Serving up with Homemade

Everybody knows real well that nothing beats a homemade cup of coffee. Especially inspiring during early morning and in late afternoon, it can be a real kicker by indulging a gourmet shot of freshly brewed coffee with its inherently swirling caffeine aroma, so divinely hospitable and gratifying to one's nostril and palate. Mmm...hmm. For casual or purist drinkers alike, it can be more than therapeutic experience or addictive fix.

Deriving out of everyday life, homemade is always the engaging product of utilitarian and pragmatic order readily found in kitchen corner. Indeed, nothing beats the old fashion homemade conical strainer, made out of selected remnant fabric as sieve and intricately stitched onto a metallic hoop with handle. This distinctive feature is maximized in its application in the Homemade installation.

Sensitively drawn from and living up to its site specific intent, Homemade is unassumingly well pivoted into its neutral circular niche of the Gallery. Being part of the inextricable kaleidoscopic condition, the niche has in turn well-received or complemented Homemade that eventually giving rise to the in situ presence of thematic presentation. One naturally gravitates to stroll around those rising tall and short pyramidal structures. Within its site specific context, Homemade invokes strong spatial order with clear visual language. Strategically positioned, somewhat stately dressed up, densely meshed in vortex funnel and in cascading manner, these sculptural forms indeed unveil multiple layers of meanings and contents.

The sepia tones or stains on those strainers indicate the various number of coarse or smooth blends over time, directly implicating the coffee making process of grinding, plunging, filtering and dripping, and finally, with coffee grains clogging or congealing towards the bottom of the strainer. Also drawing exceptional attention is the coffee grains collected encircling at the bottom of those structures. Formally speaking, the best of elixir has already been filtered, drained and consumed while the grains heaped in concentric spread.

To see a society at large from the installation, the presentation essentially explicates the trickle down theory, a provocative ideological rhetoric concerning a social structure as well as its economic process of filtering and draining. If so, putting it in larger social context, this installation investigates deeply into those incrementally propagating but forever less than appropriately addressed issues, those inevitable and identifiable social and economical problems, locally, regionally and globally.

Furthermore, could this installation be interpreted as a form of narrative exposé, a concurrent toast to the best or the worst of all things in everyday life? Could this simply or superficially be the divine fountain of insatiable material or ecological consumption, along the way, the ever-continuing woeful state in gravely sacrificing the disenfranchised needs of those who are piled at the bottom of the social structure?

As the object of artistic study, the simple subject of Homemade derives and extrapolates from the context of coffee; however, Bibi Chew has literally served up another aromatic brand of Homemade, with roasted or brewed blend.


Jeremy Tew
Art Explication
Shanghai, China
Nov. 1st 2007


Note: As one of the artworks of Out of the Mould that features ten Malaysian new generation women artists, Bibi. Chew's installation Homemade is currently being shown at Petronas Gallery, Kuala Lumpur from October 25th through December 25th, 2007. Photography by Jeremy Tew.

A Ceremonially Open Design of the Club cum Display Center for Designers and Building Materials Entrepreneurs, Suzhou
开放仪式的苏州设计师与建材企业家俱乐部展示中心


Located in the New District of Suzhou, the Club cum Display Center is renovated out of an existing commercial warehouse. The exterior and the interior are two completely different settings: with the exterior plain like any other warehouses while the interior is already a rationally configured and spatially generous environment teeming with great sense of warm hospitality. The interior genuinely depicts the meaning of the day of Opening Ceremony and conceptually about its very open characteristics as a Designers Club cum Display Center.

The Club cum Display Center is truly designed up to its intended dual function objectives. Building or architectural materials, equipments or fixtures, together with all kinds of textural materials or objects, they are all being effectively applied onto and esthetically exhibited on the floor, on the wall and on the ceiling, on the pedestals or on the tables, etc. Full of open and private areas, suitable for noisy and quiet functions, the thoughtful interior design is all prepared for Display as well as for Club functions that require large to small meeting areas, lounges for hearty chat, reading area for browsing, and private office space large enough for meeting as well as business interaction. Indeed, everybody present in it has a chance to find his or her individual niche for personal expression or engage in public interaction.

