De Snahspeech!1820.31

at vivo with young artists and master(not in picture)

Now i look like Prue Halliwell...

I've been suggesting to Wanyi about future collaborations after my hair gets longer.  My plan was to do a performance art like no other printmaker- SILKSCREEN ON HAIR AS CANVAS.

I haven't been cutting hair, which is a major achievement, coz it shows one of my disorders is solved.  

Anyways, My canvas for today is LittleGillian's hair.  

Approaching the canvas with the cutter, preparing for the kill!

Many marks were made on my canvas, and of it all were a whole lot of multiple errors.

I tried my best to give the client an instructed masterpiece.  

I hadn't got a clue how to cut a sloped hairdo and oh well, the left's longer than the right. 

World's Wildest Commercials

gotta check this tv programme out.  It's damn interesting and outrageous!!! i've caught it once before... very randomly and now i just did again! its like those just for laughs or just for gags kinda thing they show to let time pass before an actual scheduled tv programme commences.  It puts shame to tv commercials in singapore.  Recent ones i thought were rather cool and wacky was the one G.T starred in... the mocca ads, especially the one featuring the muscle man! 

here's a synopsis of the programme:

The World's Wildest Commercials is a showcase of the funniest, the most outrageous and the most entertaining commercials ever created. Take a fun tour around the world with this sexy, sassy, surprising compilation of the best commercial spots continents have to offer. 

From talking chimps selling cable TV... to a male stripper selling snack food... to thought provoking public announcements, this series covers the gamut of advertised products – but the thread that binds the content is the commonality of the storytelling style. Clever associational categories have been created to amplify the effect of the innovative concepts, allowing each spot to play off and build on the other, which adds yet another level of appeal. 

This exclusive collection of awarding winning commercials includes a CELEBRITY SPECIAL and CLIO AWARD WINNING INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIALS. 
(AXN, http://axn-india.com/shows/0123,24,41,28300.html)

act of kindness

Here's my view from the makeshift booth from left to right:

left: the kiddy ride beside the escalator, before cafe cartel

center: osim

right: a florist

Everything was a mess.  I had problems with the setting up of standees(i'm too short to reach the top) and had problems with the visual display(yes remember i need to work on presentation skills...i totally suck at it).

A eurasian lady came by.  I thought she was rather unapproachable at the start.  But once i got to talk to her, telling her that the woodcraft were done by prison inmates, being part of TRANSAH's collaboration with the Yellow Ribbon Project, she got interested in getting a clock for herself.  She didnt choose the pretty stuff, but on the other hand, chose "the messy one". Just as i told her i didnt know how to fix the clock mechanism, a father came by with his oh-so- enthusiastic son and was keen on donating some cash for a clock too.  

I appeared very disorganised because i had just arrived not too long ago and was not accustomed to dealing with people yet.  the whole table was a wreck... the flyers were everywhere, mechanisms, tools and display items were stacked on top of each other... clearly no one would wanna approach the booth.  But the two separate customers stood by my booth in support of the sale of items.  

The marketing exec of TRASNAH had actually agreed to deliver the clocks personally to each household if i didn't know how to fix the mechanism, but the father wouldn't be home till late.  In the end, i had to agree to TRY TO fix both clocks by the time they came back from shopping.  I actually hate it that i am all alone and i am thrown in this pithole to struggle and figure things out myself.  And i tried.

The father's son was really very eager to help and his dad actually told him to "stay and help this jie jie" with the distribution of flyers.  The boy did it better than me.  This was blessing in the midst of chaos.  He only knew that the woodcraft were done by prisoners and started approaching people with gusto, bringing them to the booth, showing them (in broken english but it was okay!) the clocks and i came in to explain the rest.  He heard me and started to add on the the info he had before and the flyers got distributed so fast i had to replenish 20, 40, 60 at a go! 

