Exhibition | "Urban Operandi" Opening Event @ island6

island6, a gallery produces new media artwork featuring the use of LED with cutting edge style, just had another exhibition named Urban Operandi. I went to their opening event which was filled with fashionistas and art enthusiasts. This atmosphere reminded me of the previous greatly successful Art Walk 2013 in which people who fond of art and lifestyle mingle together and have a blast.

I love this piece featuring IFC in Hong Kong. It is called Banana Ball. The blurb goes: The green was laid out before me and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in. We were a jolly threesome, Bill and his wife really were quite the delightful couple, wonderful golfers. Bill said he always admired my grip, said it was strong and meant I would never fall prey to a fat shot. I always admired Bills tenacity and his aim, he was great at getting it in that hole from whatever angle. Before we Tee’d off, we decided on the amount of strokes we would give each other and then got started. We finished the front side quick enough and it wasn’t long until we got to the sweet spot, half way through the course. We all took this as a chance to relax and get our balls washed, but my drive was still going strong and I’m sorry to say Bill and his wife won’t be able to handle me on the last half… I get really competitive towards the end of a game, golf really brings out the animal in me.

Artwork: "Breakage 101"（破損101）

A new healthy approach to life, as recommended by leading figures in the health and well being field, is to adopt a business method to your emotional welfare. For anyone who has ever worked in Hospitality, the Food & Beverage field, this method will come as no surprise. Company policy will always allow for breakages, spillages and wastage and after you have cashed up, write them off and move on with tomorrow’s business. Appropriating this system into your lifestyle can take many forms. E.g. When next you feel the proverbial sledgehammer of a complete c*nt smashing your nerves to bits through his rude behaviour or annoying habits. When next you feel someone crushing your spirit through his vindictive carriage or when your heart is demolished by some devastatingly handsome Lothario. First: Take stock. Second: Count your losses and your blessings. Thirdly: If you’re at a loss, take heart as there’s always tomorrow. And lastly: Write it off as a breakage/spillage/wastage and chalk it down to an experience earned, a lesson learned and a life lived.

Artwork: "The Place In Between" （介於之間）

I adore tentatively tip-toeing that thin line between sleep and wakefulness. Longing for that point at which the world of shapes and forms melts away to be replaced by an enchanted world of which I alone am architect, legislator and solitary inhabitant. Blissfully warding off the seductions of deep sleep I remain non-committal, between states, and semi-conscious of my own imagined mastery. It is the extension of this condition for which I yearn; it's infiltration, liberation, of my waking life. As I ascend to this twilight realm of restlessness that persistent obstacle of physicality is overcome, and ceases its relentless encroachment upon my mind. I float amongst grey-scale clouds and wander amidst dreamscapes of illusory worlds. All is I, I am all. It is transience, it is instability, and it is delicious. 

Artwork: ''Tune into Me'' （共鳴）

Hi,

So I saw your profile on HKLoveOnline, you look like you’re on my wavelength. Wanna get together and get down sometime? I’m defo feeling your vibe. A little bit bout me, I’m young, fun and always up for a good time. Want to have a good time with me? We could head to Wan Chai, hit a few bars, get a little crazy… Hows about it big guy? Don’t let my profile turn you off, I’m not always so hairy. Also the lighting was quite dodgy, trust me I look much better in person and after a few drinks, who cares anyway? So get in touch… : )

Artwork: “FYEO”（只為吸引你）

Mr. Jones, THX for the provided PESOS material, but ATM I am unable to RSVP. AAMOF the portfolio was NSFW as the composition was OT. PTO the last planning files to find our concept of the USP. As IANAL you will have to contact Mr. Smith ASAP to check on our legal actions. HTH. BTW, all of your subsequent messages are AYOR. This case is TBD and TBC. JFF did you have a look at the new clipboards? TTYL. TGIF. Mr. Miller

In their latest exhibition the electronic art collective island6 explores the human response to the living, breathing and pulsating city. The booming megalopolises of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong provide the perfect testing grounds to trace the human reality of this new existence. As the cities of China march ceaselessly forwards in realization of an unraveling economic, political and cultural future the nature of the metropolis transforms. Within this environment new potentialities are carved out for man. Baudelaire’s painters of modern life, expositors of urban ‘flanerie’ are reborn and revamped under a cosmopolitan, yet curiously Chinese, guise. The temptations remain, to resist as imagined encroaching tendrils of the metropolis, and of new-age technology, wind themselves around our souls. But perhaps it should be with relief that we let our eyes glaze over a little, let the nervous energy drain from our tired bodies, and give ourselves to the soporific to and fro of the pulse of the city.

