Minus 30 Degrees Celsius

     It has been too cold. Going to the hospital to see my hostparents...... Hoping for the best. Everything happens too fast.

CoVILLE - SackVILLE - WolfVILLE

January 22nd 2013

     Today we talked about Alex Colville in Class. Most recent news about him was on CBC maritime news.  
       
"Rhoda Colville wife and muse of Alex Colville for 70 years died couple weeks ago at their home in Wolfville. She went on to study fine art at Mount Allison University in Sackville where she met Alex. They got married in Wolfville in 1942."

     I think Alex Coville is one of the few artists that I have known who had a long happy marriage. I think that influenced his art a lot. No matter what kind of subject matter or colour theme of his works. I had always found peacefulness in them. In China people always say that without a good home (which is the foundation of your life), you cannot be successful. 

     Even though, I admire his extremely detailed brush work and his patient (he only made one or two pieces per year), but most of Colville’s work doesn't really speak to me. Expect the Seven Crows.

Seven Crows 1980

Acrylic polymer emulsion on hardboard
60 x 120 cm
Owens Art Gallery Mount Allison University, Sackville NB
Gift of Mr. Ross B.

     



  I have always remembered the feeling from the very first time I saw Seven Crows. This paint was hanged on top of the fireplace in presentment's house. As soon as I walked it just captured my eye, it was not the brightest painting in the room but the sharp image just made me zoom in to it and I felt these crows were really flying. Seriously, I felt I could hear a deep calm music played in the back of my head. When I walked close I couldn't figure out what kind of painting skill is it. There was too much to look at and I had realized that the sharp image from far was build up by little dots.  This image could not get out of my mind for days.

     Crow is always representing bad luck in China but I always loved them. Not only because of their beautiful black coat but also crow is the only bird that would come back take care of their parents when they got old. I guess the painting shocked me not only because it's emotion but also that was my first time saw a crow painting hanged in people's home. I saw that painting many times after that in different place but I had never paid any attention to who was the painter so I couldn't look up on internet. Therefore, every time I saw it somewhere always gave me the same feeling like the first time I saw it. 

    

    

Changing Perspective

January 15th 2013

     Kurt Schwitters was introduced in today's lecture. He used a lot of bird view for his paintings. The new perspective made these boring everyday tools interesting to look at. It's almost hard to tell what they were; instead they just became block of colours. 

Kurt Schwitters

Merz Picture with Rainbow

Mixed media and Paint on Plywood

1939 

     On the very same day I saw my friend who is a professional photographer in Shanghai snapped this shot from an office building. This photograph made me connected to Schwitters's many bird view paintings instantly.  I imagined if anyone walked on this street beside a fence (block the mess view from contractions), cars and sky they won't see this many block of colours. I didn't realize these ugly temporary container house could give such vivid colour from a different perspective. 

Jun Mao
 Shanghai
Digital Photography
2013

    

     If I could always looking for different perspective when everything went wrong. I am certain that I could find better solutions or at least a prettier image.