Bristol - Shoes On Tree

Despite the weather forecast of rain and gloom, the sun is particularly cherry this morning. It seems almost a sin to stay indoor so I decide to go for a walk.

This is what I saw - reminds me of the scene in the movie 'Big Fish'.

I wonder what is this for, especially outside the hallowed Bristol Cathedral.

Opposite the cathedral stood this curving crescent of a building, the Council House. For those who are familiar with street art, Banksy's graffiti of a naked man hanging outside the window is just over the road from this building. Maybe I'll take a picture of it sometime... or for those who are really curious, try http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Banksy.in.bristols.park.street.arp.jpg

Soon after, I wander into Brandon Hill with its picturesque view overlooking the cityscape.

Here is the Cabot Tower that crowns Brandon Hill...

And the tunnel of trees that encircles the park...

With the promise of spring around the corner.

And lastly, a picture of the Bristol Museums & Art Galleries where the LOVE exhibition and dear Alfred are held.

By the way, it did look as if rain was coming during the noon, but the clouds passed and the sun remains shinning well into afternoon.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed

A film by Lotte Reiniger DVD Review

While I was reading some books on the subject of animation, The Adventures of Prince Achmed was mentioned quite reverently. This piqued my interest and when I saw it on the library shelf, I simply could not pass the chance to behold it for myself.

As I popped the DVD in, I knew virtually nothing of the film. It is only after the opening sequence that I understood that this film is a silhouette animation. The black shadow play on an often intricate background seemed to me a lot like a glorified Wayang Kulit (or Shadow Theater) back in Malaysia. Great cares are given to the characters' design to bring out their personalities, and their costumes are complicated yet elegant. Perhaps in this day and age such method of presentation is nothing new, however the real magic of the film lies in its imaginativeness and flawless storytelling.

The story of the Arabian Nights may be familiar,but seeing these wonderful back lighted paper cut-out given life is really enchanting. Combined with the orchestral background music, the sheer imagination and humor, the characters' emotion are very well expressed. From the moment the Evil Sorcerer plotted to have the princess' hand to the adventures that befell Prince Achmed and Aladdin, the moment where the lovers tasted despair to the moment where love and light triumph, I was spell-bound to keep rooting for the heroes.

The film was made close to a century ago and premiered on 23rd September 1926. It has no spoken dialog besides some captions between the scenes. What fascinates me is how clearly the idea was conveyed simply through the character's body language and gestures alone on a 2 dimentional plane. Such good story telling is indeed timeless, the work of a truly great animator.

Besides the immensely entertaining film, the DVD also included a documentary on Lotte Reiniger, the ingenious creative mind and hands behind the film. This special feature that serves as a homage to the pioneer and inventor of the Silhouette film, documents Lotte Reiniger's life from childhood all the way through to her death at 82. All throughout the documentary, I can see a woman who is true to herself all the way, entirely passionate about what she does and tenacious in pursuing her dreams. Together with her husband and partner, Carl Koch as well as many other friends and supporters, she continued to churn out many quality feature films and shorts throughout her lifetime, even through the hardship of the world war. Hers was a life that was fully lived. For aspiring animators or any artists, this dedication and love for not only one's work, but life itself is inspiring.

The Adventures of Prince Achmed is a jaw-dropping work of art and definitely an ageless animation classic that every animator should see.

~Written on 1 Feb 2008 (Fri)
Here are some links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Prince_Achmed
And of the great pioneer, producer of the oldest surviving piece of animated story.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotte_Reiniger

Folk band in Blue Lagoon

To take a break on the plethora of reviews, here's a recent digital sketch based on the life-sketch I did in Blue Lagoon cafe/pub. Thanks to my flatmates who invited me along, I really enjoy the music. I also find the way they dress very appealing. The play of colours on the guitarist is nice. His handsome and lanky frame brings out the rhythm and energies of the music they play very well. I couldn't help noticing the red heart shape dangling at his side. The coat worn by the violinist has a lot of navel emblems on it. It might actually be a sailor's outfit. Her prominent downward slanting eyebrow also adds to the grace of her instrument. The blond musician have a vest with poker dots under the blue sweater which I didn't manage to illustrate here. The percussionist also wears a lot of accessories. The key that dangle loosely on his neck does give the impression of an exotic glistering seashell under the dim light.