在是次展覽中，六島（island6）探討了城市與人類的關係。人類的文明活動促使一個城市的誕生，但城市卻慢慢操控人類，使人類成為只懂工作的傀儡，失去自主意識。我們每天上班，按時下班，在回家途中，你有沒有想過到底是為了什麼去上班，從中你除了那微薄的金錢，你你得到了什麼，又失去了什麼？

You can find all the above artworks here.
你可以在這裡找到所有資料。

Time / 時間：20 May - 7 July / 5月20日至7月20日
Address / 地址：G/F, No. 1 New Street, Sheung Wan / 上環新街一號（近皇后大道西）
Contact / 聯絡：+852 2517 7566

Inspiration | 11 Incredible Animal Migrations

Every March, more than 500,000 of these giant birds converge on Nebraska's Platte River basin before continuing their pilgrimage north.

As March of the Penguins taught us, hundreds of thousands of emperor penguins make the trek inland from the Antarctic coast every year to provide safe hatching grounds for their young.

During the summer, flamingos travel between the alkaline lakes in eastern Africa's Rift Valley. Pictured here at Lake Nakuru in Kenya, the flamingos feed on algae abundant in the lakes.

Humpback whales travel nearly 16,000 miles every year, as they make the trek from their polar feeding waters in the summer to tropical waters to breed and give birth during the winter.

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For more : Here

Movie | English Vinglish (2012) by Gauri Shinde

Shashi Godbole (Sridevi) is a housewife who loves cooking and as a hobby makes and sells laddoos which she considers to be a small business. She is a dedicated homemaker who is taken for granted by her husband, Satish(Adil Hussain) and daughter, Sapna and is ridiculed by them for her extremely poor English. However, her young son Sagar loves her as she is. There are frequent instances when Sapna and Satish make fun of her weak English but they never try to console or help her. This makes a deep impact in Shashi's emotions and makes her feel bad about herself. - Wikipedia.

This movie tries to present a liberal picture by the fact that the film director deliberately touches many different aspects in the movie. In the first part of the movie, Shashi was discriminated by people in her daughter's school for not being capable to speak fluent English. However I am slightly bemused by this because I thought this was a the gist of the movie but then she flew to the United States and then the scoop shifted to an international one. Is the film director going to investigate a local problem or view it from a global perspective?

On top of that, I am not sure if discrimination is also another main point in the movie. Obviously the United States people do not welcome people who speak broken English in the sense that they cannot even express themselves comprehensively in English from the fact that Shashi was humiliated by the rude staff in the coffee shop and not even one person was willing to give her a helping hand. The film director wisely puts a Black, a Chinese girl and a Mexican in a language school. These people are prone to being discriminated in the United States. *(I am not a racist. These are facts.) Plus, homosexual was intentionally being discussed in the movie.

I was touched by the scene that Shashi and Laurent spoke in their own language to each other in the wedding. One can easily tell that they both have affections towards each other and there are problems between Shashi and her husband. Even at the end of the movie, I only feel that it is the marriage blinding Shashi and her husband together. Shashi's husband clearly does not know how to respect his wife. When the movie was about to end, they were on the plane, Shashi's husband chose to read New York Times whilst Shashi chose to read a Hindi newspaper.

Shashi said one had to respect another in a marriage in hopes to achieve an equal and healthy relationship. After all, Shashi was still a submissive wife. She succumbs to her husband for not using English continually. She can understand some parts of the newspaper at that point despite the fact that she is only a novice for English but she did not try doing so. Why?

Shashi Godbole: This marriage is a beautiful thing. It is the most special friendship. Friendship of two people who are equal. Life is a long journey. Meera, sometimes you will feel you are less. Kevin, sometimes you will also feel you are less than Meera. Try to help each other to feel equal. It will be nice. Sometimes... Married couple don't even know how the other is feeling. So... how they will help the other? It means marriage is finished? No. That is the time you have to help yourself. Nobody can help you better than you. If you do that... you will return back feeling equal. Your friendship will return back... Your life will be beautiful.  

