Category: 4D Foundation II – G8

Walking Home 1

April 11, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Task 1

A THOUSAND MILES AWAY

2016

Prints on paper

A thousand miles away is a series of 8 printed images, which depicts the concept of home to the artist. 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. Fellows from the same country speak the same language, share the same jokes and have similar taste. And Food culture has been deeply rooted in Asia. It is popularly said that “民以食为天” which simply means foods are the most important to people.

Project 3: The Library

April 11, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Timeless

2016

3 framed videos

13 x 18 cm (each)

Timeless photo frames are installed on 3 tables of a corner at ADM library. The videos show ordinary phenomena that Singapore residence experience every day, but inexplicably, are partially static and motional and this comparison portrays the time with a surreal and infinite atmosphere.

Furthermore, time seems to be unnoticeable and faster in library relatively, as students concentrate on their work with so much effort, event without noticing time change outside. The artist is eager to juxtapose Singapore life with the idea of timelessness, as life in Singapore cycles forever in summer and we seldom experience natural phenomenon change. Inspired by Zen(襌), The work captured mundane scenes to express the idea of infinity and relativeness of time, to offer the library users to clear their thoughts and to take time off their work at the library.

Installation

3 Installations

Different loops

Documentation

Alignment and Measurement

Holes for earphone’s cable

Mark making for phone’s placement

Research ADM Library II

April 3, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Title of installation

Timeless

Installation Summary

Time seems to be unnoticeable and faster in library relatively, as students concentrate on their work with so much effort, event without noticing time change outside.

I’m eager to juxtapose Singapore life with the idea of timelessness, as life in Singapore cycles forever in Summer and as a residence, we seldom experience natural phenomenon change.

So the concept was embodied in a one-day journey in Singapore, focusing on different experience in morning, noon and night. By contrasting static elements, the looped motion indicates the idea of infinity and relativeness of time.

Inspired by Zen(襌), the artwork is also a gate away from the busy school work, which allows students to mediate and clear their thoughts.

Description of Installation: Indicate the material used in your work and how you plan in install them.

It is a digital work in which the artist presents us with 3 photo frames. Each one is inserted with an iPad, plugged with a set of earphone. Audience are allow to listen to the music which watching the looped video.

3 photo frames will be placed on tables beside A/V viewing carrels or behind book shelfs.

visualisation of proposed installation

Location recce

Mock-up

Reference

Research: ADM Library I

March 21, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Researching the site – ADM Library

ADM Library is specially designed to reflect the creative and artistic nature of its environment. It houses a growing collection of resources in the visual arts, architecture, drawing, design, illustration, painting and photography and a strong collection of AV materials. It contains a cinema room, individual A/V viewing carrels, a flexible seating spaces, printing area, writable black glass wall as well as book section.

Stairs to the cinema

Mainly ADM students visit ADM Library for reading books and magazines, doing assignments, relaxing and printing services.

Normally, most of students will sit at white table area. They can read or use their own laptops there. Seldom people really interact with others, rather doing their own work.

And I also noticed only few people would use A/V viewing carrels. Maybe the place is not comfortable, like a computer lab, compared to Hive’s library. However, people likes to sleep in the library also in the corner. Because library is a quiet and comfortable place, students like to spend whole day there.

Interestingly, there are a few of very large glasses and empty spaces which I could experiment with.

Developing Idea

Initial impression

ADM Library is well equipped with lots research resources and convenient for studying. Sometimes we focus on a project attentively without even knowing a few hours already has past, as if time in library is faster than outside. It inspired me to do a installation about time to let audience experience the idea of time change in library. the focus could be on faster time or timeless experience.

I did some research on history of timekeeping device. It is quite interesting that how ancient people used water and candle to calculate time. And timekeeping devices changed our world where all human activities refer to it.

My initial idea is to build several water timer devices, ranging from 15mins to 1 hour. People can grab any of them for testing and timing their study time.

Another idea struck me in the process is people like to sleeping in ADM Library. I wanted to draw attention on and amplify this issue. Mainly because students don’t get enough sleep or stress out from the school works. So plan A is to lay a few sleeping bags on the big empty area’s floor and put assignment papers or coffee cups and so forth around them. Plan B is to put a figure in only cloth form on a chair. In front of him is a laptop and all rubbishes he consumes.

