Bill Cunningham New York – Wow!

Ready to be wowed by Bill Cunningham New York over dinner! Here is a trailer.

2012 Rio Body Painting Art in Brazilian Carnival Andrea Martins

I think the video clip “2012 Rio Body Painting Art in Brazilian Carnival Andrea Martins” is beautiful.

And I left the following comment on the video,

Beautiful without being sexual! Wish I could be there at 2012 Brazilian Carnival!

which I got this reply

@KemptonLam thank you so much for this enormous compliment…this is what I have been struggling for years and years!!! One of the best comments ever received in more than 10 million views…this is what I always fought for, remove this misappropriation of Brazil Carnival. Thank you so much!!

belavistario 56 minutes ago

and my respond to that

@belavistario I am glad my comment made you happy. The lady in the video (and how the video is shot) gave me a wonderful sense of beauty, energy, and excitement that I know I will feel in a Brazilian Carnival! Whoever filmed the video (I don’t know if it was you) did a wonderful service to show a wonderful side of Brazil to us! Keep up the good work.

See more comments and replies in this Google+ post. And text and photos in “Full Body Painting Conquered Brazilian Carnival: Body Art Gains Momentum“

[HT +Robert Redl]

P.S. Here is a Chinese reply I left to a Facebook comment “太大膽啦••• @_@’”,

大膽可能有點，但我認為絕非色情。巴西的風土人情、文化背景及個人開放程度不同，難以中國人的尺度作準。再者是一年一度的巴西加年華盛事，我看來覺得健康有活力。

Feb 20, 2012 update: Interesting read from MarketWatch, “Rio’s Carnival: Not just a local party anymore – Huge street fair seen as warm-up for World Cup and Olympics“

Tehching Hsieh – One Year Performance 1980-1981 (Time Clock Piece) 24×365=8760

Tehching Hsieh’s ‘One Year Performance’ 1980 (VIDEO). [HT @aliklay]

Time Clock Piece

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei gets 21,000+ microloans totalling 5.9m yuan so far to pay his 15m yuan tax bill

For the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, it is not about the money, it is a chance to let the Chinese public to voice their support of him and disapproval of Chinese government unjust accusation/judgement. Read along to find out what these two donations signify:

512 yuan, about $80

89.64 yuan, or about $14

Washington Post, “Ai Weiwei fans raise funds to pay his massive tax bill“

“In a strong affront to the Chinese government’s attempt to censor artists and internet users, fans of the artist Ai Weiwei have raised more than $830,000 in three days through social media to help the artist fight a $2.4 million tax bill from the state.”

BBC English, “Ai Weiwei China tax bill paid by supporters” (with English interview)

“By Monday, there had been donations totalling more than 5m yuan ($790,000; £490,000) to pay off the $2.4m in taxes and fines the authorities say he owes.

Many people believe he was served the bill because of his outspoken criticism of the government rather than because he had evaded taxes.

“Most powerful artist” in the world Ai Weiwei (艾未未) doesn’t feel powerful

Have a listen to BBC radio interview of “most powerful artist” in the world, Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (+艾未未). Ai, I don’t feel powerful at all. I am still under detention. (also see reports in UK Reuters, Telegraph)

Other recent insightful articles and video:
1) NYTimes Oct 13, Dissident Creates by Remote Control
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/arts/design/ai-weiweis-photo-shoot-from-china.html
2) Ai Weiwei’s wife urges China to drop plan on detentions
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/us-china-artist-detentions-idUSTRE78R0SK20110928
3) PBNS Frontline doc (free online): Who’s Afraid of Ai Weiwei?
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/ai-wei-wei/

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations – El Bulli

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations – El Bulli (part 1, part 2, and part 3)

Eric Bricker Q&A and interview at 2011 CIFF – Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman

I had a Skype video interview with Eric Bricker, director/producer of Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman before I got a chance to watch the film and I thought I would love it. After my skype video, I signed out four books by or about Julis Shulman from the library! So after watching Visual Acoustics yesterday on big screen, I can now positively say I LOVE the film and highly recommend it. Check out Visual Acoustics’ trailer if you haven’t seen it. If you can’t see the film in a theatre on a big screen, Visual Acoustics is available in DVD and also in HD via Netflix.

