Twelfth Tiger

Andy Warhol, ‘Mao #91’, 1972, silkscreen. Favorite...

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 12:31:06 -0500

Andy Warhol, ‘Mao #91’, 1972, silkscreen.

Favorite trending art news story: 300 Warhols are about to tour around Asia. Here’s the link from @artradar Asia http://artradarjournal.com/2012/02/03/warhol-exhibit-to-show-in-5-asian-cities-ap/?from=feedblitz_403966_4138286

Who is coming to Columbia University with me to see Liu Xia's Photographs?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:30:06 -0500

Who is coming to Columbia University with me to see Liu Xia's Photographs?:

All the photographs on display were individually snuck out of China while Liu Xia is under house arrest and her husband in in jail for promoting democratic reform in PRC.

This will be the only show of her work in the US. Who’s with me?

Ai Weiwei and Beijing stadium architects to make Serpentine pavilion

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:05 -0500

Ai Weiwei and Beijing stadium architects to make Serpentine pavilion

5 Contemporary Artists featured at West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:30:05 -0500

I am all for Cantonese Opera, don’t get me wrong. But I was excited to read Xinyan Yu’s TOHK article about the West Kowloon Bamboo Theatre that states:

“Adding to the richness of Bamboo Theatre’s cultural experience, M+ (the future Museum of Visual Arts) will give us a first glimpse of its directions with an exhibition of newly commissioned works by five contemporary artists, including Chu Hing-wah, Gaylord Chan, Michael Wolf, Samson Young and Henry Chu.”

Here are images of works by those featured artists —

Chu Hing-wah’s Chu’s 50 Years of Hong Kong

Gaylord Chan’s Spaceship

Michael Wolf’s Architecture of Density

Samson Young’s Beethoven Piano Sonata

Squiggle - A design app created by Henry Chu

"Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think."

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:30:05 -0500

““Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think.””

- My 2012 Chinese New Year fortune cookie message

Asia Society opens a branch in Hong Kong!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:18:49 -0500

Reason three trillion to save up for airfare back to Hong Kong: Asia Society is opening the first US museum branch in Hong Kong:

http://artinfo.com/news/story/756925/the-asia-society-becomes-the-first-us-museum-to-open-a-satellite-in-china

I recently became a member at Asia Society and I am very satisfied with the programming. The exhibits, lectures and social events are wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in broadening his or her knowledge of Asian culture. I imagine their Hong Kong branch will be equally informational and engaging.

Now if only M+ Hong Kong would hurry up and get the ball rolling!

I don’t think my blog would be complete without mention of...

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:30:05 -0500

I don’t think my blog would be complete without mention of the historical collaboration with W Magazine and Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei image.

Here is the exclusive video of the making of “Enforced Disappearance”. The directors staged the editorial working with Ai via video Skype. Amazing.

This is Ai’s first work since being released by Chinese authorities and it was completed from the other side of the world using technology and the will to be heard.

RLA! - Contemporary Art in Asia: A Critical Reader by Melissa Chiu

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:17:54 -0500

RLA! - Contemporary Art in Asia: A Critical Reader by Melissa Chiu:

RLA = Reading List Alert. What I’m reading now!

It’s no secret I’m a fan of Melissa Chiu and this critical reader is just a gem. Currently on the essay by none other than the godfather of all Chinese contemporary art critique, Gao Minglu: “Conceptual Art with Anticonceptual Attitude: Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong” (1999).

Amy Tan and How What I Learned in 7th Grade Physics Class is Relevant

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:02:30 -0500

The Wall Street Journal Chinese edition featured an interview with Amy Tan to discuss her upcoming panel participation in the Aspen Institute and Asia Society US-China Forum on the Arts and Culture in Beijing that starts tomorrow, Wednesday November 16th.

The best part about the interview is when Amy Tan discusses the knowledge gap Americans have about Chinese culture.

