The giant poop “Complex pile (of shit)” by Paul McCarthy has been making headlines on several design blogs, but given all that hot air, it really just is an inflatable giant poop right in front of the world’s tallest hotel- the Ritz Carlton whose bar Ozone has equally potty service – that made me giggle.

M+ is becoming one of my favourite spaces for out of the box pieces – last year, I went to the Cantonese opera in the same pop up setting, which reminded me of the old days when my late grandmother would go to the opera on the streets, with snack vendors on the side peddling their wares.

The inflation exhibition opened last week, featuring Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller’s Stone Henge “Scarilege” – a lovely sight as the kids treat this as an inflatable castle alternative – subtly meeting the objective of getting British history and cultural heritage across in a fun way.

My personal favourite is Guangzhou artist’s “House of Treasures” giant suckling pig, inside, filled with inflatable cushions of pork done several ways – roasts and grills, so deeply rooted to the culinary history of Southern China.

Also featured alongside is an inflatable lotus by Choi Jeong Hwa, the orange one also seen at last year’s ARTHK 2012, with an esoteric philosophical name “Emptiness is form, Form is Emptiness”.

On display is also Chinese architect Liu Jiakun’s “With the Wind” installation that reminds me of the scene in Cinderella where the birds help her with her chores by lifting a white sheet with exactly the same and distribution of weight. They quite recently designed the stunning MOCA in Chengdu.

Finally, another odd existential piece by Tam Wai Ping featuring a cockroach and man that fell from the sky in enormous proportions entitled “Falling into the Mundane world”

I’m looking forward to follow the direction that the West Kowloon Cultural District will take. Here’s an extract from the press release:

Inflation! is a part of Mobile M+, a series of pre-opening ‘nomadic’ exhibitions curated by M+ that aim to engage the public ahead of the opening of the museum, scheduled for completion in late 2017. By initiating and realising projects that would not be possible in a single museum building, Mobile M+ seeks to turn the perceived disadvantage of being “rootless” into a strategic advantage by organizing events that embrace a multi-disciplinary approach.

Technorati Tags: art, cao fei, Hong Kong, house of treasures, inflation, jeremy deller, M+, stonehenge, turner prize, west kowloon cultural district

This is probably one of the most underrated buildings in the country. It’s odd and beautiful at the same time, sensibly and beautifully designed by the Chinese architect I.M Pei, the interiors are stunning and one of modulation, light, space and the experiential walk through the spiral top to get to different themed rooms. If you have toddlers and kids – this is the perfect place to take them. Every room is fully equipped with fun and fancy things to teach facts to kids.

Given the recent news of Chinese astronauts, there’s a room devoted to space simulation machines, a 3D theatre (not sure how regularly the shows change) and different rooms on each level for the kids to explain the how’s and why’s of science.

View from the top floor looking down the spiral building.

Now I know how a lighthouse works!

How a pipe organ works – kids can jump on the keys and it plays an octave.

There are many kids play rooms and set ups as well as a MacDonald’s and little coffee shop where nice organic milk teas are just 10MOP!

Entry 15MOP, to go up the escalators to the top another 25MOP.
Note that unlike other museums, they are closed on Thursdays.

Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Macao Science Center

Technorati Tags: architect, I.M Pei, macau science centre, museum

One of my favourite pieces at the show by Hong Kong printmaker Tsoi Wai chung “Coffin’Me”.

This is Macau’s first Printmaking Triennale organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau SAR, providing an international printmaking exchange from the artists in the region from over 11 countries. The exhibition is on till February 17, 2013, at the Old Court House in Central Macau.

China was the cradle of printmaking thousands of years ago and this exhibition showcases the cultural diversity of inspiration and content that goes into the craft. Because of Macau’s geographical location on the Southern tip of China, Western missionaries heading East at the end of the 15th century first stopped here en route to China. (Macau is actually the world’s first Western colony). Macau was a strategic port on the sea silk route trade and the flourishing print industry then helped to boost the international trade.