I was so grateful for his help.  I loved his eagerness.  He even told me that it is good to help other people.   He's so young, yet so kind.  i was touched.  It reminded me of myself when i was younger, and in my brownie days.  I wasn't as daring or eager as the boy, but i loved to help people.  I cringe at myself whenever there's an opportunity to help and i just let it go pass me.  I recall a time when i was waiting for HER at the void deck below my block to go shopping.  An old lady came by with huge bags of groceries from the wet market.  she kept putting the bags down after a few steps and i pitied her.  Why would someone just stop and stare upon seeing a sight like this? I told myself i'd only feel guilty if i did not help.  i plucked up some courage and stepped up to the old lady and asked her if she needed help(in mandarin).  i actually forgot if i ever helped her with the load or if i helped her in my dreams.  But u get the gist.  

boy in action!

boy in action!!

boy

 i loved The boy's attitude and i admire his spirit. My only regret was that i didnt get his name.i was too busy to care about anything else.  and when i realised, it was too late.  they had left for another destination. 

The eurasian lady came back and got herself two more big coasters at $5 each, along with her "messy" clock at $8.    

hours later, another chinese lady who was interested in enrolling her kids in TRASNAH got a clock to replace her spoilt one( i fixed the hook the wrong side, just realised it !!)

Thereafter, no one took interest in the stuff the inmates painted.  PRobably because the ones that were left were marked as un-beautiful.

The last purchase was at seven. Another eurasian lady came by and i talked to her by chance.  She was walking off already, taking slight glances at the masterpieces then.  The wall clock caught her attention and since she was very keen with the small coasters, i gave it all to her at a discount of a dollar, rounding her purchase off to ten dollars.

the day ended with the packing up. the exec dropped me off at woodlands where i got tempted into eating. Got Wanyi a shawl and the last food item i bought was this honeydew flavoured milkcurd.  yummy yummy yummy.  YUMMY!

The Tomauto Period 2233-0030.24

Almost everyone who knows Van Gough would know about his life in periods-namely, paris, aries , saint remy, auvers-sur-oise. as well as Pablo Picasso's blue period, rose period and cubism periods...

 I realised i have my own periods too.  In the recent past, it was the Living Dead Period, where all works were quite sinister and abject.  Currently i've moved on to the Tomauto Period, a period whereby i try to define myself and incorporate the Tomato in what i callmy abject art.  

 i painted the Tomautostegosaurus today.  I got time all by myself in the learning centre where i teach at coz now they've given me the responsibility of locking up the place after lessons. I stayed from after work at 2pm till about 5pm.  Did touchin up of paintings, writing comments in the book about the kids and marked attendance as well as packed the place. 

I think that i should incorporate the concept of tomato eating creatures into my works, doing drypoints of 'em and maybe turn 'em into small soft toys too(that's when i have the time).   

One of the marketing execs of TRASNAH has been reminding me to take pics of the kids and when finally i remembered, my slr had run outta batt because i failed to turn it off since the last time i used it... which was ... last week?!

Here's some pics i took using my handphone. 

left: grace, zining, aravin

right: zann, cypress, raine

top, from left: grace, Zining, Aravin

bottom, from left: Zann, Cypress

featuring: aravin, blocked: grace

from left: Raine, Cypress, Zann

What do we do with dried up paint?   No idea, was taking them off the lid and mouth of the paint tubs.  They look damn interesting.  Folded them in between the table cloth coz i didnt know where to store them and i didnt want to throw them away. 

Attempted to take a pic of this cat cat with my slr last week and i failed badly.  this cat cat i christianed, theVOMITEcat, was afraid of the bulky cam and kept running away.  i've always had a prob shooting pics of cats.  They either keep coming towards me, rubbing their fur fur all over, or RUN AWAY!!!! 

after bidding theVOMITEcat goodbye, i took a walk to Kovan from serangoon north ave 3? yar its ave 3.  Passed the route where we did our 5 km jog during jc days' pe lessons.  Passed the route i usually take to Mangkee's house.  It was a good walk alone.  I actually enjoyed the time spent alone.  Lonely felt great.

Mark Jenkins- tape sculptor and street installation artist

Wanyi has just introduced me to this great guy's works.  www.xmarkjenkinsx.com

Tomautofolia- an introduction.

