the state of mind of JeeYoung Lee

Sometimes the borders between manipulated perception and reality are somewhat thin. Photography has traditionally explored various mediums and settings to convey the photographers' view, perception or emotions. But when photographs are meticulously staged and environments arranged for weeks on end, then photography loses its artistic position as being the primary means of expressing the artist, and art (either sculpture, painting, or other) comes into the forefront, blurring the separating line between it and photography. Recently graduated from Seoul’s Hongik University in her native South Korea, JeeYoung Lee shoots the invisible. Whereas traditional photography submits extracts of reality to our eyes, the artist offers excerpts from her heart, her memory, or her dreams. Restrained by the inherent limits of the conventional photographic medium, she adds plastic creativity and theatrical performance to it, in order to blow life into her immense needs of expression, and interrogation.

For weeks , sometimes months, she creates the fabric of a universe born from her mind within the confines of her 3 x 6 m studio. She does so with infinite minutiae and extraordinary patience, in order to exclude any ulterior photographic alteration. Thus materialised, these worlds turn real and concretise : imagination reverts to the tangible and the photo imagery of such fiction testify as to their reality.  In the midst of each of these sets stands the artist : those self-portraits however are never frontal, since it is never her visual aspect she shows, but rather her quest for an identity, her desires and her frame of mind. Her imaginary is a catharsis which allows her to accept social repression and  frustrations. The moment required to set the stage gives her time to meditate about the causes of her interior conflicts and hence exorcise them; once experienced, they in turn become portents of hope.

[Ref.] http://www.opiomgallery.com/en/artistes/oeuvres/17/jeeyoung-lee

[Ref.] http://abduzeedo.com/surreal-stage-mind-series-jee-young-lee

the photographic museum of humanity

The Photographic Museum of Humanity is the first online-based Museum dedicated to contemporary photography. A space accessible to everybody where people can learn about photography and its language. This is how it works : Photographers around the world are invited to upload their best Photos and Series. They create their own own account and their photos will be automatically taken into consideration for the Museum Permanent Collection. When selected their works are exhibited in the Museum’s virtual gallery space. The Museum Store will sell fine art prints of the photos that the authors will decide to commercialize. Up to 70% of the net profits are expected to be paid to the photographer. It is heralded as a cultural space dedicated to the best contemporary photography. Curated exhibitions centered around a theme that are renewed every month whilst every day photographers of the five contents upload photos that tell us about people, moments and stories. A collective picture of what our society is about. The Museum features only the works and photos of professional photographers that have passed the Museum’s photo editors selection. This guarantees a very high photography standard within their portal.

Pioneered by Giuseppe Oliverio, based in Buenos Aires, it is described as : “the first Museum made by the people. An open vision of many. A place where visitors, regardless of their age, culture, education, religion and nationality, will have the possibility to learn and expand their knowledge. For our generation and the generations to come.” The Photographic Museum will be the first Museum actually accessible to everyone from every corner of the world, at any time and always for free. A Museum filled with the best photos shared within an artistic community where everyone will be free to display their talents. A space where visitors will have the chance to participate and exchange their opinions and reactions.

Asalto Festival in Zaragoza

The “Asalto” is the International Urban Art Festival that since 2005 and for several months hits the streets of the old town of Zaragoza with avant-garde artistic proposals, participatory and impressive works developed by urban artists and artistic groups of the national and international scene. It is therefore a global interaction with the city, both urban and social, that year after year attracts artists and groups and citizens and tourists.

As a concept it is a unique artistic and creative experience because the entire creative process and its execution is performed in the city of Zaragoza, being its streets the best workshop, the best canvas and the best gallery.

Asalto has become a festival that aims to explore, discover or rediscover the urban space through artistic activities, actions and different urban experiences to transform the public space into a participatory, colorful, friendly and culturally open and active scenario. Over the years, Festival Asalto has acquired a notorious weight in the cultural program of Zaragoza being one of the few proposals that prevails over time. Asalto is the oldest urban art festival of Spain.

Festival Asalto understands urban art as a game in which pedestrian is invited to participate in some way. From this point of view, anything goes: graffiti, intervention, performance, digital crafts, photography, murals, stencils, stickers, sculpture, architecture, design …

the Shanghai Film Museum

Should you be so lucky as to be asked to design a Film Museum, how would you feel? Most likely, overwhelmed. The many juicy aspects of the dream factory of film business make one’s head spin! The technology – from the first scratchy silent films to today’s 4D experiences. The genres – from drama and documentaries, to sci-fi and animated movies. And the intrigue and mystery of film as propaganda tool and promotional vehicle. The stars and the drama of their lives online and off. The various awards, the gowns and the glitter. Even the people behind the movie cameras – the directors, the movie moguls and the critics – all seem to carry an extra aura of glamour and fascination. Add to that the sets, the locations, the props, the car chases, cliff-hangers, fantasy worlds and the historical epics created and recreated through film. Indeed, no lack of material.

