renfeng KE

Gandharan style Buddha statue

Head of Buddha, Bodhisattva, 4th-5th century, probably Afghanistan, but in Gandharan style.

Among the sculptures of Buddha in V&A, or anywhere else, Gandharan style is my favorite. The line is natural and powerful. The statue of the Buddha from the Gandharan region (modern Afghanistan) is, compare with The Caves of Dunhuang, to me, sexier.

 

 

 

The works of contemporary ceramics in Spain are very bold and vigorous.

Make me: God I wanna live in Spain.

Craft Movement Explore: a series of Favorite - Pret, V&A, Ceramics.

After having my favorite Cheddar with Miso soup in Pret (a monger), heading to V&A where I can spend time a whole day, exploring my favorite craft, favorite material - ceramic. How many "favorite" I've used? All happened in one day. 

Headthinker III, Lauea Ford 2003.

Glazed stoneware steel, plaster and clothing.

"Human-animal hybirds are frequetly the subject of Laura Ford's scupltures. Here, the heaviness of the ceramic donkey-head contrasts with the apparent softness of the body, appearing to weigh it down. The sleeping donkey-child appears as something encountered in a dream, yet also suggests the burden of expectation placed upon children."<V&A>

Beyond the Painting

   

Craft 2

"As part of a continuing dialogue between art schools and craft studios this intuitive method was one of the principal legacies of the movement to twentieth-century design."-The arts and crafts movement, p.106.

Craft

1) is either applied art  or fine art.

2) design-oriented craft --> functional design --> 1) unique or limited edition pieces --> fine craft

                                                                                    --> 2) mass production --> design product 

3) designer-maker --> 1) artist

                                  --> 2) designer

The journey in quest of the Craft, Design and Art

In the process of organising our new organisation, I begin the journey in quest of the difference between Craft and Design, and the position of these two in the contemporary art marketspace. In all, it seems like an process of deconstruction and re-construction.

究竟，“工藝“是門技術，還是概念；而“設計“是門技術，還是概念；協會要推廣的，是工藝技術，還是設計概念？我一整個糊塗了。當代工藝家（craftspeople），將工藝技術（craftsmanship）結合設計理念，創造限量（limited）、手製(handmade)的藝術作品。其作品可以是強調功能性的applied craft，也可是強調藝術性的fine craft。

有許多設計作品，像是設計傢具，如目前在V&A展示的"telling tales"，裡頭得作品大多帶有強烈的個人風格、包含著創作者的創作理念，像是有什麼宣言想要向世界宣告。作品都是出自於創作者之手，且限量發行。換言之，創作者必須具有強烈的創作理念與設計論述，同時具備高超的工藝技巧。相同於純藝術，這些作品通常流通於藝廊，但又不同於雕塑品，在其象徵意義或是裝飾價值的外殼下，他們同時又帶有些許的功能。因此，他們這次稱為“Design Art“。你說說，這是不是讓人搞得一頭霧水??!!

在尋找答案的過程中，這一期的“craft arts“介紹紐約新開張的“Museum of ARTS and Design“, 這間美術館經過三次轉型，換過三的地點。從1956年名為Museum of contemporary crafts,到2002年名為Museum of Modern Art,到2008年底正式更名為Museum of ARTS and Design(MAD)，是的，這樣的更名過程的確令人mad...拿掉craft字樣後的美術館，要如何推動工藝品？在該組織的宗旨說的挺不得罪人的,it “collects, displays and interprets objects that document contemporary and historic innovation in craft, art and design“.

為何它要拿掉craft?為何保留design?是不是未來得作品會變成somewhere between craft, art and design?
"craftpeople are designing for industry (which haven t happened yet in Taiwan),  industrial designers are making works of art, artists are using craft techniques and materials" 這樣的生物鏈將定義模糊了，生出了一大片灰色地帶。

好吧！正面思考，或許可以說我們正處於一個講求創意（creativity）的新文藝復興時代。我的腦筋還是一團糨糊，但截至目前為止，我確定我們應該朝著所謂設計導向“design-oriented“的目標來推動工藝產業。如文章結尾所言 “there is room for both the new breed of clever artist/designers as well as for the studio-based craft practioners who breathe new vitality into the living traditions of the hand-made object."

Stuck on Personal Calling - the Alchemist is the cheerleader

這篇的開頭真難寫，總之就是我下定決心專注在工藝產業發展，做一個不斷進步還會跳salsa的藝術經理人。

在倫敦，很幸運地欣賞倫敦工藝，不知不覺漸漸喜歡上這些兼具設計與手製的限量品，參觀crafts council 舉辦的 collect 2008，發現當地的工藝品的面貌是豐富、多元的，相當有趣。專訪cockpit arts以及一些desingner-makers後，羨慕這類型的studio institution可以這樣支持這些工藝家，兩者間建立良好的共生關係。

回到台灣，對工藝的感受是我們專注在技藝保存與推廣，結合地方發展文化技藝，最後的成果不是走向觀光產值就是文化保存（開設社區課程推廣技藝），對於工藝產業產值的提升其實並沒有多大的助益。

工藝的面向也相對狹隘，多數關注在藍染、漆器、竹編、陶瓷，那麼其他如珠寶、紡織品、皮製品、金工、玻璃、時尚飾品配件等呢？


最後此時也不知道要寫什麼，我也不知現在這想法是不是自己的personal calling, as Paulo Coelho wrote in the alchemist (牧羊少年的奇幻之旅)， however ,  " whenever we do something that fills us with enthusiasm, we are following our legend." Moreover, I expect myself to have courage to confront my own dream. I hope to live with enthusiasm and pleasure and know why I am here.

就算它是吧，總之就是我的理想正努力開始。

 

Colette's books, each word full of new possibilities and dreams...

Colette
Originally uploaded by gilfling

I found this artist while doing my thesis research. Among these beautiful dolls, I love her most.

"Colette spends her minutes, hours and days reading in the vast domed library of her ancestral family home. Each page is a revelation, each word full of new possibilities and dreams. From dawn till dusk she can be found curled infront of a warm log fire, lost in the imaginations of writers long since gone (Gilfling's Designs)."

Gillian Lee Smith is one of designer-makers join Design Factory, where is a non-for-profit organisation committed to support to development and success of designer-makers as a role of agency in the East Midlands, UK.

J'aime le confort, j'aime le fauteuil. If I could sit I would never stand.

 

Event: Design Art London (photos from up to down, left to right)

photo 1. 2. Galerie Yves Gastou

• Michel Boyer
• Joe Colombo

photo 3.4.5. Galerie du Passage Pierre Passebon

Photo 6. Carpenters Workshop Gallery

• Sebastian Brajkovic

photo 7.  Jousse Entreprise

• Roger Tallon

Photo 8. David Gill Ltd.

Photo 9.  can t remember....

 

Prepare for London Design Festival

London Design Festival, u've seen what it said, "Hundreds of...", I don t even know where to start. I get lost... help...

• London Design Festival
• One Day Events and Maps