I've been trying to think of a name for this blog meant for me to keep track of the things i have done throughout the whole course of my artistic pursuit.  This blog would thus be sort of a portfolio of images of my works.  

Tomautofolia is created with the combination of two words - tomato and folia.  

The tomato is symbolic to my abject nature, reflecting personality whereas folia, from some of my research, refers to a journal, or a collection of ... my works of course.  With the knowledge of music as well, La Folia's one of the tunes that has fascinated many composers since the seventeenth century. Portuguese in origin, the word means 'mad' or 'empty-headed' and until the 1670s it indicated a fast and noisy dance in which the participants seemed to be 'out of their minds'.(Hyperion Records ,http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/details/67035.asp). I believe that my art, like La Folia, needs to be facinating too, in order to capture the attention of the masses.  

n. pl. fo·li·a (-l-)

1. Geology A thin, leaflike layer or stratum occurring especially in metamorphic rock.

2. Mathematics A plane cubic curve having a single loop, a node, and two ends asymptotic to the same line.

(thefreedictionary.com/folium)

First Defeat. -I know how She felt

I met with the first defeat since i started drypoint about a month back.  

I've scratched about 6 acrylic plates so far and never have i met with such a problem.  Well, this shows i am still an amateur and have got a tonne more to learn in this medium of art making.

  

As interesting as it gets, today i was faced with a problem i realised last week.  The current plate i've been working on requires accuracy and a good hand with neatness.  Its one with a repeated image.  One scratch outta place and the plate's gone.  And oh yes, did i mention, the plate is a goner. 

I didn't only have an error, i've had many many errors.  And i blame it on the needle tool and the slippery nature of the acrylic's surface.  The needle tool provides me with an awful grip- it tires me out after a while, occasionally(or rather, frequently), the needle tool slides across the surface just as i'm carving and goes outta line and its irreversible! and carving in the cold does not help at all!!!

carving the plate.

Then came the inking.  Inking was okay.  i hated the part when u have to remove the ink from the plate.  I spent a miserable half an hour trying to remove the stubborn spots that were so detailed, ink collected in a puddle and for these areas, the more i tried to take the excess away, the more i took ink off the parts that were just right.  

I gave up on this.  It was actually meant as an xmas gift for an uncle.  But looks like i have to be more consistent in my next attempt of the same image.  

Looks like my arms have grown stronger- from my daily push up routine, as well as from operating the press. Here's some pictures...

Erm, you get what i mean? 

Time was up, HE called.  i had to go.  off to church(i hate religion.) but i didnt wanna go.  I needed to make xmas gifts!  and i managed to do a quick sketch of Hippie and then transferred it onto the plate.  Wasnt too happy because the features weren't accurate.  But what the heck, at least there's resemblance and Wanyi said it looked like him.  so, YAY! 

The Presses Have M O V E D .

When i snuck up into the secret hiding space, i got a shock. 

 The presses were gone. 

Having done some exploration, i found that they've shifted to where the masters student's studios were.  

I carried my loot(along with cracked acrylic sheet, basket filled with drypoint needs, a stack of used newsprint...) all the way from one end of the huge studio to the other, passed Josie(who happened to be nearly dozing off from reading his book) and placed the stuff down. 

I set up the press to be used, but it was never fufilled its function. For Josie was hungry after his nap and we had to leave for his house, and then to the supermarket.   

Printmaking Research- bdmckenzie

gotta check this out. http://bdmckenzie.blogspot.com

i've always had a problem when thinking about what to scratch for drypoint plates.  Hah!  i talk like i am a pro already when i've only done about 3-4 plates that aren' that fantastic.  I feel quite lost actually.  Well, this fella has got great ideas for his subjects.  

amazing.  

UTTERRUBBISHFINALLY!

The Tomatogirl Chine Colle 1549.31

I brought my lappy to school for the first time and we took pleasure in playing with photo booth.  

wanyi sulks

then we opened our mouths 

as wide as we could and smiled!

I am finally done with my Tomato Girl drypoint carving. I had some test prints done with further editing(pushing and pulling with the tonal gradients of the highlights in Tomatogirl's hair) and attempted a chine colle with drypoint. Wanyi was excited and so was I.   

