Zhang Longfei, is a freelance motion designer and self-taught photographer, born in Chengdu, China.
My favourite Buddhist temple is Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, at Chinatown. I like it because the it was based on Tang Dynasty architectural style, which has rich red color and majestic structure. And the temple houses the tooth relic of a historical buddha, which makes the temple more magnificent and holy.
Visual-Spatial/Musical
I believe I learn best through visuals-spatial and Musical method. Because people tends to be lazy and imageries and sound enable to stimulate our brain directly, so that I can remember and learn things faster.
It was my first time getting so close to a Hindu temple, to which I have never been before.
It is interesting to know that there are many different ritual discipline to follow in the temple as well as its history where Sir Mariamman temple place a significant role of Hinduism in Singapore. And before this presentation, I had no idea what these intricate statues are on the top of gate. Now I can recognise some and made more sense to me religiously and aesthetically.
Kichul Kim denies a typical notion of hearing the sound, and suggests a sound for seeing, which he calls ‘Sound Sculpture’ by molding the stereoscopic nature of sound into a three dimensional presence. The initial works were made in minimal and simplified forms in terms of the installation method and figuration; the pure form meets pure sound without reproduction or modification. For instance, subtle figures combined with sounds of nature or an indistinct note of a bell to reflect waters of the rain, ocean, valley and forest would touch the imagination of the audience. The artist creates a situation for audiences to have synesthetic experiences of both imagining and seeing through unlimited sound filling in the void rather than utterly phrasing a story behind. In his recent works <Sound Drawing> and <Rapport>, Kim invites the audience to make an active interaction of drawing, making sounds and watching movements made by the resonance of their voices.
1995-2015
Sound installation
Inspired by the Buddhist concept of emptiness, the artist created a minimalist sound collage that mirrors falling rain with speakers and monofilament. The installation toys with viewers’ ability to be present in the moment, accepting the artificiality before them.
A thousand miles away is a photo essay, in which the artist represents us with a collection of photographs implying the intimacy of home. With ambient sounds playing, audience are led to experience different feelings about home with artist together. As a foreigner living in Singapore, the physical home is rather obscure and intangible. It can be represented as a suitcase which is always on the way. Spiritually, home can be established on the relationship, such as family and friends, and the taste of authentic hometown food.
As playing a very important part in story-telling, still images sequence provides us a whole framework of the story and allows audience to observe every image in detail, whereas in moving image, audience have to follow the timeline of the video. However, still images may also make audience confused. Because it will either give too many clues or little hint that could lead to varies of directions. Under some context, because of culture or background difference, sometimes visual is not enough to bring up or recall some emotion. It needs motion or audio to support the visual content. For instance, in my work, I’m using ambient sound as a second narrative form to bridge the cultural gap as well as add a hearing dimension to my work. If you have never heard of how Sichuan dialect sounds or been to a China restaurant, you will experience it when video plays at related images.
“Calendars” is done during 2004 to 2010 and contains 1001 offset prints with matte lamination. Each print is 30cm x 30cm and represents a page of calendar with a photograph. All pages spread out according to the year and date on 3 walls.
Heman Chong (b. 1977, Muar) is an artist, curator, and writer. he lives and works in Singapore.
The first impression of “Calendar” is I was overwhelmed by a massive and huge calendar with many details. When looking closer, I noticed the date and year of each calendar set to future time and there’s no human involved in any photo. Therefore, I thought the artist was raising a question on how environment been affected by human population through time being and empty space. But why it sets in the near future 2020 to 2096 confused me.
As I read the description, my initial impression is somehow related to Heman’s work. The project is experimenting with body of time, space and people. The brusque year let us step outside the current circumstance to get a better insight of our common dense spaces and how it influenced and change our identity. As the description says, the exhibition itself has been recognised as another public space, which becomes another view of others.
It’d be interesting if every photo has a location tag. So the contrast of uncanny atmosphere will be more amplified.
“Endings” & “No Endings” were done by Ringo Bunoan in 2013. “Endings” consists of variable size of framed book ending pages, whereas “No endings” is a book installation, which showcases several books are stacked from the floor to the ceiling, leaning against the wall.
Ringo Bunoan (b. 1974, Manila) is an artist, curator, writer and researcher. She lives and works in Manila, Philippines.
It drew my attention as soon as I saw the last words in every frame, which obviously indicates the artist had torn down the ending section of some novels and framed them. I found it interesting in reading the ending, because beginning and ending are the most important and tricky parts in a book. And ending is alway about looking back and regretting what the main character has not done. So I thought the artist wants to teach us a lesson. In order to get a regretless and happy ending in life, we have to try our best to get there.
And for the stacked books beside, I didn’t link it to “Ending”. It seems to me like an individual installation with different concept from “Ending”.