When Tilman Thürmer the German-born architect and founder of Coordination Asia, was selected as the Art Director of the Shanghai Film Museum, he had “film” and “Shanghai” as his directives. No more, no less. The Shanghai Film Museum, opened on June 17 and currently hosting screenings for the nine-day 16th International Shanghai Film Festival, is therefore a highly commendable feat in its minimalist yet immersive approach. It’s goal is to celebrate and introduce to visitors the past and future of Shanghai’s involvement as the centre of Chinese film. The 15,000 square-meter, four-storey building is located in a former film studio in downtown Xujiahui. The new museum involves more than 70 interactive installations and 3,000 historic exhibits. The visitors can ad-lib for famous Chinese films in a real sound studio, walk the red carpet, or Carpet of Light, or learn about animation, post-production, sound and live broadcasting in fully equipped studios.

Over 15,000 sqm this museum will share the story of Shanghai filmmaking, from its magical beginning in 1896 until present day’s 3D blockbusters. Located in a former film studio in Shanghai’s downtown Xujiahui, the new museum boasts 4 floors, over 70 interactive installations and a collection of 3,000 historic exhibits. As the first film museum in the city, the museum will have a leading role in maintaining the international position of Shanghai film and raising awareness for the industry’s value on a national level. Be it by dubbing classical films in a real sound studio, walking through a lifelike film set on Shanghai’s famous Nanjing Road or by becoming a star on the ‘Carpet of Lights’, where virtual fans and photographers flash their camera’s trying to capture the ‘celebrity’ that just passed by; in the Shanghai Film Museum the visitor becomes a part of film and is invited to actively participate in it. This key concept of inclusion in the world of film is the red thread through the Shanghai Film Museum, which seamlessly integrates historical relics in an interactive environment, in a new cultural hotspot of international allure with a certain local touch.

[Ref.] http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/2182/shanghai-film-museum

[Ref.] http://coordination.asia/shanghai-film-museum-3/

[Ref.] http://www.sfs-cn.com/node3/node1828/u1a27.html

La Biennale di Venezia

The Venice Biennale (La Biennale di Venezia) has for over a century been one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world. Ever since its foundation in 1895, it has been in the avant-garde, promoting new artistic trends and organising international events in contemporary arts. It is world-beating for the International Film Festival, for the International Art Exhibition and for the International Architecture Exhibition, and continues the great tradition of the Festival of Contemporary Music, the Theatre Festival, now flanked by the Festival of Contemporary Dance.

In 2013, the Biennale presents the 4th International Kids’ Carnival (2 to 12 February), training and performing activities within the Dance section (2 May to 30 June), the 55th International Art Exhibition (1 June to 24 November), the 42nd International Theatre Festival (1 to 11 August), the 70th Venice International Film Festival (28 August to 7 September), and the 57th International Festival of Contemporary Music (4 to 13 October). New permanent activities run alongside these major events, thanks to the newly available refurbished permanent sites in Venice (Ca’ Giustinian and the Sala delle Colonne for exhibitions and meetings; area for kids; new Biennale Library-ASAC at Giardini for study, research and meetings; Workshops and Educational activities featuring master classes, projects for schools and guided tours; in addition to the Historical Archives of the Biennale at ASAC-VEGA and its collections available for consultation).

In specific, the 55th International Art Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia under the artistic direction of Massimiliano Gioni carries the title: "Il Palazzo Enciclopedico / The Encyclopedic Palace". With this choice Massimiliano Gioni is evoking the self-taught Italian-American artist Marino Auriti who on 16 November 1955 filed a design with the US Patent office depicting his Palazzo Enciclopedico. This imaginary museum was meant to house all worldly knowledge, bringing together the greatest discoveries … in a 136-story building that would stand 700 meters tall and take up over 16 blocks in Washington, D.C. "Auriti’s plan was never carried out, of course, but the dream of universal, all-embracing knowledge crops up throughout history, as one that eccentrics like Auriti share with many other artists, writers, scientists, and prophets who have tried—often in vain—to fashion an image of the world that will capture its infinite variety and richness."

