It all started with a faint memory locked deep in my mind, only leaving a trace to follow. Dissolved pigment, gathered into patches of colors, interweaves with a string path and merges into figures, a blurred edge starts to define layers — vaguely, as if I'm part of this flow of thought, moving through these spaces freely and re-experiencing and imagining everything happening at that moment.
Prague#5 - Castle above the wind
The ride - best in action!!
Prague castle is located above the plain overlooking the old town, you can access it through bus but we prefer a pilgrim route with our favorite transportation - funicular. This gets us to a vast public part even slightly above the castle, and you got a panorama view of the city -- the true city of hundred-spired reveals at this point.
Inside the park, a petite Eiffel Tower is standing - a more or less tell commute tower? Across the park, You start descending toward the castle - The meandering network path surrounding the castle add extra interest when the vanishing point constant shift in perspective. The castle complex consists multiple buildings, it's vast and rich, to avoid digging into the history too much; let me use following photo exchanges for text.
the prague castle - soaked with tone of fall
Prague#4 - Eastern Europe Trip - Charles Bridge and John Lennon Wall
Charles bridge and John Lennon wall.
Charles Bridge in late fall
Give you Hi Five
Knowing the name only by its ancient old history and the epic flood in 2002, Charles bridge gave me the charm I didn't expect. First, is those detail sculpture along the bridges; 2nd - the block stone paver with romantic medieval towers on either side of the bridge; 3rd - the late fall fog adding mysterious for one's own imagination. Throughout the time of our stay, we crossed the bridge two times; I enjoyed the solitude moment in the early morning of my second visit, vaguely seeing the tram crossing over the other bridge in a damped foggy weather, noticing the sound and brisk air, reconstructing the scene by yesterday's memory.
Across the bridge is neighborhood Lesser Quater where the John Lennon wall located, the neighborhood has a charming character with a canal running through. In front of the wall; of course, the tourist act - snapping couple shot before then off for breakfast!
John Lennon Wall
Prague#3 - Love tale at castle steps
How far and how long can one's consciousness re-connect through time? Your secret whispering to the songster frozen in air chanting from your heart on each long and lonely walk. But it had perished and vanished, evaporated and forgotten, ignored by generations until love and forgiveness found its way back.
Taking a stroll through the old castle walk you will encounter the "The Songster" sculpture which memorializes the Czech patriotic song writer, Karel Hašler. I became aware of his story long after my trip, and editing deeper into these photographs stirred my initial peaceful mind into philosophical thought. A question of how chaotic moments in history could ever be initiated is hard to imagine in this current world. I wonder - if love is that deeply rooted in our collective unconsciousness can it prevent history from repeating itself?
Prague#2 - Eastern Europe Trip - Municipal House and Old Town Plaza
Municipal House is at our hotel proximity so we dived right in after dropping the luggage. This is a cloudy drizzling day, fit perfectly to visit any interior space; a small tip - my rule of thumb is always flexible on the sequencing of your list of attractions so they can be rearranged based on your real-time situation. The city hall featured Mucha's art nouveau mural throughout, looking at them as mural stirs a very different feeling from the 2d graphic. It's very engaging, the expression coming out of the body language and the starring eye of the illustration speaks to me directly, intimate and forced.
Entrance of municipal hall
Within 5 minutes walk is the old town plaza, which includes the astronomy clock, old town hall and couple historic building, passing through the square, we stopped by the oldest Jewish joint -
Josefov, or the Jewish quarter; an area in between the old town and Vltava river, understand as an old neighborhood surrounded by a wall - ghetto, which the Jews were limited to live in this area. However, you won't feel the narrow street these days as all of the building but couple historic building were torn down in early 20 century to clear out the slum. We wondered around it and tried to avoid the crowd which take us to the riverfront, overlooking the castle up above the hill.
The sun sets early in the fall, the overcast cloud restored every pigment to its natural state; layered red tile, chrome leaves and blue river in order and ready for the night.