Meera... Kevin... Maybe you'll very busy... but have family... son... daughter. In this big world... your small little world, it will make you feel so good. Family... family can never be... never be... never be judgemental! Family will never... put you down... will never make you feel small. Family is the only one who will never laugh at your weaknesses. Family is the only place where you will always get love and respect. That's all Meera and Kevin... I wish you all the best. Thank you.

To me, the movie is not bad with all those amazing music and dancing. However it will be better if Shashi can have a deep talk with her husband on how they can improve their relationships. The wife can try to fight for her rights. After all, she is not born to make laddoos nor to be a submissive wife or in a way a slave.

Food | Mini dans la ville

You can try to make your own Minis with the papers on the table.

Garden Green Salad. Not bad.

Bliss smoothies : Apple + Mint + Strawberry. I like this. You should try.

I went to Mini dans la ville with two loaded posh people (Hahaaa. Yes, I am talking about you two.) a few days ago. It's basically a restaurant featuring Minis. Nice gimmick. Staff are nice :) A great place to chill.

I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED MY ESSAYS! AMAZING! GOOD BYE, MY FIRST YEAR IN THE UNIVERSITY!

終於完成了所有的論文了，正式跟大學的一年級生活說再見。數天前和朋友到 Mini dans la ville 聊天和吃東西。這是一間以 Mini 車為主題的餐廳。

Life | Happy Birthday 2013

*I do not own this picture. I grabbed this from tumblr. Basically I did not take any photos these days due to back-to-back essay deadlines and stuff. This one looks nice though.

The Big 2-0. OMG!

Happy birthday, Christian. The big 2-0!

When I was 19, I had

- become a graphic designer in my university
- had my own exhibition in my university
- become contributing editors on three websites
- been invited to private events and parties
- become an intern in a gallery
- got into a university I love
- met a lot and a lot of interesting people in my university
- met many many many many AWESOME friends
- done many things that I thought I would never do in my life

I am going to be a better person and a better ''me'' in all aspects this coming year!

/

今天是我的生日。

十九歲的我：


- 成了大學的學生設計師
- 在大學有自己的攝影展
- 成為三個網站的客席作家
- 被邀請出席私人活動及派對
- 在晝廊實習
- 考進了一所我喜歡的大學
- 在大學褢遇上了很多有趣的人
- 大學褢結識了很多很多很多的好朋友
- 做了很多我以為自己一輩子都不會做的事

來年我會做個更好的「我」。*clock ticking*

Life | City Cult

*I do not own this photography. It was taken in a gallery in Sheung Wan. I have forgotten the name of the gallery, sorry.

Kids These Days. Seldom do you see the faces of teenagers in the streets because they are busy with their smartphones.

Wore-out buildings

Life is a riddle.

Haul | Typo

I remember there were some promotions of Typo before its official launch, probably like a year or two ago. There were many nice typography well-designed posters and whatnot. They all vanished after the official launch. 

我還記得一兩年之前，在 Typo 正式面世之前，有很多關於 Typo 的宣傳物，有很多有關 typography 的海報設計。但後來卻沒有了。

I like those three notebooks a lot!
From left to right : HKD$25, HKD$25, HKD$40 (Super thick. Around 200 pages)

Bulldog clip x6  / HKD$10 now / USD$1.3 now / AUD$4.95 Originally

#seriously wtf stamp / HKD$ 10 / USD$1.3 / AUD$4.95 Originally

I am not a big fan of Cotton On's clothes but its design brand, Typo! I am not sure where can you buy Typo stuff in Hong Kong. I saw some in the Central shop but not many. (Plus, the Central shop is ridiculously hot and suffocating. Can Cotton On turn on the air conditioner? The one in Tsim Sha Tsui is way better.) Anyway, they have got way more products online and there is free shipping in Hong Kong upon $800 purchase; why bother to shop in person? I am greatly impressed by the shipping. I got it in 3 days. They shipped it from Singapore to Hong Kong. What impresses me most is the package. They stuffed air bags inside to protect the parcel. Some online shopping websites just pack your garments recklessly.

我沒有買過 Cotton On 的衣物，但我很喜歡他們的設計品牌 Typo。在香港，某些分店有 Typo 的產品，有些沒有。我在中環的那間看到一些，但是不多。（題外話，中環的 Cotton On 分店是我到過最熱的時裝店，不可以開冷氣嗎？）無論如何，Cotton On 的官方網站有所有的 Typo產品，最重要是買滿 800 元後可以免運費。貨物從新加坡運到我香港的家只是三天，店方還體貼地在郵包中加入 Airbags。