Grey Matter

Hello! I decided to tour Kuala Lumpur last week on foot, from KL sentral to KLCC to Bukit Bintang.

Credit given to Yan Ting and Miao for waddling along the very very long walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOMO! Baby Steps...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More pics at at this link

Yellow Submarine!

I just collected my new camera, its a Holga!

Well, they person whom I bought it from told me that most people who had their first roll of film either tear it or get it spoilt and I didn't disappoint him this time too!

At least the film came free with the purchase...

The first pictures will be out soon, after I get them processed, maybe in two weeks, I have two rolls left, one colour and one black and white.

On a side note, let me bring you to my work desk for the past two weeks.

Note: SNY's cartridge paper in their ready made sketchpads really isn't suitable for watercolor.

Kuala Terengganu Sketches

Please click for a larger image.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Artistic and cultural development through mass transit

Graffiti removal efforts can be works of art too.

Throughout the world, mass transit stops are used by a multitude of people which very sometimes even manages to characterize the city.From graffiti artists to the homeless saxophone players and even public art displays or stints such as the Naked Cowboy, they all contribute to the cultural development of the urban dweller.

The showcase of conscious or unconscious artistic talent at mass transit stations aids the promotion of a democratized society, of free speech and expression. This too I feel is just part of a large counter culture movement to the monotony and expressionless feel of city life.

There must be a clear distinction between what is art and what is vandalism. This is very difficult as there is nothing to clearly define the two at times (art can be as offensive as loan shark stickers). The public must be educated, through the works the artists themselves of this distinction. Aside from that, the authorities should help and promote artistic works around the mass transit areas. The graffiti wall opposite the Pasar Seni LRT station should be noted for its intense showcase of our culture and history (especially during the 50 years merdeka) and the views of the younger generation towards the country. It can be conjured that the graffiti artists have chosen the wall because most of them, being unable to own cars yet use public transport very often and know that many others who are of their age and like minded thinking use them too.

This leads to the second point that shows that public transport can shape the way a country progresses. The car is sometimes seen a symbol of a democratic way of life, with the car owner able to choose where and when to commute. This however is challenged when roads become congested and turns cars into prison cells for the commuters. On the other hand, mass transit offers a solution to all citizens, young, old, rich and poor to travel freely, a better reflection of a democratic society, not to mention the increased exposure to various artistic and cultural developments which opens the minds of the people for dialogue on a multitude of possible things, from food to politics, hence promoting a greater democracy.

With all these said, the authorities should note that art is an evolving thing and should not only focus on the public commission of art works around mass transit points but also allow for free artists to freely speak their minds without the need to rent a lot or face the risk of called a vandal.

With hundred of thousands of people passing through mass transit stations per day, it rivals most other outlets of expression and is really the simplest and free-est place to express one's views.

I love art, I love democracy and love a car free lifestyle.

Knowing everything about everything!

I never cease to ask myself what is architecture, how is architecture defined, what are other people thinking about architecture. After being brought back to the world since the weeks in studio, I plug myself back into the world, on the sofa.

The thinking doesn't stop at the end of the semester, its the only way I know to keep me excited enough to maintain that creative juices and enthusiasm going. This time, sitting at home, I saw the world recovering from an economic crisis, some family movies, and loads of documentaries. From the safety of the couch, myth busting and the business news got me thinking about something truly business in nature (with a dash of mythbusters ingenuity), expanding investment portfolios to dampen investing risks.

It is in fact the only sustainable way to advance the field of architecture (and every other job) in the very near future, to integrate everything into everything, hybrids, merging different fields together to bring about a fission of knowledge that can be tapped into. Of course this isn't something new, lots of ideas I have have been taught of before, but so was a lot of other great 'discoveries'. I like exploring, this is my journey down a marked path, everyone sees a different perspective down the same path, hopefully I may learn something from it.

This mish-mashing of different fields in a big pot of soup is what as I have read, called cross-discipline ability. Its already in front of our noses in architecture, we integrate engineering with architecture all the time. In fact architecture needs engineering to survive but, (ashamed of this.. hehe) not the other way however..

Hence I spent a great deal of time thinking...

Cross-discipline,
It really can save us from the future job market saturation you know, if we can do fashion design and architecture (studio 1) or integrate other things into architecture. Plus its always fun to do so.

Semester 2 Final Crit

Presentation board

Sketch models

 

Model, and site

Internal expression

I had intended it to look like a spaceship, a concept where climbers can journey through a voyage while forming close bonds with its crew.

Each space has different spatial qualities.

From the bottom, the first level is dark and cramped, to prepare the climbers for the next room which is double height and huge.

Then the bedroom is located on the roof. It is private and bright with panoramic views of KL city.

So how did the crit go?

I would say it was the best of the semester, I was prepared and my model was fine.

I was really hungry but I pulled through.

Lots of jibbering was spent on the poles with one crit unable to grasp the idea of the poles defining the space in the common room. I would say that it really was a wrong use of words to describe the qualities presented by the poles. An error on my part.

They liked my form, it was very well proportioned and I would have to agree judging from the countless sketch models I had made and sacrificed for the sake of its master.

They liked my work, it was well done.

I received a comment that my clubhouse looked like a bit of everything, a bit from Eisenman, a bit from Herzog de Muron (Gabion walls), a bit from Zaha Hadid (Stretched form) a bit from Le Corbusier (Roof terrace)... I took amusement in that because I felt that most of what is being done has already been done. Precedence is in fact unavoidable. I must say, I did not looked at the famous architects during my initial design and I hadn't copied any of their designs. Only now that it has been pointed out that I have educated myself with the various projects of these architects and see the similarity of my work to theirs. My design was purely formless, purely proportion, while supporting my definition of a clubhouse as a place for its crew to form bonds that will be remembered for life, true to my design philosophy.

It is formless, only proportion.

Its function from the proportion. Its proportion from its function.

Well, if my work is compared to the avant grade works of the century, it couldn't be a bad thing could it?