Nothing complicated in its meaning of space, the interior places strong emphasis on simplicity; it is easy to comprehend and pragmatic to use. In other words, it is a design or a space that speaks for itself. On top of being an interactive clubbing function, it is fundamentally a display center that demands functionally wide, open, spacious areas for most forms of display or exhibition, in this case, for buildings materials,.

The design is close to minimalist in approach. It takes only a few minutes to get very familiar with the place. It is very squeaky clear in demarcating different functional areas and volumes. Unambiguous in floor configuration and simplistic in volumetric form, the spatial relationship between the first floor and second floor is succinctly integrated. Activities on the second floor can be visually perceived through the large transparent glass windows and through some open wells in between floor.

In fact, the design allows for maximum accessibility. One will never get lost inside the Display Center; one is easily led around since the spaces speak for themselves. It is a highly malleable design, i.e. the design allows for possible contingent or transformable uses. It can easily be transformed for other functional uses under different circumstances. For instance, the largest meeting area can be enlarged by extending into the huge hall beyond; whereas, the hall itself can even be transformed into an interactive place, say, for dancing, for a small concert performance, for ceremonial purposes, and for some other imaginative uses as the user wishes to. Tastefully executed to segregate functions but arranged in orderly manner, the spatial configuration also takes into consideration to allow for separate or individual display function.

The Display Center contains many smaller and well-relegated niches; there are also many interesting twist and turn trailers, playful up and down levels for the visitors to explore. The contemporary context is generously sprinkled with many traditional elements at the carefully selected but charming display corners, or some areas suitable to ponder or to admire at those neat and pretty displays like some buddhistic figurines, empty bird cage, pebbles and stones, classical cabinetry or modern carpentry, etc.

If examined carefully, there are two places that boldly fuse the colors or graphic elements commonly found during the 1960s. These two places are the wall rich in graphic decor right by the larger lounge on the second floor and the checkerboard resilient floor carpeting of the large meeting area on the first floor. These two areas take on the retro-look. The retro appearance is much reminiscent of the carefree or freewill nature of the past era, suitable for the assigned congregation function, and perhaps as intended. Yet, the idea can still be employed inclusively as a part of the contemporary interior design.

In general, the Club cum Display Center is a well-presented design that it provides boundless possibilities for one to think and re-think about once his or her presence in the visited place. Essentially, it is a place full of memories where one is likely to recall that particular visited corner or a place worthy for re-visiting. The overall design warmly exudes its distinctive design concept in very effective and apt manner. The design genuinely circumscribes its intrinsic spatial requirements as a hospitable space, of course, directly defines the clear cut design skill of the designer by none other than Tommy Liu-Tao, the Senior Interior Designer of the Interior Design Section of Gold Mantis Enterprise, Suzhou.


Jeremy Tew
August 22nd, 2007
Shanghai

Paranomic View of Interior Courtyard

of Suzhou Museum, Suzhou

(stitched photo)

第三届中国城市商业规划和商业地产展览会光大会展中心
Third Exhibition of
Commercial Planning & Commercial Properties of Chinese Cities
Everbright Exhibition Center
August 8th, 2007

Kingdom of Lost Dinosaur
from Zigong, Guizhou Province
an exhibition at Shanghai Science & Techonology Center
August 12th 2007

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part V

With the West Lake surrounded by low ranges, Hangzhou (and Suzhou) has been famed for and branded as the Heaven on Earth for a long time. It was essentially the administrative center of Song dynasty. There are a number of dramatic love lorn stories but usually tragic based on the West Lake context. Also, many great poets also derived their indelible poems or rather influenced by the lake effect. Though with height control so as not to 'dominate' the setting or over the lake, the contemporary urbanization is spreading fast, swarming ever closer to the lake. Within this contrast, one can feel the utopian setting when standing on this side of camera angle. Still, the West Lake is really a few great urban setting with charming characteristics I have ever been in China.