The works on show range from traditional watermark woodcut printings, stencil and silkscreen works as well as etching and aquatint works. The pieces range from whimsical, to burlesque and even some form of darkness with a Tim Burtonesque print.

By Fo Lo Tung, Macau

Another one of my favourite pieces. By Negishi Kazunari, Japan.

“Fossil of the 21st Century” by Malaysian artist Mohd Faizal Suhif.

And Singaporean artists, very well represented at the show. Abit of Yayoi Kusuma going on here with Singaporean printmaker Ng Kiow Ngor, April “Tracks are positioned at precise coordinates IV”

Chan Mei Hsien’s “The Pursuit of Meaning.”, Singapore.

Exhibition through February 17, 2013
Edificio do Tribunal,
Avenida da Praia Grande,
Macau

Technorati Tags: design, exhibition, exposition, macau old court, printmaking, triennale

One of the more meaningful things I did months before leaving my previous position in Hong Kong and moving to Macau was introducing e_ting the wonderful woman behind the Island East Markets concept to the team at Swire to sponsor the venue and subsequently putting Miele in touch with her to anchor sponsor the event. I’m so glad it’s all become a reality!

I’m so impressed and inspired by how hard she’s worked to make this all happen! I’m happy to have contributed in a good karmic way!

Although Macau is so close to Hong Kong, commuting the other way just hasn’t been as often than when I was working full time. And I only finally made it out there last Sunday in the rainy weather. It was well worth the trip as there was a Singaporean popup Plussixfive that served amazing rendang baos with achar!! I’ve never had that combination before, but this Singaporean food fusion was lovely. And so delish.

There was also homemade chwee kueh – not quite like at Tiong Bahru market, and also Laksa, but I would recommend to save all room for the rendang baos.

Island East Markets is going on every Sunday until 16 December. A good place to shop for artisanal different Christmas gifts, so go on down!

If you’re taking the MTR, go to Quarry Bay, exit A. And when you’re done at the little market and feeling for a drink, head up to Sugar, the rooftop bar @ East Hong Kong, a 10 min walk away with stunning harbour views.

And a random plug for an old video I commissioned earlier this year as I handheld the HK Poly U students through their media briefs for Swire Hotels. One of my favourites for EAST Hong Kong.

Technorati Tags: artisanal produce, east hong kong, e_ting, farmers market, Hong Kong, island east markets, janice leung, laksa, miele, plussixfive, quarry bay, rendang, swire hotels, swire properties

Li Xiaofeng is one of my favourite contemporary Chinese artists who work primarily with classical blue and white porcelain and probably the only artist doing his signature style porcelain couture. If I were to invest in art, I’m definitely going for his pieces.

Having researched and refined his process for over ten years, Li has proven his understanding of porcelain ware, its historical role in Chinese culture and early commercial trading that took the finest china around the world. He has brought new meaning and value to what has been commonly called waste shards – rejected pieces littered around the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen over the centuries, or buried, broken fragments along the layered trading routes in every direction across China.

He’s also got a really poetic raison d’etre for his choice of materials:

“The shards contain the history and culture of China. Through grinding, polishing and sewing them together, it narrates the country’s past, present and future to its audiences. It also indicates the rebirth of the new civilisation in the Eastern Hemisphere,” explains Li.

Hubei-born Li Xiaofeng completed his post-graduate study at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 2002 in the mural painting department. From this study he gained an appreciation of landscape art but felt compelled to reinterpret the traditions in both materials and form. His work has been described as a graceful type of rearranged landscape made up of rejected porcelain in the form of clothing, and has been exhibited in China, as well as Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Miami.

These beautiful 6-pieces from the “Memory” collection represented by Red Gate Gallery are on show at The Opposite House till the end of December and I was fortunate to see them in person during a recent trip back to Beijing!

And two permanent pieces “Beijing memory 1 and 2″ that belong to the hotel’s permanent art collection here.

Technorati Tags: China, contemporary chinese art, li xiaofeng, porcelain art, red gate gallery, the opposite house hotel beijing