[Ref.] http://www.labiennale.org/en/Home.html

Sculpture pieced from metal

Korean artist and sculptor Chan girl Park is the creator behind metal sculptures that feature either the use of metal sheet slices or the humble nuts and bolts. The artist constructs meticulous metal sculptures from thin metal sheets arranged in layers, to finally convey a finished while using three dimensional topography charts. After piecing the layers together he fuses each piece with a bendable cover that allows for the movement and shaping of each sculpture.

Park Chan-girl received his BFA in Sculpture from Chungnam National University and his MFA in Fine Arts from KyungHee University. His older, but equally distinct pieces, are assembled by a myriad of metal nuts put together, in airy forms, that shine and glimmer under the light. Though heavy by design, his sculpture is elegant and dreamy, although he does not deviate from already familiar forms.

The human body and its formation lie at the core of the Korean artist Seo Young Deok’s work who is preoccupied with the stories told through the human figure. His solo exhibition ‘Dystopia’ took place at the INSA/Arko Art Centre in Seoul from 26 October 2011 until 31 October 2011 and showed his nude sculptures made meticulously in welded metal chain links piece by piece. Seo Young Deok presented a number of nude sculptures, some lying on the ground, some hung on the walls. He used welded metal chains in order to model them linking them piece-by-piece.

At first glance, when someone takes a look at his work, one cannot help but notice that the artist draws strong references from the work of the renowned British sculptor Anthony Gormley. Gormley is known for using the human figure at the core of his work who on numerous occasions used his own figure to create metal casts making his body the artwork itself.

Tomohiro Inaba’s sculptures are a culmination of a twisted jumble of steel wire that creates an effect that closely resembles violent scratches. His art starts off as an ordinary steel sculpture of an animal before it slowly starts to come apart and to become nothing more than scribbles. The artist pulls the thread of his steel beasts until they are nothing more than a small jumble. Tomohiro Inaba displays the nature of life through these decomposing works of art.

Dale Dunning look meticulously arranges a variety of different metal pieces in order to create a generic model of a face which appears to be caught in the midst of dreaming or on the verge of waking up. Dale Dunning's sculptures are composed of various items, some are made up of moveable type faces while others are made out of welded nuts and bolts. The subject of the models is always the same.

Sculptor Manuel Martí Moreno lives and works in Valencia, Spain and forms these wonderful figurative pieces out of iron nuts. Moreno says that he is most interested in showing the passage of time, the transience of life, and our collective awareness of our own mortality, seemingly evidenced by the spectre of decay at the edges of his works.  

798 Art Zone

Beijing's Dashanzi factory complex, known as the 798 Art Zone, or Dashanzi Art District, is a thriving artistic community with studios and galleries in China. It is often compared with New York's Greenwich Village or SoHo. It is the site of state-owned factories including Factory 798, which originally produced electronics under a characteristic BauHaus architecture. Beginning in 2002, artists and cultural organizations began to divide, rent out, and re-make the factory spaces, gradually developing them into galleries, art centers, artists' studios, design companies, restaurants, and bars.

Bringing together contemporary art, architecture, and culture with a historically interesting location and an urban lifestyle, "798" has evolved into a cultural concept, of interest to experts and normal folk alike, influential on our concepts of both urban culture and living space.

798 stands for much more than a three digit number: in Beijing these numbers symbolize the country's cutting edge art movement led by the Chinese vanguard, unchained artistic personalities with alternative life goals. The largest, most influential art district in China - the 798 - hosts world-class international and Chinese exhibitions in the midst of former weapons factories. The number of visitors to the 798 Art District reached as high as 75 million. The 798 International Design Museum and design center, can be accessed here.

New Zealand Opera

NZ Opera is the face of professional opera in the islands. They strive to bring human stories, glorious music and the passion of opera to all. They produce two or more main stage productions annually which are performed in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. For 2013 the operas to be staged will be "Madam Butterfly" (Apr-May 2013), "Don Giovanni" (Aug 2013) and "the Flying Dutchman" (Sep-Oct 2013). For more info on events and performances see here. Tickets booking here.

The company was formed in 2000 with the merger of the National Opera of Wellington and Opera New Zealand (Auckland), forming New Zealand's first fully professional national opera company. Head office is located in Auckland with a second office in Wellington. The company also runs a Technical Centre in Auckland which has a large rehearsal space, and houses many costumes and sets from previous productions along with the wardrobe and set building workshops.

Older "Macbeth" & "Figaro" promotion shots, New Zealand Opera, (photos by Alexia Sinclair)

[Ref.] "Madame Butterfly" info & story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madama_Butterfly

[Ref.] "Don Giovanni" info & story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Giovanni

[Ref.] "the Flying Dutchman" info & story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Dutchman_(opera)