Sunday 16 February 2014

The latest books I have read ...








Whilst in Edinburgh I bought " The examined life - How we lose and find ourselves" by Stephen Grosz based on its rank as most read book the previous month, as well as a raised curiosity following a written review I came across  ...

"after reading Grosz' absorbing accounts of his patients' journeys you might feel that the Examined Life ought to be given out free at birth."

... and I haven't been dispointed.

I don't think it will be possible to better describe it. The fact that I wasn't handed it out at birth does not mean I cannot keep it by my side till the day I pass away. It doesn't also necessarily mean I'll change my behaviour after having read it but it has provided me with an insight into certain behavioural aspects (mine and others') I had never considered before or at least in the way they have been looked at and analysed. The variety of life scenarios is such that it does cover an equally wide spectrum of  rather complex emotions, desires and fears. Definitely I book to be read by everyone.












The second book I have finished reading is "Armenia", the smart book version, which despite being fairly small has provided me with the essential elements on how to approach the local people,  bearing in mind their customs and culture.

The fact that it has been written by an foreigner who immersed herself into the Armenian language and culture prior to having moved there to teach does make it a rather special book in its approach and though I'll keep on reading on Armenia as a preparation for my trip there I do feel this particular book has added  a bit more to what I had "gained" already by having read an Armenian sketchbook. 








Museu do Oriente, Lisboa - Temporary exhibition "Fever" on Contemporary Art from Macao (João O and Peng Yun) - The 15th of February 2014



(...)

All the artistic photos being exhibited caught my attention though I must confess the two by João O were the ones I mostly appreciated.


















Ink-jet prints on Premium gloss paper (details) by João O - "Thresholds - Proscenium stage" (left). "Thresholds - Public Housing" (right)







"Miss J" by Peng Yun



































"Li Jaqueline" by Peng Yun








Definitely an exhibition worth being visited and eventually re-visited. The work of these artists conveys the inner soul of the Contemporary Art in a redefined territory that may impact not only the "passive" artists" who like myself have come to see what has been artistically done in Macao but further influence a whole generation of future artists. 













Saturday 15 February 2014

Museu do Oriente, Lisboa - Temporary exhibition "Fever" - on Contemporary Art from Macao (Lio Hak Man, Nick Tai, Tong Chong, Fortes Pakeong Sequeira and Hong Wai) - The 15th of February 2014



(...)

I fell for some of the paintings in display for completely different reasons which are as varied as the artistic approaches used by the painters themselves. Not having photographed some of the other paintings is solely connected to the fact that they didn't have such an impact on me, which in itself doesn't mean they are not as (or more) important and worth being seen as these.

According to what I had previously read all the artists being exhibited are under the age of forty with one exception but amazingly enough there was no further information as to who they were, what sort of artistic experience they had undergone and /or eventually additional information about them, apart form their names, which I personally felt was lacking.



















 "Spaced out fantasia" - 2013 - Acrylic on canvas by Lio Hak Man




















"Because of the camera I have discovered the various flavours of life" - 2011 - Oil on canvas by Lio Hak Man




















 "Floating" - 2009 - Acrylic on canvas by Lio Hak Man

























"Fragile, please handle with care" - 2012 - Oil on canvas by Nick Tai






"Are you serious" - 2011 - Oil on canvas by Nick Tai





















"James" - 2013 - Oil on canvas by Nick Tai





















 "Hand-made" - 2013 - Oil on canvas by Nick Tai










 Tong Chong
























 
"Eyes wide shut" - 2013 - Mixed technique by Fortes Pakeong Sequeira















"So long, We have to finally say good bye" - 2013 - Mixed technique by Fortes Pakeong Sequeira


 

















"Alchemy" - 2013 - Mixed technique by Fortes Pakeong Sequeira
























"Paradise Garden - 1 and II" - 2013 - Ink and colour on Xuan paper by Hong Wai








(To be continued)








Museu do Oriente, Lisboa - Temporary exhibition "Fever" - on Contemporary Art from Macao (Ann Hoi, Coke Wong and Peng Yun) - the 15th of February 2014



Bringing together the contemporary work of fifteen artists from Macao, whose artistic expression is extremely diverse has the indescribable  power of immersing the public in poetry, harshness, extreme feelings, and a whole range of emotions in what is intended as a celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of the handover of the Administration of Macao to the People's Republic of China.

The meticulous and extraordinarily well assembled  paper sculptures by Ann Hoi were very touching. I was literally speechless whilst looking at those pieces of paper glued together ...

Despite not having been particularly drawn by Coke Wong's resin faces I must admit that there was something quite strong about the expressions on those incomplete sculpted heads.

Peng Yun's  videos have had the extraordinary power of  generating emotions that go well beyond the awkwardly unexpected physical arousal in the case of "Miss Melissa and Mr. Fish" and the silent despair  displayed in "Miss Lee has soft fingers and beautiful eyes". A reality transcending its own reality ...













2013 - 50x40x22 cm Paper sculpture by Ann Hoi




















 "The ritual" - 2012 - 130x30x50cm Paper sculpture by Ann Hoi


















"Vagrant" - 2013 - 150x45x40cm Paper sculpture by Ann Hoi

















 "Protruding heads" - 2012 - Coloured resin by Coke Wong



















 "Miss Melissa and Mr. Fish at 2:31 PM" -  2013 Video by Peng Yun



























 "Miss Lee has soft fingers and beautiful eyes" - 2013 Video by Peng Yun








(To be continued)