Agust 13th, 2007

Exterior Entrance Courtyard
Interior Courtyard

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part IV

The photos show the interior courtyard of Suzhou Museum, designed by none other than the very famous Asian American I.M. Pei. There was extensive speculation that this would Pei’s last project in China due to his age. Pei is distinctly a late modernist, shrewd at eclectic adaptation of indigenous elements into modernistic features. Pei is quite remarkably inventive and original at applying practical angular form such as those triangular forms commonly seen in the East Wing, National Gallery at Washington, D.C., Bank of China in Hong Kong, and now the Suzhou Museum in Suzhou.

This Suzhou Museum is another one of his very mature and effective adaptation. The exterior views as well as the interior exude refreshingly charming modern form, and without sacrificing the natural spirit of the historical foundation or its surrounding context. It is a very well configured quadrangle layout for one is easily led around the interior and all around the exterior for one moves around without feeling disoriented at all. The integration of the lake naturally from adjacent property into the interior courtyard is particularly successful, serving more than enhancing the image of the interior surrounding. The reflected image on the lake enriches greatly in visual or pictorial composition. Many visitors were found could not help themselves but snapping away photogenic impressions wherever they posed.

August 13th 2007

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part IV

The small scale Suzhou Creek branches into the River Pu. The above shows a section of the creek right by the Two Bay City Development and Moganshan. Many thirty to forty stories high residential tower blocks line along but way too close to the creek; it is but a domineering development attitude with little regard for nature and historical context, and essentially a failure of urban scale or an urban problem without order. In turn, many locals chided the creek as the backyard drainage of Shanghai. Once, like many other developments in haste, the river was badly fouled due to irresponsible dumping directly into the river. After badly plagued for years, the Shanghai Municipality has been making effort to clean up the river. Again, many locals chided that they have found fish swimming in the creek after so many years for not seeing any lives at all.

Despite all, crossing the bridge and immediately turning left into those degraded or abandoned building setting, Moganshan is a place I like to visit. It is also nicknamed SOHO of Shanghai. The former rice warehouse is now being slowly revamped into a very nice cultural niche. Many artists and predominantly painters have taken over the place to flex their artistic skills. With fame escalating as time goes by, together with renting for a studio or gallery, the properties around the immediate area have also appraised in values.

August 13th 2007

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part III

Also another former warehouse area now turned into some attractive cultural asset of Shanghai to boost the cultural image of the city. The Shanghai Urban Sculpture Park consists of many different individual buildings, together with many outdoor sculptures sprinkled across the green landscape. Opened to the public not too long ago and sometime at the end of last year, the Park exudes signs of great hope for a better neighborhood redevelopment as well as for the city. On site, there are many buildings still under renovation. Many contractors were hammering and sawing inside and outside those individual buildings. Works are going on around while a few buildings are all set for public viewing.

Considering what were displayed, there are just way too many sculptures that actually milk the concept directly from the West while those deriving their themes from indigenous background could not excel beyond its own cultural bond or context. Many sculptures are not cutting edge enough in design while just as many immature in appearance. After viewing all the sculptures I could find, I still think China has a long way to catch up with the rest of the world for its modern sculpture if Shanghai were to be on the leading edge in China's sculpture design.

August 13th 2007

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part II

The above panoramic view to the northwest is taken from the 19th floor office where I currently work. On the right side of the photo, I live in one of those 6-story low rises. You can easily spot the blue roof top building. With a green patch on its left, count two buildings further to the left and the flat top building is where I live. Dongfang Hospital is in the center, butting adjacent to the neighborhood unit I mentioned and live in. You can also see the River Pu on the left. On this left side with many high rises is where the Financial District of Shanghai highly concentrates.

August 13th 2007

A panoramic tour of Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou, Part I

This is the typical post card image of Shanghai, however, this one particular is apparently another great sign of nature snarling back at human development. Viewed across the Pujiang or River Pu, the Financial District of Shanghai rose to contemporary height or scale since early 1980s. The city truly rebounds and stands up for its Shanghai Express characteristics despite experiencing many historical social upheavals. In fact, after the West cracked open the closed-door policy of China in recent modern era, Shanghai was only a small fishing village then but rose to its current financial or economic significance.

