Archemist Blog
This is a space for my own architectural related musings. Sometimes it is about a movie, a book, a show, or even something that I’ve come across online. Happy reading!
NGV 2024-5: Kusama 草間 – a revision of her artistry
NGV’s latest exhibition celebrates the life and career of well-known and arguably one of the most Instagrammable artists within the contemporary art world - Yayoi Kusama. Showcasing over 100 pieces of work that captures the early origins of her artwork to what we know as the sea of infinite dots – this exhibition presents a welcoming surprise to those who only know Kusama in the later years, while for some, may feel as a level of repetition of her other exhibition back in Brisbane’s Art Gallery during 2018.
The Lines On The Other Side
Recently, I found myself laughing sarcastically at a community member on the architecture forum puzzling on the lack of drawings in our media publication. As a frequent writer of architecture and design reviews, this has been something I’ve often asked architects whenever I’ve been delivered a press release package. Often, I’ll be given a couple of good sentences (at worst, a two-sentence project that had me go hunting at other publications to pull out details), and some lovely images of hero interior (and the occasional tired photo of a furniture piece that we know will later be questioned by the public on its practicality). While I absolutely adore the photographs being provided, I find that my writing does not excel as much as I’d like – especially when I’m looking at a set of press photos that only showcases one room when the promotional package explores several spaces.
NGV Triennial III - An explosion of the artists' pallet
With the theme Magic, Matter and Memory being the anchor for the commissioned artists’ brief – NGV triumphantly returns with another Triennial Exhibition (and one I look forward to every three years!) that shouts bigger, better and awe. In this third instalment – the characteristic of the installation feels cohesive in comparison to the previous. The collection this time feels more vibrant and as always reflective on society’s cultural and zeitgeist shift in the past couple of years. In essence – it is resemblant to an insight of the explosive moments during the artist’s creative process.
Like Really? You Want Me To Think Like That?
It's an exhausting and ongoing cry for journalism when it comes to the treatment and portrayal of women in the eyes of men. So I would like to share with you a rant that I’ve had with my friends three years ago – one I was terrified of sharing publicly but now feel confident in sharing now.
K-Pop Music Videos Is My Architecture Escape...
In an industry that heavily depends on visuals, aesthetics and appearances, it would be an understatement to say that Korean Pop Music (aka K-Pop) industry is very extra. Although I’m not a hardcore enthusiast of the K-Pop music industry, I still find myself drawn to their efforts. There have been many times when dinner table conversations at a Korean restaurant have been interrupted by captivating images of their music video on the television hanging by the corner. K-Pop somehow embodies some of those fantastical elements that may be kitsch yet enticing. Not to mention, the ensemble of staging, storyline and styling has offered a window of escape into an alternative form of architecture appreciation when I need a break from reality.
And so, I thought it would be fitting to highlight some of my favourite music K-Pop music videos that I enjoy revisiting for various reasons.
Making that emotional impression for architecture like dramas do...?
Last week, I found myself in an emotional mess as I watched a pair of heroes bid their farewell to the show. It has been two days since I’ve braved myself again to finish the show I regretted binging. At this point, I have prepared myself mentally by reading the synopsis recaps to prevent myself from wallowing at the conclusion. I was already holding onto a melancholy after intensely watching the story, and I did not want it to spill into my week.
I could not be more wrong.
Instagram : Today's Architecture Duck and the Decorated Shed
Sometimes, I’d like to perceive Instagram as a new version of Venturi and Brown’s Duck and Decorated Shed. As Gordon-Levitt added attention to Instagram is used as a platform to attract attention – the statement is bold enough to be a ‘sign’ for the architecture firm. Let alone it can be argued that the overall profile aesthetic is the inverted shed when the account has posted enough images in a carefully planned manner. Alternatively, we can also say that capturing that one perfect image of the design becomes the Duck for the design firm, and thus we can always associate their name with that image.
The Digital Narrator Of Architecture
The video game industry has and still continues to provide entertainment for many years. Covering many genres like sports, action, strategy and simulation to suit every person. For instance, the classic life-simulation game – The Sims™, has been made popular by its open-ended, no-objective gameplay and free will. The game grants the gamer full control; from fulfilling the whims of their sim (avatar) to the very shape of their nose. This kind of flexibility has attracted many types of players. There are gamers who dream of leading a different life and live vicariously through their sims, there are those who enjoy pushing moral boundaries and those who enthuse and appreciate the design aspect of the game. In this virtual realm, there are no rules, no legal restrictions, no complaining neighbours, and best of all, no budgets!
Architecture of the Media : When One Issue Unconsciously Buries Another
Comedian Anna Akana’s video ‘You can’t care about everything’ was also ironically released that day, explaining on the issue of compassion fatigue. The timing couldn’t be more perfect when I stumbled across the video in which she explained the overwhelming feeling of the constant broadcasting of crisis and issues happening at every nation. There was a sense of relieve when she consolidated the issues and that it is okay to have your beliefs – so long as we understand and separate ourselves what we want to put value on and work towards it, that’s okay also.