“What strikes me as funny, though, is how many people in the U.S. still believe it’s so repressive that you can’t carry a camera around. I tell them the biggest danger is that someone will try to sell you a cheaper camera.”

I had to take a physics class when I was in middle school and I’m happy to say it was the last time I had to take that class. I don’t remember too much about the laws or Newton, but I do remember very clearly one of my teacher’s lesson plans.

While he was laying out all this worldly knowledge about all these different physics laws and he said, “The world can be a scary place until you understand why and how things behave the way they behave.” I’m sure the lesson had to do with Newton’s Cradle but today I see how it applies to cultures.

If Americans do not try to understand the Chinese culture and reasons behind their actions and behaviors, then the Middle Kingdom will remain a mystery to Americans and there will remain a knowledge gap. Americans need to make an effort to learn this foreign culture so it is not so inherently misunderstood.

This brings me back to Eric Chang’s quote two posts ago: “The West needs to start studying up”. Here’s to forever continuing my self-education, post-collegiate career!

MONEY CAN'T BUY ME ART MUSEUMS - Lisa Movius Exposing Chinese Art Museum Underbellies!

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:16:05 -0500

MONEY CAN'T BUY ME ART MUSEUMS - Lisa Movius Exposing Chinese Art Museum Underbellies!

Kelly Crow - "The China Factor"

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:00:06 -0500

A consistent and fortuitous voice in the WSJ art coverage, Kelly Crow, discusses the contemporary Chinese art market in her October 7th, 2011 article “The China Factor”.

I remember tweeting about this article from my personal Twitter account, before the weekend of my Most Excellent Contemporary Chinese Art East Coast Trip. The article was a sign that I was taking the needed steps in educating myself about my passion, the artists, the industry.

Eric Chang of Christie’s is aptly quoted in Crow’s article as stating:

China has the power to decide which artists it values most now, but will the West go along with it? There’s still a big cultural gap, but the West needs to start studying up.

I’m studying, Eric! I’m studying!

PRE-ORDER NOW! "Instant Culture: Architecture and Urbanism as a Collective Process"

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 11:00:05 -0500

PRE-ORDER NOW! "Instant Culture: Architecture and Urbanism as a Collective Process"

Council on Foreign Relations: A Conversation with Donald Tsang,...

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 22:15:01 -0500

Council on Foreign Relations: A Conversation with Donald Tsang, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People’s Republic of China

Link to transcript: http://www.cfr.org/hong-kong/conversation-donald-tsang/p26449

Melissa Chiu on the New US-China Forum

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:24:47 -0500

Melissa Chiu on the New US-China Forum

"“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at..."

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 13:07:05 -0500

“

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world at large.”

Confucius

”

The Image That Spurred A Thesis - Wang Guangyi’s...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:05:06 -0500

The Image That Spurred A Thesis - Wang Guangyi’s “Great Criticism Series: Coca-Cola” 1993

I double majored in International Studies: Asian Studies and Art History at the University of Richmond. I selected this image to begin my research and studies on contemporary Chinese art. Not just because I am a sucker for a striking oil painting, but also because this series is symbolic of the Political Pop movement.

This is my beautiful Grandmother. She was born in Hong Kong,...

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:26:12 -0400

This is my beautiful Grandmother. She was born in Hong Kong, raised in Macau and then immigrated to San Francisco.

My mother grew up learning about Chinese traditions and superstitions. Some were instilled in me when I was growing up. To this day I refuse to give clocks as gifts, even if I am in desperate need of a generic graduation gift.

Introduction

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 23:56:40 -0400

Hello!

Here begins my attempt to absorb and learn as much as I can about contemporary Chinese art.

Twelfth Tiger refers to my Chinese and American heritages: I was born in the twelfth sign of the Western zodiac and in the year of the Tiger of the Chinese zodiac.

I hope to share all that I read and see through Twelfth Tiger. Thank you for reading!