As indicated, many clustering towers are rising fast but visually disappearing and tapering towards the right of the picture.Whereas, the phallic symbol of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower on the left is also fatefully smothered by the dusty clouds. The above is not at all so sweetly romantic in view though. In fact, it was a very hot afternoon at its most unseasonable global warming occasion. The misty effect could be due to airborne dust particles that had shrouded the city.

August 13th 2007

Su Yang at 4Live

When surfing, I found this Su Yang. Later, I was even more thrilled to see him being featured at length on some CCTV music channel. Guess this particular musician must have weighted much significance in the current music scene here in China. Then, weeks ago, I found out that he would be in town to perform at 4Live. Seizing the opportunity, I went with a Shanghainese friend He Feng to see him performing last Sunday on June 3rd, 2007.

Constituting 4-member musicians, they were enough to occupy the rather miniature stage while half of the thin crowd of fans was up close and getting personal in front of the stage to see him live. Still considered a crowd pleaser with thrifty verbal interaction but very engaging in his singing all the way, Su Yang's fans would sway and gyrate in unison, jumping and hopping all around as the music intensified, and spewing infrequent wooing and wowing or sporadic loud cheers.

Never confounding, slurring and hardly soaring, he sang with brittle, supple and detectable enunciation. With innate but personable Ningxia accent or dialect, he would sang kai or open as kay-i, and lai or coming as lay-i. He randomly sprinkled songs with hei-yo, hei-yo, e-yo-hei-de-yo as repetitive catchy renditions. This must be the apparent vernacular Ningxia tune that naturally creeps from his embracing heart and easily seeps into his rhythmic songs. Su Yang is from Ningxia (that could possibly literally mean Quiet Summer), out in Northwest China.

Reading from lyrics, Su Yang sings about life in Ningxia, about the tough and seemingly impoverished life tending to the unrelenting yellow earth, and about the trying life of cave living. His songs celebrate life and aspire good life. When getting into perseverance and unremitting lifestyle in general, he lyrics speak about genealogical family orders from generation to generation, telling in summary the reminiscent and joyful family activities. Also, he sings about his father's tragic passing but being optimistically perceived as the rising phoenix from fire.

During the very brief break to quench thirst, he explained with great pride that he was hailed from "elow the Helan Mountain and by the Yellow River". In Below Helan Mountain, every line of the lyric expounds with impact about his youthful time in Ningxia giving way to the inevitable aging by the blowing wind.

With Shan-dan-dan flowers as subliminal metaphor, and like any others facing the ever changing life and nostalgia, he laments the temporal beauty of things and people around him, and when the drab hinterland being slowly ruled over by the unforgiving contemporary lifestyle.

One definitely in reggae beat, Su Yang reformats his rock and roll very easily with regional folksy tunes. Su Yang is essentially contemporary but not really representative in regional musical characteristics, besides his definitive regional lyrical forms.

From the TV show, he has been performing around China and has been trying to make it in Beijing. However, to see Su Yang performing live is completely different from what I had seen him being dramatized on CCTV. Rather minute in frame, Su Yang is of course very real on stage.

A guest singer Li Zhi came from Nanjing on the same day to support his fellow musician friend. As another singer with his very individual singing style, Li Zhi sang two songs while Su Yang played guitar for his friend. Friendship and support abound.

For the hour and a half show at 4Live, the entrance cost RMB40 while the Suntory beer cost RMB30. Before the show ended while Su Yang was performing his last few songs, and right before taking off for the night and at the door, I bought two CDs by Su Yang, Xianliang (literally Virtuous and Able) and One and Only Ningxia.

Pictures above show two of the CD covers and a few selected album interiors. The album Xianliang aptly depicts the distinctive Northwest yellow earth lifestyle in general.

Jeremy

Hai Shanghai

June 5th, 2007