This is my last post for 2012,
dedicating to my family and friends and supporters who have made my
year eventful. So we didn't go extinct after all; the last day
of the Mayan calender passed by rather peacefully, til my
partner pointed out to me that we had gone beyond the 21st December (happy jump!).
Huddling up in a kaleidoscope of this
year's memories, I was reminiscing through all the happy moments as well as
the rough patches I'd gone through. Months living separated from home
and my partner kept haunting me under the shadow of forlorn
loneliness. Having the tendency to a slight pessimism also adds up to the
hindrance of my complete concentration on art creation. However, things seem
to work out fine, as they always do. And I have grown so much within the last twelve months, both keeping myself in practice and developing my
own viewpoint towards the art industry.
I am not trying to define myself
among other artists anymore, as I realize how hard I try, my style
will always, always encounter (or reminiscent of) someone else's.
And art is not about how your works look aesthetically, but rather
the executions and the ideas hidden underneath it. Take film
directors for instance, my colleague had sometimes moaned about how
many directors do the same thing just in order to attract mass
audiences. But don't forget, most people do it! Numerous directors
exploit digital visual elements in their movies, but Tim Burton
still stands out among them as an extraordinary artist who blows a sense of
quirkiness and bizarre visualization in his works. Or lots of
directors choose romantic comedy as their goal, but is there another
Woody Allen- who distances himself with extremely intelligent
dialogues and filming techniques in Annie Hall and Midnight in
Paris?
Follow this point, I am confident
that I have my own development of thoughts and artistic approaches.
And I believe we all do.
And remember, shock value isn't
considered a mark of originality, but your personal viewpoints are.
Through out my artistic practice,
I have found it very essential looking out for various references
around the art scenario. Although limited myself as an illustrator
at the moment (which sometimes can be a bit overwhelming already), I
never stop being nosy around other art events. Watching ballet,
flipping through fashion magazines and photographers, visiting
conceptual art museums and digesting a whole lots of movies have
given me so much awareness, as well as inspirations in creating my
own illustrations.
Spend more time in the library, or
have a book next to you in the toilet, or look out for show you are
interested to watch will offer you so much more than you ever wish
for. The feeling of accumulating knowledge is a great pleasure, and
everyone should deserve to experience it.
Lastly, I have found some of my most
inspiring sources:
Toni Morrison, lately I have gone
mad with her novels, simply poetic! (The Bluest Eye and Beloved are
highly recommended)
Shaun Tan's books still capture
every bit of my heart, both aesthetically and emotionally
-
Whatcha mean? What's a zine?
has introduced into an unconventional activity for writing diaries
and noting down random things. Gonna start to do that next year!
-
Anyway, have a fascinating start for 2013! I shall ask the dandelions to carry out your wishes
and make them come true :)
PS.
 |
My colleague Elliot
sketched a quick portrait of me:) |