Here is my interview with Eric at 2011 CIFF.

Here is some of Eric’s Q&A at 2011 CIFF. (note: I edited out some questions as some are already covered in my one-on-one interviews with Eric).

Computational Aesthetics 2011 – Marta Blicharz

Check out my friend Marta Blicharz’s report where her artwork submission was accepted into the Computational Aesthetics 2011 academic conference and art exhibition. Really cool looking arts and interesting report.

Here is a brief video.

Inspired by and Rescued Bruce Mau plus Books I Love

I want to thank Bruce Mau for inspiring me since 20010103 when I fell in love and bought a copy of his autographed Life Style (blue cover) at David Mirvish Books. So I took an opportunity to make this video.

As you can see in the video, I thanked Bruce by picking up 4 copies of Life Style and casually laid a copy at each of my coffee tables and desks so I can read them at random and without worry about getting them dirty.

You can click to see the original full size readable version of the following photos. And from these two Flickr sets, “Bruce Mau Life Style & Massive Change” and “Books I Love“.

P.S. Checkout these articles, “Bruce Mau Design tries to solve Toronto’s problems” and “Design Principal“.

Reflecting on Marta Blicharz’s Exhibition – Self-Referenced Abstract Art

By chance, I come across Marta Blicharz‘s very cool & interesting MFA exhibition ”Breaking The Spell – Exhibition“. Check out the Exhibition if you haven’t seen it yet.

I got more curious about abstract art especially after my 2008 interview with abstract artist Christine Cheung. I try to keep an eye of whats new and exciting. I am happy to say I found something that interested me in Breaking The Spell. Here is how Marta describe an interesting abstract image “A Sultry Blonde in a Red Dress Touching Her Lips Seductively” (emphasis and link added),

“One of the exhibited images included a display of the ASCII symbols from a single JPEG file, 4 by 6 inches in size, and 300dpi in resolution. Of course that JPEG image was not shown, but in it’s place I have put up 5.5 panels, each 4 by 6 feet in size, with a 9.5 point Monaco  typeface. I had to break down these panels into 11 by 17 inch pieces to print them affordably and store them easily. It was titled: ‘A Sultry Blonde in a Red Dress Touching Her Lips Seductively.’”

Sultry Blonde got me into a bit of Matrix-ish thinking. I want to try to extend Marta‘s idea a few steps further and define the new idea (to me anyway) of a ”Self-Referenced Abstract Art”.

Here is my preliminary idea of how to create a piece of Self-Referenced Abstract Art.

Step 1) Take a JPEG image “J” 

The Trembling Veil of Bones won two Leo Awards

I want to congratulate Matthew Talbot-Kelly, talented filmmaker & storyteller (of Moving Tales fame), for winning two Leo Awards (best direction and best music) with his The Trembling Veil of Bones. Congrats Matthew!

Have a watch of my extensive interview with Matthew about his award-winning film. And see my review of the excellent Moving Tales iPad app ”Unwanted Guest“.

Ai Weiwei’s “Good Attitude” – Disappeared Apr 3rd, Released June 22 into Soft Detention (?)

2:28pm update: From Guardian,

“”I’m fine. I’m out,” the 54-year-old artist told the Guardian in a telephone call shortly after his release on bail. “I’m back with my family. I’m very happy.

[...] Speaking from his home in north Beijing, the usually outspoken artist said he could not comment any further, adding: “I’m on bail. Please understand.”

Ai’s sister Gao Ge said: “I’m very, very happy … we thank everyone, including our media friends, for all their help and support so far.”

His mother, Gao Ying, told NPR that the family “won’t sleep tonight”.

[...] Catherine Baber, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific deputy director, said: “Ai Weiwei must now be granted his full liberty, and not be held in illegal house arrest as has been the pattern with so many others recently released from arbitrary detention.“

She also called for the immediate release of his four associates – Wen Tao, one of his friends, Zhang Jinsong, his driver and cousin, Hu Mingfen, an accountant, and Liu Zhenggang, a designer – who went missing shortly after him. Wen’s girlfriend Shi Jing, who had volunteered at Ai’s studio, said: “For both [Ai's] friends and family, it is positive news.