PROJECT 2: THE SINGAPORE DIARY

March 8, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Title of the work: The Battle Box

Medium: Video

Work description:

A Promotional video, restoring the lost memory and history about Fort Canning park and its role during WWII. By applying the mixture of motion graphics and real photos and videos as a story-telling, the story became much more dynamic and interesting, which the aim is to draw public’s eyes and make them curious about how and why that historical moment (the decision of surrender to Japanese) occured on 15 Feb 1942 in Singapore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsMSDKTfQnY

Timeline

Storyboard

Motion graphics will occur within the text ” Battle Box”, indicating lots of stories are all related to the main subject.

Reflection

From this project, I had a chance to learn more about the situation in Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore in the 1940s. However, as asking some of my friends about the history of fort canning and Battle Box, I was a bit shocked by their ignorance. I think it is necessary for us to remember that history and not repeat the same mistake. And that’s why it prompted me to make a video to get attractions from the public to visit Battle Box museum.

Project 2 Research

February 15, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Fort Canning Park

Fort Canning Hill, originally known as Bukit Larangan (or “Forbidden Hill” in Malay) has been a local landmark in the city since Singapore’s earliest recorded history.

The hill once sited the palaces of 14th century Malay Kings and served as the Headquarters of the Far East Command Centre and British Army Barracks. The decision to surrender Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February 1942 was also made on the hill, in the Underground Far East Command Centre, commonly known as Battle Box.

Today, Fort Canning Park is a venue for celebrations. Its expansive, sprawling lawns play host to concerts, theatre productions and festivals

Interest

1. Pre colonial era

Extensive Malay and Chinese historical records support the evidence that the royal palace of ancient Malay rulers stood on the summit of this once “Forbidden Hill”. Five kings of Temasek (“See town, and old name for Singapore) lived here prior to their destruction by invading foreign forces and fled to Melaka.

keramat Tomb

This tomb purportedly contains the remains of the last ruler of pre-colonial Singapore.

14th century artefacts on display reveal evidence of trading with Chinese merchants during that era.

Mural wall

This interesting mural wall, carved out by Balinese artisans, gives an artistic depiction of 14th century events and information pertaining to Singapore’s history.

2. Fort Canning Command Centre

Top of Fort Canning Hill

It included an office building that housed the headquarters, with barracks sited on the other side of the hill.

At the time of completion, the Fort Canning Command Centre was the largest military operations complex in Singapore. It served as the headquarters (HQ) of Malaya Command and had an area of responsibility that covered many regions including Singapore, Malaya, North Borneo and Hong Kong.

Battle Box

An underground complex

Decision for Surrender

They gathered at the Battle Box on the morning of 15 February to re-assess their ability to withstand the Japanese. Surrender seemed like the only option for Percival and his senior commanders in view of the depleting supply of food, water and ammunition.

On the afternoon of 15 February, Percival and a delegation of senior officers left for the Ford Motor Factory in Bukit Timah, HQ of LG Yamashita. They signed the surrender document that marked the start of the Japanese Occupation in Singapore.

Occupation

The Japanese took over the Command Centre converting it into the headquarters for Major-General Saburo Kawamura. The underground complex was largely abandoned with the possible exception of the signals room.

End of War

The Indian Army’s 5th Division re-occupied the the Battle Box for the returning Allied forces. Over time, the Battle Box was neglected and forgotten.

On 31 January 1992, the Battle Box was reopened to educate tourists and locals on the events leading to the surrender of Singapore during World War II.

Kim Kichul Sound Looking-Rain

February 3, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Kim Kichul

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.

Sound Looking-Rain

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.

Walking Home 2

February 2, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Task 2

A THOUSAND MILES AWAY

2016

Video

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.

Brief discussion

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.

SAM visit

January 26, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 1 Comment

Calendars (2020-2096)

Brief Description

“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.

Artist: Heman Chong

Heman Chong (b. 1977, Muar) is an artist, curator, and writer. he lives and works in Singapore.

Preliminary Read

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.

Secondary Read

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

Brief Description

“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.

Artist: Ringo Bunoan

Ringo Bunoan (b. 1974, Manila) is an artist, curator, writer and researcher. She lives and works in Manila, Philippines.

Preliminary Read

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”.

Secondary Read

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”.

Groovy Steps

January 11, 2016 / Zhang Longfei / 0 Comments

Groovy Steps

Redhill – 4D project