I'm Independent! I have no income came from my blog posts!

Just feeling a bit emotional today, that I was doubted by somebody that I was given a fee in order to write something. NO! For your information, my blog not even hit 500 views (including counting of my own IP) since the day this blog was created! 

I pay for all the art exhibitions, and I do really sincerely love the things I try to promote in this blog. Yes! I love Bjork and a lot of things that are not in the main stream popular market. The paintings I commented, are simple and sincere. I am not a professional curator or a good journalist. I have a job which is completely different in this professional field which I had heavily discuss about in this blog. Peace!

Singapore Art Stage 2015: Avichen's Selection.

Why can't they just put the right price tag on the banner? This is the first bad impression I get for the Singapore Art Stage 2015. If the ticket is S$35.00, just put the correct price on the banner. I really wonder why the organizer had to put S$32.00 on public where the actual price for the ticket is S$35.00. 

My overall experience on the one day visit, I spend 4 hours in the exhibition. The art works displayed are not really impressive. Majority of them are in "Sale Quality", not really heavy in artistic value. A lot of huge names like Botero and Andy Warhol. A lot of "Wannabe" artists. For all those Wannabes, please, get over it! Create your own style and art! Stop copy the styles of other masters! Thus, I do not enjoy the show. Too many masters wannabes. I was expecting emotional and thought provoking experience like Singapore Biennial 2013. Well, it is an art market, in an a bit "atas" set up. Things are like screaming "Buy Me!" or "Look! I'm good for your large expensive living room!", but very lack of that artistic side. 

Here are some of my favourites: (Which are the pieces you might not want to buy or put in your living room as decorations, but they are really thought provoking and emotional!)

Jake & Dinos Chapman

Perfect Day at Sea! (2014)

The KKK members at sea, the only salvation is the Mc Donald's.
Details on the artists: http://jakeanddinoschapman.com/

Chan Kok Hooi

So Close Yet So Far (2014)

This piece is emotional for me. Especially for Malaysian. 2014 is a year of flight disaster. The MH17 and MH370 plus the QZ8501 accidents. It seems like the artists trying to paint the view of the victims. Where in the end, they reach the "Top of the World". It is emotional indeed, for the last piece, there are Chinese goddesses, symbolize the reaching of heaven. http://www.chankokhooi.com/

Chisato Tanaka

Unknown Country In The Deep Forest (2014)

This piece caught my attention, I don't know why. The gaze of their eyes are so haunting. They are like sucking my soul into the environment of the painting. The artist have other paintings in similar style, but only this one brings some feelings to me. http://www.tanakachisato.com/

Fadilah Karim

The Lonesome Painter (2015)

Painting is a lonely thing to do. I feel that deep in my heart. I love to paint alone, and paint and paint and paint until exhausted. Sometimes, I forgot about breakfast, lunch or dinner. Sometimes not even sleep at night. Until I finish the piece, I feel accomplished and fell asleep. This is a painting which speaks out the life of an artist. Fadilah Karim's Portfolio

Kow Leong Kiang

Sea Breeze (2015)

This is the best in my POV. A portrait of a young girl facing against the wind, with her eyes so full of hope. With her face angle like marching towards the future. There's motion and emotion in this piece. The artist have a lot of similar paintings (portrait of young girl in baju kurung) but this one is unique that it has more motion element in it. Kow Leong Kiang's Profile

Björk's Vulnicura

Post by Björk.

Björk new album is out! I just have the opportunity to listen to her new album today. I don't care if you call me weird, I love Björk since Medúlla. Thus, I am not expecting her to create something pop. While I'm still playing her Biophilia on my car radio, Vulnicura came out unexpectedly early. For my first experience on Vulnicura, I DON'T LIKE IT! And not to deny, Björk's musics takes time to digest. I don't like Mutual Core at first when Biophilia released. Slowly the tunes get into my mind and now I totally love it. Thus, I would like to categorize Vulnicura into different categories. 

1. Love in first heard: Stonemilker, Family, Atom Dance 

2. Slowly getting to enjoy it: Black Lake 

3. Need more time to digest: Lionsong, Not Get, Mouth Mantra 

4. Totally couldn't get the tune: History of Touches, Quicksand 

Atom Dance is my favorite so far. I'm looking forward to her live performance and the Deluxe CD!

Charlie Hebdo: Art? Freedom? Insult? Where to draw the line?

I know, everybody is talking about it. I had tired of the news coverage about the Paris attack. Let's just forget about what the experts said and here is my own shallow point of view.

I born and grown up in Malaysia, a peaceful country where 70% of the population are Muslim religion. I have no problem living with Muslim people. They are generally peace loving people. Although I never really study about Quran, I had read some Haddith translations and I do like the literature. The messages are clear and a little emotional. Generally, Quran is very similar to Bible, and it is just a little more dramatic. 

I do not call Charlie Hebdo a satire, I call it an insult. It is still an art, a very low level dirt pieces. I don't think its funny and I could never understand why some people think it is funny. I do believe that a normal peace loving person won't think it is funny either. I don't like it. I do hope that this thing never exist. Enough stories. I pray for the victims, and I pray for the resilient of France. Amen.

Sometimes, art will be a little intimidating. I believe whatever it is, there must be a line between yes and no. May be the line isn't that clear, but Charlie Hebdo is clearly crossing over to the "NO" side. That's all. Peace!