How do we multi-task in life? When it seems impossible, sometimes- juggling between completing my Master's degree(almost there, thank god!), preparing to be a new mom, and beginning rehearsals for my Opera debut in W.A. Mozart's "Die Zauberflöte" in New York next year... And an invitation to perform in Scotland -- There's not even a second left to stop for a cup of decaf! :) Now some art talk -- A self Portrait is about capturing a visual recording of one's momentary feeling. My portrait depicts the spatial relationship between a ordinary domestic setting and my own figure. The environment is distorted, as well as the perspective, creating a sense of surrealistic detachment to the reality to the scene. For this project, I am again using a "dead palette" (Blue Black + Flesh Ocher + Yellow Ocher ). These three colors are very important to me, as many Italian and Dutch old masters such as Rembrandt included these colors in their paintings.
Many people aren't familiar with artist Milo Manara, but if you have read "Gulliveriana", you are not a stranger to his work. Manara's works often depict various types of young female and male figures in a fantasy set up, with his Legatto like ink strokes and elegant rendering of figures, Manara is one of my favorite cartoonist (RIP Frank .F), I absolutely enjoy his loose, watercolor like style, and humorous disposition as an artist.
Milo Manara doing a headshot at the SCC 2010
Below is a cartoon on "Sex & Humanity" composed of several comic strips, which I thought is a perfect reflection on human history. The artist is capable of composing each individual strip using a limited, horizontal space, ensuring the viewers to follow his direction, as well as the progression of human history, thus making us the witnesses to the greatest crime and victory ever committed to our history, and that is, Sex.
In the modern world, "sex" no longer needs to be carefully implied or hidden behind doors. Everyday, we experience endless sex-related material on TV, radio, internet or public AD venue. These messages do a great job compromising our own judgment on individuality and self confidence. Whenever we turn on TV, there's always the cosmetics commercial, persuading you to purchase their product, then only to test on yourself. Women who are motivated enough to use expensive cosmetics, even though the chemical level is probably doing more harm than good to the skin, is more likely to go under needles and knives because the thought of a wrinkled face is more horrifying to anything else that might be equally wrinkled, since we can manage to cover our body but not our face (maybe when Burka becomes the next biggest fashion). Starting from a very young age, we begin to learn "what looks good" and "what is ugly". However we always consult others to reassure ourselves on whether our judgment is out of line, then most of us go through many phases in life searching for "the better". Women are always looking for ways to stop time. The scene of little old ladies spending hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on expensive facial creams, "rejuvenating syrup", is just hysterical, nothing is going to reverse time, and why should it? When someone is vein enough to accuse others of stealing their expensive make up with the underlining reason-if it's expensive then everyone must want to steal it. Funny reflection on the accusers, funny how they often act exactly as they accuse...Oy, women!
Found some funny stuff on how vain we are as women :) Especially the "Lip stick on a jeweled pig", just love it! Too bad I couldn't find a "Lip stick on bulldog" cartoon without breaking my political neutrality, darn you S Palin!
Another thing has been on my agenda, which I may post something about later. Here's a little hint--Inappropriate and sexually suggestive videos posted by teenage girls are slipping through Youtube's policy gaps, any comments are welcomed!
Our lovely neighbor gave a interesting and passionate lecture at the Met last week. I know this is not the good time to expose myself to germs and virus in public areas, but they are so nice to invite us...I was also aching for some random sketching opportunities, at the end it was a very rewarding time! Next year I will be inviting them to attend my casual recital, then then can invite us again, and so on...Life!
Drawing with a left hand proven to be more difficult than teaching someone to play piano with their left hands :( I find it once the "leftie" has to deal with shades, it is much happier...Whereas the "rightie" is more attracted to shapes.
In our lives we donate in different forms. whether it is money, objects, or time. I've come to know a person who cared selflessly for a injured friend in a hospital who suffered a devastating accident, providing comfort at the most venerable and darkest stage of his life. I've seen students formed a foundation to raise money to help a ill instructor, and there are plenty more cases where people donate their time and expertise to help others.
Why do we donate? We do so not because we have to, it is because a greater cause that motivate us to give to others is more important and satisfactory than the mere possession of things. It makes us feel great to help others unconditionally. We can choose to hold on to materialistic things that are accessories to us, that might otherwise be necessity to others, or we can give them away knowing someone, somewhere can make the best out of them .
I've given a portion of my scholarship to help a young talented struggling musician , it wasn't much money but I am sure it was well served. The proceed from the opera "Sephro" I volunteer for was donated to a cancer research center. We've ran marathons for breast cancer patients and Alzheimer's disease. It has been a significant part of our life to help others. And we are proud of being part of that culture.
This fall we will be making more donations to various institutions. We spoke with one of the institutions about how a potential donation will be contributed. The staff member responded that all non cash donations will be auctioned off and the proceed will be directly divided between the research department. With great gratitude, they ensured us that our donation will help accomplishing some very important experiments and tasks. However in a slight depressing tone: there are less donations made to them than before, for a institution that heavily relies on major government funding, they are now having to make calls to ask for donations, in order to continue their researches. I'm not surprised, This nation is coming to face some most critical political and economical challenges...because of this, we need to continue donate to the society.
This year, why not make a donation in lieu of gifts to the family? Whatever your cause is, let's work together and make it happen.
Cats are well known for their notorious curiosities. It's hard to relate them to their other famous feline families(pumas, for example),because they are usually so cute and cuddly :) My grandma always says that cats have 9 lives, Shalom! (She also says if you crave for sea food then your will have a boy; if vegetable,you'll have a girl, well, what if you have the crave for both?? )