“As for Wen Tao, his family hasn’t got any information so far … I still feel anxious, but since Ai is going to be bailed, there will probably be information about the others. They got into this because of Ai’s case, so there should also be news about them.”"

***

According China’s state-controlled Xinhua news agency report (emphasis added), Ai Weiwei is released on bail because of his “good attitude in confessing his crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from“. In case they delete the news, here is the report in full, for the record.

“Ai Weiwei released on bail
English.news.cn 2011-06-22 22:15:25
BEIJING, June 22 (Xinhua) — The Beijing police department said Wednesday that Ai Weiwei has been released on bail because of his good attitude in confessing his crimes as well as a chronic disease he suffers from.

The decision comes also in consideration of the fact that Ai has repeatedly said he is willing to pay the taxes he evaded, police said.

The Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., a company Ai controlled, was found to have evaded a huge amount of taxes and intentionally destroyed accounting documents, police said.”

According to AFP,

““[Ai Weiwei] has not come back yet. The police haven’t told us he has been released. Journalists called us and told us about the Xinhua report,” Ai’s sister Gao Ge told AFP late Wednesday.

Ai’s mobile was switched off. His wife and lawyer could not be immediately reached.“

From Guardian (emphasis added),

“Ai’s younger brother Ai Dan told the Guardian he had no information on his brother. The artist’s wife and mother could not be reached immediately and Ai’s phone remained switched off.

Earlier in the day, after a rumour that he might be released circulated on websites, his family said police had given them no information on Ai’s case.

The article gave no details of what has happened to several friends and colleagues of Ai, who went missing shortly after him.“

Hung Huang, Beijing publisher and blogger, made this observation about Weiwei in PBS short documentary “Who’s afraid of Ai Weiwei?“,

“Most of the other Chinese artists I know have gone on to having very nice houses, fancy cars, and I don’t think they would do anything to damage their lifestyle. Weiwei would put his life on the line for something that he believes in.”

TED Talk: Taking imagination seriously

Janet Echelman: Taking imagination seriously

Harmony Wagner, Creative Producer, Periscope Pictures interview @ Banff World Media Festival 2011

As a former CTV Fellow (2006), I always try to look out for new CTV Fellows and report on them when I can. So it was my pleasure to interview Harmony Wagner, a 2011 CTV Fellow, and Creative Producer at Periscope Pictures @ Banff World Media Festival 2011 to talk about her preschool series BunnyBop. Here is my video interview with Harmony.

The following are a few highlights of my video interview with Harmony.

* 0:00 Harmony introduces herself and project, the preschool series BunnyBop. co-created with her mom Cheryl Wagner (creator and show runner of the highly successful and loved The Big Comfy Couch.

* 0:33 I asked Harmony to talk about her show and the idea behind the series. Talking about using the IPF (Independent Production Fund) web pilot drama fund and put the show on the web (BunnyBopTV).

* 1:58 With the funding, how many episodes were created?

* 2:22 What is the revenue model for the web series BunnyBop?

* 3:35 Have you guys trying to pitch the series to different countries? People in Japan love cute stuff!

* 4:20 Harmony talks about BunnyBop as a great tool to help teach kids English.

***

By the way, check out an episode of BunnyBop to see for yourself.

***

For all other Banff 2011 related interviews, please see here.

PEACE received the Buyens-Chagoll Award at the Visions du Reel festival, Switzerland

“PEACE just received the Buyens-Chagoll Award at the Visions du Reel festival, Switzerland! The “Buyens-Chagoll” Jury recompense a work of humanist dimension focusing on stories developing values that confer meaning to the future of mankind.“

You can see my previous posted entries about PEACE.

Congrats Soda!

Flamenco dance performance in Calgary

Few years ago I met a very dedicated and talented Flamenco dancer/artist Fiona Malena in Calgary. You can see a brief dance performance by Fiona, in this 2009 YouTube clip.

Anyway, Fiona and a group of dancers and musicians will be a part of an upcoming Calgary performance (April 29-30, 2011).

Check the performace out. I’m sure you will have some fun.

P.S. Good luck and all the best to Fiona.