I didn't bring my coloured papers, so i got some hell money from Wanyi and i think it looked pretty good!  I just wished i had red ones instead of the orange one used for the tomato...

edition 1, TP 1/1 

drypoint and chine colle 

Tomatogirl (side profile) 

After the first test print with chine colle, i attempted one more, now with hell money's gold for the tomato and the beige paper for the skin.  Parts of the gold got stuck to the plate, but the effect's great!

edition 2, TP 1/1 

Tomatogirl (side profile)

Drypoint and chine colle

We did our prints till late and UTTERUBBISH had to be postponed A G  A   I    N      . 

We packed up by about 8 and started walking to the supreme court from school.  we reached at 8.36pm and we were advised by the volunteers on duty to visit them the next day because they have closed a few exhibits already.  Oh wells... it seems like we never ever make it to UTTERUBBISH.  Today, we finally made it there in person, but didn't manage to enter.

Exhibitions Visitingses

day after FA assessments

i consider today finally the end of assessment even though mine ended a week or so ago.  

it was kind of thrilling to get caught by the guard and get away with it not knowing what he'd actually do afterwards.  he was nice so he let us off anyways.  imagine... last print and a guard comes... woooooaaaah! here's all of us on the way to breakfast before collecting works.  Wanita abit not stable... 

yar and i didnt bathe.  and i look like some bimbo.  and ya it was FUN!!!!! I LOVE FA PPL!

LASALLE College of The Arts' president, 2 VPs quit

I'm not really bothered abt this issue but oh wells... school life still goes on you know.  


.......................

LASALLE College of The Arts' president, 2 VPs quit
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 September 2007 2202 hrs

SINGAPORE: The top level management of LASALLE College of The Arts has quit.

The school says its president & CEO Professor Robert Ely as well as vice-presidents Professor Richard Berry and Professor Alan Lourens have handed in their resignations.

According to the school, they resigned to pursue other interests and did not elaborate further.

Prof Ely has indicated he will stay on to ensure a smooth handover to his successor.

Similarly, Prof Berry and Prof Lourens have extended their resignation notice period from three months to six months. - CNA/ir

................




Dear LASALLE Students

Since we moved to our wonderful new city campus, we have been the talk of the town! Some good, some less positive. We would like to address one of them.

A recent Straits Times article, 15 Sep 07, presented an unfair and unbalanced representation of your College and your education. It omitted important facts that both the Ministry of Education and LASALLE had provided and this is unfortunately causing unnecessary anxiety and misunderstanding among some of you and your parents. We would like to correct the errors and clarify some of issues that you may have.

Before that, let me share with you a statement issued by the Ministry of Education to The Straits Times on Friday 14 Sep 2007 about the recent changes in leadership:

1. MOE would like to express our appreciation to Professor Robert Ely, Professor Alan Lourens and Professor Richard Berry for their contributions to LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE). Over the last five years, LASALLE has grown and been transformed as a Singapore arts institution and gained significantly in international recognition.

2. Under Professor Ely’s leadership, LASALLE has significantly expanded its range of programmes in visual arts and performing arts, and secured Open University UK validation for LASALLE’s degree programmes.

3. The Government has extended funding support to LASALLE since 1999 to boost its role in the development of Singapore’s creative and artistic manpower. MOE has invested substantial resources in LASALLE, including funding for the development of its new city campus.

4. MOE appreciates the vision of LASALLE College to become a university of the arts in the long term. LASALLE College has been delivering good programmes over the years and we are confident that it will build on its growing reputation and the excellent facilities in its new city campus. MOE is committed to work with LASALLE College to build it into a globally reputed Singapore arts institution of excellence. The Ministry is assured that the College will fulfil its potential and contribute to the growth of a diverse higher education landscape in Singapore.



Error in The Straits Times article

Years of Education: The Straits Times article stated that “LASALLE markets its programmes as four-year degree courses”. This is an ERROR. Our degree programmes are three-year degree programmes (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3).

