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What was once a giant oil-drum, designed to tank millions of gallons of black gold for Chinese consumers, is now a giant museum. It's recently been kitted out by design artists teamLab, a collective of ultra-modern creative innovators. Universe of Water Particles opened on the 23rd of March, and wowed visitors within moments. In other areas, an exhibition called Under Construction features works by Chinese artists including Zeng Fanzhi, Ding Yi, and Yang Fudong. There's also an intriguingly titled section named Sometimes you wonder, in an interconnected universe, who is dreaming who? This philosophical and thought provoking work is by Adrian Villar Rojas.
The total TANK Shanghai museum is made up of five whole oil-tanks. They were the acquisition of Qiao Zhibing, who bought them from the local Hongqiao International Airport. This fabulous and truly inspirational display of adaptive and interactive art really shows us how sustainability can be a continual work in progress. It's anyone's best guess as to what to do with all the things we no longer need, however with a bit of creative ingenuity we can solve problems and create worthwhile experiences for all people. â
Through the months of March to May, visitors to the Hanart TZ Gallery in Hong Kong can immerse themselves in the groundbreaking work of Shih-Chiang. An exhibition dedicated to the artist named “Edge of Sea and Sky” will allow art-lovers to explore in minute detail the methods and masterpieces left behind by this sought after painter. Over thirty pieces will make up the solo exhibition, allowing a full range of his work to be visually dissected.
The work expressed a major theme of the time which could be found in the East. Post-war-modernism had become a major export from Western society and it quickly began to influence artists from outside of its area of origin. Arriving in Taiwan in 1949 from his home town in China, after visiting as an art student a few years earlier, it seemed Shih-Chiang had grown fond of the location. The art scene there undoubtedly provided him with the inspiration and encouragement he needed to fulfil his visions. The combination of influences of the day resulted in a form of Chinese Modernism which has become a template for other later works to draw from. Chinese work of the day typically used ink as its medium. With the work of Shih-Chiang, he wanted to symbolise and represent the ingrained problems with Chinese art culture. He felt that artists were continually pushed into representing political opinion and working to benefit the state if they wanted to be given the respect of the community. Shih-Chiang didn't like this, and he showed it by doing something uniquely him. These oil paintings, created outside of China, show a clear vein of anti-establishment. Using an alternative medium and drawing so heavily on Western influences as well as remaining abstract and non-statesmanly, Yeh Shih-Chiang left a trailblazing line of influence all for himself. Is that what it takes to make an arts master? What do you think? Take a look at this slide-show of the oil paintings by Yeh Shih-Chiang
Most of us take our sight for granted. We're greeted with colours, textures, light, and shade from the moment we wake until we close our eyes at night. Even then, our eyes can produce all kinds of imagery in the dark. Mine do, often it's like I've not closed my eyes at all. However, not all of us have this ability to perceive the world. We know about blind people and have probably met a few, but have we thought about how we can create art for them? Music is clearly a great option, but there's so much more out there!
Touch can actually be as helpful as vision when it comes to exploring something. To be able to feel something with our fingertips, which are one of the most sensitive parts of the body, we get a unique perspective on the shape, texture, and nature of the thing we touch. For visually impaired people, touch has a heightened importance. Although not a substitute for vision, a lot of information can be interpreted from the ways things feel. Knowing this has helped some remarkable artworks to be produced. Sculpture is an obvious choice for tactile art, a well sculpted piece usually resembles the object it is representing. Artistic design can also be used to alter the form somehow, to accentuate a particular element or sensation. These things, although visible, are best felt with the hands. Not all sculptors want their work to be touched, however when they do, it's an experience for the senses. What about combining more than one non-visual sense? Touch and sound together for a visually impaired art lover can become a really absorbing experience. At the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, there is such an exhibit. Specifically targeted at the visually impaired, a whole array of sculptures await eager fingers. Bird forms, including swans and blue herons, make up most of the display. These are combined with their call sounds. The lifelike models are designed to be explored and massaged with the hands, beak, feet, feather shapes and all. According to museum curator Catie Anderson, the museum wants to offer people with low vision or blindness an “intimate and valuable art experience.” (Wausau Daily Herald) Where-as most people think of accessibility in terms of ramps and lifts, providing opportunities for less-able people to experience a function can mean so much more. These artistic representations of natural creatures are designed to be ideal for people who rely on touch and sound to explore their world. It's not often we get to handle birds, and if we've never seen one then how do we know what they look like? Things we can hear and touch brings the world of nature to us without the use of eyes. Coordinated by artistic advisor Ann Cunningham, her experience in sculpture, birds, and teaching art have helped to unify several projects for one purpose. The tactile experience is just as valid as the visual one and more effort can be put into producing things for touching. This permanent feature at the museum will no-doubt attract many new visitors who may never have thought they'd go to an art gallery. Called “In Touch With Art”, visually impaired people in Wausau can be assured their culture is a permanent fixture at their local museum.
What will you find in the New York Times Store today?
After a crowdfunding campaign and a generous top-up from the AGO Foundation, Yayoi Kusama's world famous Infinity Mirror Room has finally been installed at The Art Gallery of Ontario, in Canada. The $2m+ price tag which received around a quarter of its finance from members of the public has made it possible to reveal the exhibit at the end of May, just 6 months since plans were unveiled. This makes great time and shows that the people of Ontario really care about art and culture.
Named, Let's Survive Forever, the Infinity Mirror Room uses a complex array of mirrors to create reflective feedback into infinite images of the audience. Four people are allowed in at one time, meaning families can be immortalised in light for a few moments. Offering distortions and eternal lines of front to back reflections, finding the perfect angle for your infinite selfie will be a challenge. If you were one of those who voted for this installation by donating some money then you'll be first on the list for entry in mid-April. Everyone else will have to wait until the following month. Mirror Rooms are growing in popularity, and there are now over a dozen permanent locations around the world. The way they influence light, the image, and our perception of reality really bring a whole new dimension to our conscious existence. The Infinity Mirror Room is open to all paying visitors to the art museum. Via Now Toronto |
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