sunyung

Spiegel im Spiegel

Sheffield to Tinsley Canal
Music: Spiegel im Spiegel by Arvo Pärt

64. 20 years.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00l17sy/Kate_Adie_Returns_to_Tiananmen_Square

In Memory of those who died in Tiananmen Square on June 4th 1989

Castleton

08 May, 2009

Swine Flu in UK

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8020222.stm

Two people in Scotland have been confirmed to be the UK's first swine flu cases. The good news is both of them are recovering. Because of my experience of SARS in HK in 2003, I do feel a bit more nervous. Fingers cross that there is no new case, and even there is/are, the patient(s) would recover!

Nike Naked Running Camp

Brilliant advert! A very brave campaign! :D

Saatchi Gallery vs Whitechapel Gallery

As a graduate of Fine Arts, I finally made a pilgrimage to two contemporary arts venues in London after their refurbishment: Saatchi Gallery and Whitechapel Gallery.

From their websites, I have to say the design of Whitechapel one is much better than Saatchi one as a contemporary arts gallery. The Whitechapel website projects a trendier and updated leading contemporary figure. The Saatchi Gallery’s website, on the other hand, is a mega huge database for contemporary unknown artists. It is so user unfriendly and unattractive that I didn’t even want to visit the gallery.

With my first impression from their websites, I was surprised that, architecturally, the Saatchi Gallery is so well organized and thoughtful.

As an artisit, I find the exhibition spaces are in good size and volume which can interact with the artworks. The minimal designed spaces allow the artworks to speak for themselves and the even lighting system helps showing the best side of the artworks.

As an architecture student, I find the visiting of the gallery is a very comfortable and joyful experience. The exhibition spaces are in good proportion with good lighting that you don’t feel like walking in ‘white boxes’. Those artworks draw most of your attention. The circulation space with stairs and lift connecting two wings of exhibition spaces is well designed! The glass curtain wall allows neutral sunlight to shine through turning the space into an artwork changing all the time with the sun and the weather.

In contrast, the Whitechapel Gallery is less articulated and thoughtful. Most of the exhibition spaces are in uneven shaped taking visitors’ attention from the artworks. The skylight windows on the ceiling make one feels like being in a cave. The linear arrangement of exhibition spaces is boring. The real experience of the gallery is not as good as those photos shown on its website.
The Saatchi Gallery is definitely on my list of ‘must visit’ next time I am in London.

Remarks: The Saatchi Gallery welcomes visitors to take photos without flash while Whitechapel Gallery bans photography inside.

The Saatchi Gallery