Students who don’t have the pre-requisites to enter the degree programme can apply to enter at Foundation level (Level 0) to help them prepare to enter the BA (Hons) programme. Foundation studies (Level 0) is not part of the degree programme.

So when the articles states that “...if they choose to exit at the end of the third year, they are given diplomas instead.” - the article is in fact referring to Level 2 as the third year for students who start at Level 0.


Awards: Please be assured that there are no changes to our programmes or the awards.


* Upon successful completion of Level 2, you will receive a Diploma.

(Please note that this Diploma exit is only applicable to programmes that have this exit.)


* Upon successful completion of Level 3 you will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.


* Upon successful completion of Level M you will graduate with a Master of Arts.



All LASALLE degree programmes have been externally validated by the Open University Validation Services providing an independent stamp of approval of academic standards. There is also a rigorous quality assurance process with an independent panel of external examiners appointed by the Open University Validation Services who ensures LASALLE’s academic standards across all levels and programmes are equivalent to that of some of the best universities in the UK.

Upon your Level 3 or Masters completion, you will receive a parchment bearing the seal of LASALLE and the Open University.

All our diploma and degree programmes are registered with the Ministry of Education.


MOE Funding
The Ministry currently provides LASALLE with funding for Diploma-level studies. If you are a Singaporean or Permanent Resident, you may be eligible for tuition grant from the Ministry for Level 0, Level 1 and Level 2. This means that the fee you pay is subsidised by this grant.

However, the Ministry has opted not to fund Level 3 and Level M studies and hence students are charged at full economic fees.


MOE recognition of education programmes in Singapore
MOE leaves the responsibility of maintaining good quality and standard of education programmes with the respective academic institutions. You will find this information on the MOE website.

LASALLE in achieving Accredited Institution status and having all degree programmes validated through the Open University Validation Services ensures international recognition of all our degree programmes.

As mentioned above under “Awards”, all our diploma and degree programmes are registered with the Ministry of Education.



We hope this clarifies any doubts or questions you may have about the article. If there is anything else we can clarify for you, please feel free to contact your respective Deans who are copied in this email.


We are proud of LASALLE, and of LASALLE students and alumni. We wish you the best in your studies.

PS: We have a series of VIPs coming to visit our new campus in the next couple of months. Some are ministers while others are heads of large organisations. Last Friday, our Patron, Minister George Yeo, visited and had a wonderful time walking through the campus. Please join us in welcoming our visitors as they walk through the campus in the coming months.


Best regards

Avfo
Pro Vice President – Marketing & Operations
18/9/2007 11:11AM








............

Dear LASALLE Students,

We would like to share with you an announcement made to all full-time
LASALLE staff on Wed 5 Sep that our President & CEO, Professor Robert Ely;
Vice-Presidents Professors Richard Berry & Alan Lourens have handed in their
resignations.

Over the last 5 years, they have worked tirelessly to build LASALLE into one
of Asia-Pacific¹s leading arts institutions, including the development of
the iconic New City Campus which we have settled into.

The 3 executives have achieved what they had set out to build for LASALLE in
their respective areas including institutional accreditation, the validation
of LASALLE¹s 51 degrees and degree streams and the successful completion of
the New City Campus, and now welcome the opportunity to pursue their
professional interests.

Professor Ely has indicated that he will stay on to ensure a smooth handover
to his successor, while Professor Berry and Lourens have extended their
notice period from 3 months to 6 months for similar reasons.

The Institution is grateful for their significant contributions to LASALLE
over the last 5 years. Plans are in place to recruit their successors.

All teaching and learning activities continue as before. Should you have
anything you wish to clarify, please feel free to contact your respective
Programme Leader or Dean

Regards,

Avfo
Pro Vice President ­ Marketing & Operations
9/10/2007 5:11PM

master took this pic of me before assessments.  binding my zines SALT #01 outside earl lu gallery because we got chased out from the FA studio by the guards.  no choice la.  dun wanna go home.  dun wanna drag the load back.  so stay and just try finish my never ending work with master who stayed till about i think 2 am that day when she cannot tahan already. then master me and kahdshoaifwee took a cab home.  forgot which day this was... 