After reading the text, I got a different idea of what Ringo want to convey, which is many possible conclusions of , and in time. Ringo opens up a new way of reading, where audience are allowed to choose what to read and how to end a story. And ending pages are all removed from the books stacked against the wall. Intentionally the book spines are concealed to hide book’s name and author, which symbolises each story anonymous in more than one way. However, I would still suggest that letting audience read those novels will enhance the link between “Endings” and ” No Endings”.
And I’m in insomnia.
Slow shutter speed of camera creates an illusion of ghosty lines, which can be applied in creating typography.
I’d like to design birthday card for my friends as a birthday gift. The font is always cursive and elaborated.
I have a strong obsession on cubic architecture and interior design, which I can apply on my initials “L” & “F”.
It was inspired by how pilot observes our cities and recognises individual building for reference object or signs.
I was inspired by how manual book has changed the efficiency of work through simple visuals and imageries. Maybe I’ll combine “Architect” and “Manual maker” together as one concept, showing how to build a house.
1.TYPOGRAPHY
Concept
Applying a mixture of Chinese and English letters from my name to represent my identity and imply my strong interest in typography and design.
2.ABSTRACT SOLUTION
Concept
Symbol of eye and colorful light rays indicate my desire in exploring and experimenting new things.
3.CONCEPTUAL
Concept
Using negative film to represent my favorite hobby ‘Photography’ literally.
Groovy Steps
Redhill – 4D project
Though born in a semi-free society, I am more aware of social issues which occurred not only in China, but throughout the world. Imageries like high-rise Shanghai buildings, Tankman in Tiananmen Square protest of 1989 and artist Ai Weiwei represent my aggressive concerns towards what has happened in China. Panda also symbolises my hometown where panda lives. And analogous color scheme in this context, including red, yellow and orange, signify passion and revolution.
After moving to Singapore, I was fully exposed to western culture and art, like Pop culture. I started to become more acceptable and open to unfamiliar things. Cool blue and violet color scheme gives a mystical atmosphere.
ME myself is a mixture and influence of east and west. Panda is the main character in this series as the self portray.
One of my strength is hardworking. I will put beyond 100% effort in what I’m doing and push myself into higher levels. Computers, pencil box and tablet represent my usual work place. Coffee signifies the long duration of working hours that I spend normally. Monochromatic beige color scheme creates a sense of calm , determination and softness.
After realising the whole calendar is completely occupied by works, I alway feel stressed and frustrated. the symptoms of Insomnia and phobia attacks me. Bottle of sleeping pills containing different kinds of software icons explains the reason why I can’t sleep. On the bottle is the label of a calendar with marks anywhere, which indicates bad time management. Behind are the scribbles saying ‘All work and no play make Jack a dull boy’ from the famous psychological horror movie The Shining, which depicts a man becomes a psychopath and tries to kill his family in a hotel after getting too much stress from his work.
Cool colors like violet, red and blue convey a very cold and uncomfortable mood.
It would be better if I can balance between life and work and have a much more healthier lifestyle. That’s why, in the composition, there’s a visual harmony fusing working tools and natural forms. Trees have been formed by software icons and birds are from the twitter logo. The panda is cruising around and seems to enjoy his life there.
Complementary color scheme of red and green creates thought the strongest contrast but also the strongest relationship.
I want to be more confident in many areas, as sometimes I feel less comfortable expressing my ideas and thoughts. I used Renaissance works like Michelangelo’s David as the main subject and Vitruvian Man by Leonardo Da Vinci as the background. Both works indicates the concept of a universal man, a man can do all things if he will.
Green as the dominate color in triadic color scheme portrays the mood of liveness.
Be knowledgable and creative. I believe creativity is based on your capacity of knowledge. The more you learn, the quicker and deeper idea you can get. The story of God creating and enlightening Adam represents my eager of gaining knowledge. Apple, owl, books and so on signify the concept of wisdom.
Beige as the dominate color in triadic color scheme portrays a sense of knowledge and calm.
As a whole, Triadic color scheme of green, beige and violet creates a high degree contrast but at the same time retrains color harmony. It creates a sense of depth and richness.
The combination of owls wings and David symbolise an ideal me with confidence and wisdom. And the geometric shapes, applied in this series, like square, circle and triangle, indicated my desire to pursue perfection in different fields.
After 5 years, I picture myself getting married with another half. The wedding will be as simple as it shows.
color scheme of aquamarine and light red best convey the minimalism in mood and style of the wedding.
After graduating from school, I also want to be a specialist in typography and UI design, creating decent works for advertising and motion graphics. An myself wedding invitation card is an example of indicating my speciality direction and interest.
In 5 years time, I hope I can have my own family and house and do what I like. The 3D typographic building and trees portrays my plan in 5 years.
Warm color, red, green and yellows portray a mood of happiness and harmony.
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