Prague Castle From River Vltava
Prague#1 - Eastern Europe Trip - Exertion
In 2011, I was planning a 10 days trip to visit Eastern/ middle Europe. This all initiated by two little instances in my daily life, a recommendation from a colleague to check out a UNESCO town in Czech and a growing popular scene set ink-pop drama. 'Český Krumlov' and 'Hallstatt'. The rest of the trip kind of built around figuring how and where to go around these two charming towns, it's also adding additional challenge if you don't want to do the round trip flight (because I really hate losing a day just to catch the return flight) with a tight budget. After evaluating couple scenarios, we set the itinerary. Our first stop? The city of hundred spires - Prague.
Prague Castle from across Vltava River
To be fair, Prague isn't some place you visit just to kill the time in between, and I don't mean to make it sounds not important. This is a charming city has a lot to explore - part of mid-century super power Habsburg family, King of Bohemian- the reign of the region and left a legacy of oldest castle complex of the world. Plus, one of my favorite artist - Alphonse Mucha, devoted last 20 years of his life on artwork admired by his nation. And those towers, yes, if you have endless energy don't mind climbing up and down - this can also be your parkour playground.
Mucha's Mural
We took a usual red eye flight straight to Prague from New York. From the airport, you need a train to connect the closest metro stop, which you need to time quite precisely cause the bus doesn't come that frequent. We had endless debate whether to take a bus or a taxi in exchange for time. Short answer to this, if you aren't traveling alone, any option don't initiate a fight is a good answer, you truly don't want this to spoil your mood on the first day of the journey.
Beautiful as usual, because its The Central Park
Taking a stroll on Saturday afternoon, melting snow now toward it's end stretch. The short stop blizzard in and out leaving only couple traces in the park. The cold and serene icy pond whisper quietly about this winter first snow.
Tangent of traffic
While constant inspired by the infrastructure in the city, the terminal is always an interest focus. It records, documents and carries people's activity ; illustrate a beautiful yet interesting interactive activity patterns. This photo was taken near Amsterdam train station. Where a ferry terminal intersect a new bus terminal intersect. The curve bridge marked a poised moment of all the motion which I think complement well with this busy terminal
Enter Contest for Design + Sketches - Minted
submit sketch work for minted challenge -- please provide support
Desktop Rolling Clock
Time is a mystery concept- with no physical form and represent various way through humans interpretation. The clock hand utilized different media to recreate the concept the time. This is a one of a kind art work, Mixed media with Thread sawed Vinyl enclosure with laser cut minute ring make of plaster.
- Face size: 3.5" Diameter
- An simple display piece to add on your wall
- The clock is assembled with a new quartz clock movement. Equipped with a heavy duty metal hanger plate
Latest Print - Sculpture Figure Head
An abstract graphic of a head figure of a Indian portrait with exhausted decorated outfit.
This is a hand cut Philippine Mahogany (Luan) block print Image/Paper is 14”x10" - Printed with water base Black mix Red Ink on Hosho 71gsm Mulberry fiber paper . Signed and numbered.
Latest Print- Cliff Land , a spiritual landscape
I try to create a fictional landscape in the deep forest, a place where all mysterious part of nature occurs. You will be experience sensational and spiritual feeling as if go through a deep meditation. It’s like being at the edge of a cliff, extremely horrified but also frees you up to the unknown possibilities. Print using one Lino Block and one Philippine Mahogany (Luan) with hand applied textures Image/Paper is 14”x10" - Printed with water base Black mix Blue Ink on 250 gsm Lenox 100 cotton paper.
2011 MOCCA Show table
2011 MOCCA hope to you come again next year
Macchu Picchu & Huayna Picchu Part 1
My high altitude sickness temporary went away shortly after I had arrived Angus Calientes.After a short night, we headed on to the scarcest archeology site of this trip – Machu Picchu. The original name of the city is still unknown so it borrows from the name of mountain called by the native. “Machu Picchu” means new mountain. Looking out from the bus on the whiny road seeing those figured rock filled with moss reminds me of the animation film – Avatar. It’s an emotional sensational experience, I’ve been waiting this moment to cure my ill mental poisoned by my materialize life.
Rock over here layout in a different way than those in Cusco, it’s less dressed and w/ more practical purpose. They served as a retaining wall to sculpt the endless layers of terrace. By using granite versus the limestone you see elsewhere in Peru makes it the least porous structure that support a highly functioned irrigation system which prevent the city from erosion after hundreds of years.