Singapore Art Exhibition: Open Call at SAM

This is one of the mails that flood my school's email inbox.  

ITs not that i don't wanna participate in it, ya i know i need exposure.  BUT NO TIME LAH!!! 

And when i say no time i mean it.  NO TIME LAH!!! I'm working like hell now two jobs and i am not complaining.  oh, did i just say i am not complaining> hehe.

Dear all,

Singapore Art Exhibition: Open Call
The National Arts Council (NAC) and National Heritage Board (Singapore Art Museum “SAM”) will present the Singapore Art Exhibition at Singapore Art Museum (SAM) as part of the Singapore Art Show 2007. To be held at SAM from 2 August to 2 September 2007, the Singapore Art Exhibition aims to provide an open platform to showcase and celebrate the creative talents of visual artists based in Singapore. Artists are free to submit all forms of visual artworks. Themes for the exhibition will be based on selected submissions. This is to ensure the wide-ranging and inclusive nature of Open Calls

Have you submitted your artwork to the Singapore Art Exhibition presented by NAC and SAM as part of Singapore Art Show 2007? There are two unprecedented prizes to be won:

1. $50,000 residency prize determined by our selection panel and jury
2. $5,000 "My Favourite Artwork" as determined by popular voting

For further queries, please check NAC or SAM website, or contact Miss Yasotha Ramasamy at email address: yasotha_ramasamy@nhb.gov.sg

6/11/2007 5:32 PM

GOODBYE GOODMAN! Invitation

INVITATION TO ALL LASALLE STUDENTS

GOODBYE GOODMAN!

LASALLE Moving Out Party for all alumni, current students and staff

29 Jun 2007 (Fri) 6.30pm – 11pm

LASALLE Amphitheatre, 90 Goodman Road

This is a LASALLE private party.

Students to present student card at the door for entry.

---------------------------

LINE-UP OF BANDS & DJS

FEATURING LASALLE ALUMNI & STUDENTS

Bands:

ALLURA – including Inch Chua, Aaron Wong, Mark John

ASTREAL – including Ginette Chittick

THE MARILYNS – including Azhar Talib

PLAIN SUNSET – including Jonathan Chan, Norsham Husaini

TIRAMISU – including Rizman Putra, Keith Su

DJs:

AMANDA LING

JULIAN LEE

JONATHAN NAH (aka KIAT of Guerrilla Collective)

KEITH COLACO (aka DJ KFC)

Represent!

Photos: It’s time to share those priceless photos of your days in art school!

From the early ‘80s and unforgettable ‘90s to the recent new millennia, we wanna see what you looked like!

Email to chennee.neo@lasalle.edu.sg or submit photos on the day itself for a special screening of the last 23 years!

 

Dress Your Decade: Come dressed as you were in the good ol’ (or recent) days of LASALLE!

Prizes to be won for “Best Dressed Art Student/Staff” of the ‘80s, ‘90s and 2000s.

Confession Box

Discover and laugh about the darkest secrets none of us ever told!

Write down your most memorable or most mischievous moments at Goodman Road

(or St Pat’s Art Centre, or Telok Kurau studios or Kallang Theatre),

drop it in our drop-box and catch the best Confessions and Top 10 Polls at the party screening.

 

Limited Edition T-Shirts

Slogans! We want slogans of popular expressions, sayings or quotable quotes

(especially from lecturers or bosses) from your generation!

Email the slogan to chennee.neo@lasalle.edu.sg with the story behind it

and the best entries will be selected for print and sale at the party.

Guaranteed to be collector’s items! Sales proceeds go towards the food and beer!

 

Food & beer will be served.

Age restrictions on alcohol consumption apply.

LASALLE Management reserves the right to refuse entry.

Enquiries: call 6340 9400 or email chennee.neo@lasalle.edu.sg

---------------------------------

What will happen to the Goodman Road campus?

From 2 July 2007, LASALLE will be located at its New City Campus at 1 McNally Street

(bound by Albert Street, Short Street and Prinsep Street).

The new School of the Arts (specialised arts high school under MICA) will be

moving in to Goodman Road until its new campus is ready in 2008.