also happened accidentally.

another

For me, the white curtain's reflection made an impression of one's mind and soul staring out the night view through the window.

----------------------------------------

On the next day, I went to Orchard to meet my cousin and pick up some stuffs brought from Indonesia.

I saw a crow on Bugis Street, I always like crow and its sound, it gives impession of dark tale.Hearing the name leaving me sensation of old cranky house, old well, whistling leafs, and a grey sky. I think I am always attracted into something dark and gloomy.

----------------------------------------

I found an unused can on my table right when I need pen and brushes holder, so I decided to make one inspired by pictures I have taken on my journal.

inspired by light, I went on with red and yellow paint but it turned out looking like a burning hot fire, so I picked blue and white to make it more calm.

Here is the result, inspired by light, water, and night window view.

It was a great journey over this past one week.

P.S : All pictures were taken by me.