Juming Museum, Taipei, Taiwan

I love that Ju Ming's sculptures leave a lot to the imagination--the abstract men, women, boys, and girls were created by the sculptor in what seemed to be effortless manipulation, whether by a slight dent or twist of the metal as in the exhaust pipe figures, or a few chistles to create the sculpture series know as the Tai Chi Series, and the stories among the characters were left to the beholder's interpretation. What seemed effortless, and the less is more approach, is never accidental, and most achieved with deliberation or via subconscious force that is the second nature of the seasoned artist. On our recent trip to Taiwan, Juming Museum was our favorite destination. Located just outside the City of Taipei, it is the only outdoor museum in Taiwan.

Martin Puryear at SF MOMA

We were lured by SF MOMA's banners around the City featuring sculptor Martin Puryear's work, and were absolutely delighted. Below is an excerpt taken from the website of San Francisco MOMA on Puryear's work:

"Made from a variety of natural materials — including wood, tar, rawhide, and stone — Martin Puryear's distinctive sculptures combine modernist geometry with international craft traditions. Influenced by woodworking, basketry, and construction techniques, the pieces at times resemble familiar objects. By blending cultural references, however, Puryear avoids fixed associations of time and place. This major retrospective charts the artist's career from his first solo show in 1977 to the present. SFMOMA's presentation includes a special installation in the Haas Atrium including Ladder for Booker T Washington (1996), made from a 36-foot-long split sapling, and Ad Astra (2007), a 63-foot-tall work that rises to the museum's fifth-floor bridge."

This exhibit ends on January 25, 2009.

Photo credits from top to bottom:
Douglas Parker
Richard P. Goodbody
David Wharton
Richard Barnes

Art Meets Geometry--Origami

It is amazing what a piece of paper could be given life to become a three dimensional creation--and origami artists have mastered this art form. I came across this postcard in Japantown, which led me to visit the origami exhibit at the National Japanese American Historical Society located at 1684 Post Street. One of my favorites is the "Peace Sphere" by artistLinda Mihara. The sphere is formed by connected origami cranes, all of which folded from one piece of paper with strategic cuts to leave the negative space between the cranes. An additional origami exhibit is held concurrently at the San Francisco Public Library Main Branch at 100 Larkin Street. The last day for both exhibits is December 31, 2008.

Arne Quinze's Cityscape--Brussels, Belgium

Discovering Arne Quinze's Cityscape in Brussels at 6 o'clock in the morning was a pleasant surprise after the long transatlantic flight. We were on the way to look for the hotel we had reserved, but made the wrong turn after getting off from the Metro at Place Louise station. The structure was beyond impressive, seeing it was like a wake up call, a dramatic greeting. The photos were taken before we left Brussels, during mid day amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. More of Arne Quinze's work can be found on www.arnequinze.tv, which includes a recent publication of "Cityscape", showcasing the making of wood sculptures similar to the one in Brussels.