I never get the name of the band. I hope one day I will.

A Meez to remedy the problem of too many words, too little pictures in the blog...

LOVE

19 January – 6 April 2008

Among the myriads of emotions felt by humankind, love is definitely among the strongest and most universal sensation. Love can be liken to affection, friendship, kinship, Eros, or charity. It can also be related between lovers, friends, family, human and creation, mortal and divine. As Valentine's Day is drawing near, a visit to the LOVE touring exhibition in Bristol's Museums, Galleries & Archives is an apt way to contemplate this universal yet highly personal sensation.

The free exhibition of visual arts from the 16^th Century up to the present day on the theme is a good eye opener for anyone who wish to experience a little more of how various artists including Raphael, Goya, Turner, Emin, Singh and many more see and express this powerful subject. Through the intricate masterpieces, one can explore the similarities and difference of how the theme of love is expressed by each individuals across the time line. In addition, one can gain a deeper sense of how love influences not only arts, but mythologies, storytelling, culture and our fundamental perception of the creation.

Before visiting the visual art pieces in the gallery, I think it is a good idea to first view the 15 minutes video clip that is shown outside near the gallery entrance. This is especially helpful for viewers who are not familiar with the artworks as the video gives a comprehensive commentary. It can further your appreciation for the works in the gallery. Next to the video is an interactive artwork by Yoko Ono where you can participate.

Most of the work in the gallery are paintings. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by Anthony Frederick's Medea that depicts the destructive actions prompted by love betrayed. As you walk on, the paintings will touch on the themes of jealousy, bliss, faithfulness of love, agony of love lost, long lasting love, family love, charity, divine and sacred love, seduction and secular pleasure, pain that often intermingle with love, lust and the consequences, love's triumph and unrequited love. Each painting invoke a strong feeling associated with a certain aspect of love.

My personal favorites are the 2 sculptures in the exhibition. The first is a small ceramic rabbit filled with inscriptions of 'God please keep my children safe' by Grayson Perry. The fragile rabbit captures the helpless sense of a parent's almost obsessive love for the children in the face of uncertainties and the lack of security in this sometimes hostile world very well. I can feel the vulnerability of how even with all the fervent prayers, it is still a great test of faith to hope for the best.

The other sculpture is an almost life size marble sculpture by Marc Quinn entitled 'Kiss'. Although the sculpture can be seen on both the exhibition leaflets as well as the exhibition companion booklet's cover, there is something I did not quite notice initially until I had walked a full circle around the statue. The two intimately embraced and kissing couple has some peculiarities. The male figure has short and deformed arms while the female figure is missing a limb. However, looking at the statue, these deformities does not seem to matter at all. The couple entirely absorbed into each other looks complete and beautifully perfect. This work really reminds me of the fact that love is all encompassing. Love does not discriminate. Everyone, rich or poor, whole or flawed are entitled to love and anyone can chose to love truly and passionately. The eyes of of true love sees beyond any flaws or shortcomings a person may have.

The LOVE touring exhibition is really an excellent opportunity to deepen your sense of appreciation for your loved ones, your neighbors or even strangers. With the wonderful pieces on display, it is also a sumptuous feast for all lovers of art. Come and do not miss this chance to be saturated with Love!

~Written on 23 Jan 2008 (Wed)
A link to it http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2007/12/07/love_exhibition_feature.shtml

The Roman Baths

A Review

A visit to Bath will not be complete without a tour in the magnificent Roman Baths.

The remarkably well preserved and famous world heritage site is right in the heart of bath, next to the abbey. After purchasing the entrance tickets, each visitors are presented with a free personal audio guides that gives in depth descriptions as well as some interesting informations on the exhibition. Listening to the children's audio tour where the visitors are guided by a few imaginary persons from the era including a roman official, slave girl, bathhouse workers and priests are also very entertaining.