The Sun Temple The exquisite sun temple layout in a way demonstrate the believe of ancient Inca. The temple wall build on top of a rock out of landscape. The sun on winter solstice hit right through the stone opening facing east and on the rock surrounded by the stone wall. The landscape rock is carved out right under neath the sun temple and as the home for Pachamama (Mother earth).
Pachamama (Mother earth)
w/ a short stay around ruin… we start our long journey to get on Huayna Picchu…
New York Skyline - An abstract image represents a city I live.
The wood block grain can sometimes be fairly frustrated when you try to be as precise as possible. With a little of mis-forced on your knife, the fine edge chipped away fairly quickly. But working image in an abstract form can turn this toward your advantage. I kind of like the pattern on Mahogany and you can work with those line as vertical or speedy elements as in your image. Anyway, the bottom line is: You just carve on to these blocks and forget the finicky detail you have on your paper, its kind of fun this way to play w/ your block.
This is a hand block print. Using Philippine Mahogany (Luan) with hand applied textures.
Image/Paper is 8x11" - Printed with water base ink and gouache on 100% cotton paper, 250 gsm.
Moon Rabbit and Bay Tree
Next Year's Chinese Birth Symbol is RabbitSo I did this.... This is a hand linocut print. Image inspireed from a chinese folk tale story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_rabbit
Image/Paper is 9x11" - Printed with water base Prussian Blue Ink on 280 gsm Rives BFK cotton paper (cream color).
Ollanytaytombo - Alien Giant with old chief
The big giant “god” figure is the most astonishing image in the guide-book long before my trip. Quite frankly, I was sort of disappointed when I saw the real figure since I thought it can be carved out of a mountain.However, these giant steps to the Sun Temple at its top marked me an unforgettable memory. It’s 2,792 m (9,160 ft), and jumping and shouting is a sure not to do when you still not adjust well to high altitude. (However, when I had arrived Amantani of Lake Titicaca later climbing somewhat at 3800m, I feel very near to collapse) I like the view from top of mountain seeing Valley River intertwined and change its curve in front the sculpted mountain, I suppose it should be fairly dramatic when the river flooded. The so call “Inca” chief face right at the silhouette profile of mountain capture the 1st light at winter solstice at is eye, sound mysterious but poetic, isn’t it? Afterward…it’s the time for the train ride…Machu Picchu —WE ARE COMING!!!
the scale of rock
valley with agriculture
the big chief
the giant
overall view of valley
Bazaar.. I had been bugging to buy a book for 50 sole here and not be able to cut it down to 40. I gave up, but regret afterward since nowhere else again during my trip I can get this book. After all I knew, this book had been only sold in Cusco(weird). If you would buy in Amazon now, it’s 100 USD. Should got a stack when I had chance~
before the train ride
Pisac Ruin
All I know about this place before my visit is a fact that there is a great bargain market below the mountain. However, the terrace over here is quite dramatic and apparently they are still using it as today (to see terrace on this altitude is very abnormal as well). The valley river- Urubamba is completed draught since we visit here at the end of dry season. Because of its strategic location; this is a spot known for its military / agriculture / religious. I don’t feel having much connection to this landscape and due to the sky is overcast w/ dull and flat light with the chill wind around me, I just feel simply a sorrow and memorable glory of the Inca past.
Zoo, Farm and the Factory
Or a Textile manufacturingToday we descend to Sacred Valley, it actually feel a lot better physiologically since I’ll be in lower elevation. The very first stop is a place called Awanacancha, where we see a variety of camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicunas). This is a place dedicate to traditional textile art. The part I enjoy the most is the dying process of the wool, all the dye are natural. In my photo, the red ink is actually from an egg of insect that parasite on a cactus plant.
I'm sweating already
Food and Night
Jack’s café right next to my lodging place is really good!! However, it’s almost like you go to a very good brunch place here in New York.As we want to try some real Peruvian food as taking advice from our afternoon tour guide. This little adventure proofed to be a huge mistake two days after. It cost me money (70 sole = 23 dollars, very expensive in Peru) and time (I eventually get sick in Cusco and can’t leave hotel for a full day)!!
I had a guinea pig for dinner …..Wrong decision…
Plaza de Armas night scene is quite pretty, and I got the chance to test my tripod. So my conclusion is - an empty restaurant get to try your tripod is never ever a good sign!!