***

FLAMENCO por FLAMENCO

2 nights only!!
Friday & Saturday April 29th-30th, 2011
Doors open 8pm, $15
The Auburn, 163 9 Avenue SE (by the Calgary Tower)

Featuring singer/dancer Stephanie Pedraza from Vancouver along with many local artists including:
Michael Boyle (guitar)
David Matyas (guitar)
Alejandra Cano Tinoco (dance)
Anastassiia Moussatova (dance)
Jessica Peñalver (dance)
Fiona Malena (dance)
Oliver Miguel (saxophones)

RESERVE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!!!!!
tickets@fionamalena.com
email with your name, concert date & # of tickets to reserve your tickets

The flamenco community is invited to participate in an open bulerías/tangos jam session following the performance!
All proceeds go to our non-profit society to help with the planning and organization of future flamenco activities.

Please visit our new website! www.flamencosociety.com

Missing in China: Ai Weiwei still missing after being held by Chinese police

For the record.

* Guardian, “Ai Weiwei still missing after being held by Chinese police“

“Ai Weiwei, China’s best-known artist, remains missing more than a day after he was detained. Police have confiscated dozens of items from his studio.

Officers released his wife and several assistants late last night, following questioning, but Ai and a friend remain uncontactable. Assistants said that police removed more than 30 computers and hard drives from his studio and home in north Beijing on Sunday, as well as notebooks and documents. They also searched at least two more properties connected to the artist.”

* The Telegraph, “Chinese authorites silent on Ai WeiWei’s whereabouts“

* The Telegraph, “Ai WeiWei, artist and activist: a profile“

Use art to turn the world inside out

JR’s TED Prize wish: Use art to turn the world inside out

“JR, a French street artist, uses his camera to show the world its true face. He makes his audacious TED Prize wish: to use art to turn the world inside out. A funny, moving talk about art and who we are. Learn more at insideoutproject.net [Kempton: JR talks and shows more about the project on the site.]“

iPad app review: Moving Tales’ Unwanted Guest

Apple iPad app:  ”Unwanted Guest“

Price: US$ 4.99

Star rating: 5 out of 5 stars

”Unwanted Guest“ is great story and wonderfully designed app by the creative people at Moving Tales. The story about “a poor old man, down on his luck and living in a tumbledown house, is visited by an unwelcome house guest“ was very engaging that I ended up finishing the app/book in one reading! The animations are beautifully imagined, stunningly designed and rendered. The English, French, and Spanish voice-over all sounded very engaging and worked great with the story. I can imagine some parents using the foreign languages option to teach their children one or more of the languages. I highly recommend you check out ”Unwanted Guest“.

By the way, if you haven’t seen Moving Tales‘s first story app ”The Pedlar Lady of Gushing Cross“, have a look of my 2010 August app review and you may want to get that app too. By now, I have seen and reviewed producer/director/animator Matthew Talbot-Kelly’s Moving Tales team of creative people’s last two out of three story apps and they are setting very high standard for the industry!

The following is a promotional clip of the app from Moving Tales.

Art Project @ Tate & MoMA, powered by Google

The newly launched Art Project (powered by Google) is super cool and is a ton of fun for people to explore. I love it. Here is an insightful observation from WSJ (emphasis added),

“You might not think it’s possible to have a better art experience than going to an art gallery and looking at a piece of work in real life — but the folks at Google in conjunction with 17 of the world’s leading museums and galleries* have created a website that might just give you a more informative experience online than looking at the real thing.

Simply called “Art Project,” the website uses Google’s Street View technology and adapts it to give users 360-degree tours of the galleries involved in the project. While this is not terribly exciting, the real innovation in the project is the use of “gigapixel” resolution images that allow users to get a microscopic view of the paintings.

The level of detail offered up by up to 14 billion pixels is pretty jaw-dropping.“

Here are samples of the amazing details from three paintings,

As a non-painter and a technical geek, I need to remind myself that I shouldn’t focus too much in the details (the amazing 14 billion pixels) and missing the feeling from “seeing and experiencing” the bigger picture. The famous Voice of Fire, which I saw in Ottawa, comes to mind.

ITN News, Google’s Street View puts famous art online

A video “MoMA: Vincent van Gogh. The Starry Night. 1889” of the painting.

A short video about “No Woman, No Cry“

Research in progress: Discoloration of Van Gogh’s ‘Bedroom’ about the painting