As the visitors walk from the entrance and descend into the underground museum, it feels as if one is traveling back in time. The exhibition includes many recovered relics, including the corner stone for the great altar that has been built into a church, the well carved pediment with the famous Gorgon's head that is popular with tourists being key chains, magnets and other souvenirs, the discovered head of the Sulius Minerva statue, personal curses and messages scribed on pieces of lead for the temple goddess and marvelous stoneworks with writings still very much legible now after all these years.

Not much of the original temple of Sulis Minerva remains can be seen. The grandeur of what it once was can now only be seen through the imaginations of the visitors. On the other hand, the baths are very well preserved. The open air Great Bath and the Circular Bath, now serving as a wishing well are still filled with water. The classical architectures around the pool are also fitted with lightings and humidity similar to the original settings.

One of the highlight of this tour is the hot spring itself which is the genesis of this very site, without which none of the once impressive temple buildings and intricate bath complexs would exist. It is not hard to understand why the Romans and native Celts, or even those before them from the Bronze Age saw the spring as a spirtual and sacred site when looking at the steaming waters on a cold winter morning. The bubling waters are even used in the nearby Thermae Bath Spa now, truly a larvish gift from Above for our enjoyment.

The Roman Baths is truly a place that must be visited as it is both an enriching experience marvelling at the excellent workmanship from the past and a rejuvinating spiritual journey walking through the very stone steps that the ancient walked and breathing in the very vapours from the sacred spring.

~ Written on 22 Jan 2008 (Tues) the visit was on Sunday

The official link
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

Alfred

The Power of Naming

Today was my first visit to Bristol's Museums, Galleries & Archives. Today also marked my first 'close encounter' with our cousin great ape, the gorilla. Although I had seen the shadows of some sleeping apes in Beijing Zoo seven years back, this was the first time I saw one face to face, head to toe and in a distance no more than two feet away.

Now, I must also clarify that this great ape I saw was a specimen in the museum's wing exhibiting animals from the world. This was certainly not my first time seeing large taxidermied specimens on display in a museum but there was something special about this gorilla. It was named.

Alfred was his name. He came to the Bristol Zoo back before the second world war and was visited by many residences and tourists in the area. Alfred was an oddity at that time when gorillas were less understood and scientifically studied. He was quite an attraction and had aqquired nicknames as well during the wars. After Alfred died, his skin was mounted by a famed taxidermist and shown in the museum.

As I was reading the information panel, a family came into the room. The gentleman told his wife, 'Isn't he alive the last time I visited the zoo?' The lady exclaimed, 'Oh dear, it's a shame he died.' It was just like what was written on the panel of how people came to visit Alfred long after his passing, bringing their children and telling stories about him.

Personally, I think this is special. People do not talk about specimens in museum as if it is something alive very often. I had never seen Alfred back when he breathe and walked the zoo grounds, but through just knowing his name, reading about his history, how he came to Bristol, how he lived in Bristol and how he died suddenly made him so much alive to me. At once, from being just another specimen, just another mounted gorilla, this one became a person. He took on a personality. From an 'it' it has become a 'he' to many people including me.

The power of having a name, and knowing a brief history even if only an inanimate object can make such a profound difference on a very personal level.

Being an animator, I should learn how to imbune life into my creation which the audience initially knows nothing more than I did with the gorilla in the display case. When I leave, I had seen more than an ape, I had met someone, I had faced a celebrity. It was a wonderful experience.

~Written on 19 Jan 2008(Tues)
and here's a link to the said ape and museum. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/panoramas/museum6_360.shtml

Greetings from Bristol

Greetings from Bristol.

I have arrived here on 16 Jan after a 14 hour in the air.
It has been 3 weeks now, and by His grace and goodness things are moving along fine.
Meet some really nice flat-mates and found a homely church to belong in.

1 more week to go before classes starts. Here's some photos for the meantime.

The huge Amsterdam airport complex while waiting for the transit.

The view of the River Avon next to the flat I'm staying.

The street of Bath. I visited bath during the first Sunday.

More of the River Avon, when the sun is shining gloriously.

A more rural scene near Bower Ashton, the Art, Design and Media Faculty of UWE.

Bristol is indeed a beautiful place to live in. It has a good blend of traditional architectures and museums, modern shopping and commercial complexes plus the rural farmland and green parks are not too far away.