Play dough Beads

Had extra play dough after making the key chains (see earlier post) so decided to make beads for a simple bracelet. The read beads are most successful (I think) probably because red stand out more from the white.

These are really really small donuts for ear rings (as compared to my palm). It was challenging getting the details onto the tiny beads

Book Binding

Wanted to make the teachers something different this year, something useful...thought for many weeks, scanned through google search...before deciding on book binding.

It was a rather difficult and tedious work as it was my first attempt at book binding, PLUS I didn't have the right materials: used a big safety pin to poke holes in the paper, cross stitching thread and needle, used wrapping paper, construction paper and cardboard to make the cover, etc. etc. In other words, I had to make do with whatever I had. I also referred to several book binding tutorials online before I was confident enough to go about making the actual books.

My first try was a failure, with pages not in line, strings tangled...

Below is my second (more successful) attempt:

three books for three lovely teachers
~HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY~

pouch (from old shirts)

wanted to throw away two old shirts initially, until I thought of making them into this pouch...

I admit that it isn't perfect (made quite a few mistakes here and there~), but it's usable :) and white and peach goes well together :D

By the way, I've also made a dress (took me a 1.5m x 1.5m cloth + 2 days to complete) for grad night, but I'll be uploading the pics after, cos it's a bit weird to zi pai...

Andy Goldsworthy

I was very inspired by Andy Goldsworthy after watching the documentary - Rivers and Tides.

He has broken away from the traditional ways of creating art indoors in studios, transforming the definition of Art. By using materials and tools from nature, and only from nature, he has effectively brought out the elements and beauty of nature. The works are also subjected to the changes of nature, even the subtle breezes, rain and the tides affects the work and most of the time, these works exists only temporarily. This also brings out the fact the no matter how he attempts to manipulate nature to create works of art, nature would eventually dominate and take over (strikingly similar to the theme I explored in my coursework:D)

However, his works can only be documented by means of photography and videos, and viewers could only experience his works through the photographs, since his works are largely isolated from human traffic and are mostly temporal. On one hand, it allows the artist to 'guide' the viewers to view the work from a certain perspective so as to better appreciate it. On the other hand, I feel that the best way to enjoy nature is to be physically present as nature's beauty is not solely portrayed through sight but also through all the 5 senses as well.

I believe that the process of art making is much more satisfying and meaningful for him as an artist as through trial and error and physically experiencing nature himself develops his understanding for nature and his materials to create the work. I feel that he learns and achieves much more while creating the work, than the viewers do admiring his work. My immediate thought after watching the video is to ascend Bukit Timah hill and make art amongst the flora and fauna. Unfortunately, I'm in Singapore...

The 'expensive piece of shit' that he created :)

It's made of cow dung and earned him millions...

London and Paris (Part III)

Some of the more interesting photos I took during the trip. Had quite a hard time choosing from the 1000++ photos from the trip. London and Paris are cities with a rich art history and I really miss the museums and the art culture there.

Found this really interesting, bet those people on the benches didn't realise they're being 'framed' (pun intended)

A weird phenomenal when the birds all perched on the bald trees, we had to watch out for anything falling from above...

Hot pink tables and chairs outside Tate Modern

At the train station, thought the 'ceiling' was interesting, you'll feel rather dizzy if you stare at it for too long

bright red truck in front of the monotonous browns of the building behind
...consumerism...

From the Eiffel Tower (feel like falling)

The Eiffel Tower from the bottom up

How the sky bade us farewell...

London and Paris (Food)

The food culture is very different from Singapore's, even their Chinese cuisine tasted different. Particularly enjoyed the escargot and the deserts.

My first try on food photography (could have played around more with the perspectives though)...

 

By the way, this is my 50th post :DD