The Postcard - Reframing the watercolor painting into memorabilia

Permanence and the Importance of a great custodian

Turning watercolor painting of Singapore River into memorabilia

I had made many of the paintings into photo postcard for collection. As the exhibition set out to experiment with some ways to produce memorabilia from paintings. Here is my interpretation.

As the exhibition set out to experiment with some ways to produce memorabilia from paintings.  The paintings were re-shot and treated to digital treatment, leaving trails of digital imprints, signaling a copy becoming the original and its inability to duplicate the original. In so doing fail to accomplish the trial of permanence of the analogue medium, which it is destined to deteriorate. Only the derivative original could retain, in its entirety the original, however, which is also prone to perish if the digital storage is not readable, as such, each technology switch means the need to convert and transfer from one form to another. Effort and resources are the determinants of its permanence. And eventually the works need a custodian, otherwise, it is bound to be trashed and forgotten.

AThe custodian has the sole responsibility to preserve and promote the works, giving importance and life to the work. I shall elect one such custodian. In fact, I already did. Now it is to inculcate such responsibility and skill in the custodian.

ll photo postcards are derivative works from the watercolor paintings.

Old Shanghai

This continues to explore, through the medium of photographic print which was shot years ago, translating them into watercolour, forming a pictorial landscape, re-photograph them, framing and focusing on different areas, abstracting and reducing images into colours and pixel form. When we are seeing it close, we see an ocean of colours, when we stand back, we see the framing and through the mind perhaps we see the past and our prejudices.

Sky #1

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问天，好像我有许多不解之迷是的，或许是吧！天虽大，可也有尽头，星星虽小，可它遥远得大不可测。 我们的眼睛虽明亮也有看不见的时候。

I found out, through Mike, that Alfred Stieglitz shots a series of clouds, Equivalent. Read through his biography and his clouds, inspired. There were so much technical issues during those film days. It seems that digital could achieve better results.

http://www.phillipscollection.org/research/american_art/artwork/Stieglitz-Equivalent_Series1.htm

I had a discussion with Pauline about sky. She said the sky inspired her when she was young and she could imagine many things while observing the sky. Here is my attempt to capture the sky. I realise that the clouds are abstract and they move.

I watch the sky when I was young too, however, I was searching for that saturated blue that would make my subject stand out. The colour was what I was after. The sky itself was never my subject. After learning from Pauline, I decided to make the sky the subject of this series.

I watch the sky when I am searching for some un-answered question. I meditate on them. I could call the series '问天‘ too。

Sketching Penang

A series of sketches inspired by Penang and its people. I sketched fervently each day as I discovered the unique places and history in this small little town. I had done more that hundreds of quick sketches and would be sharing it in a little book which I am working on now. I would need all the support that I could get from all the readers and patrons of my work. Thank you.

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Project - Painting with Light (public)

May to June 2010

The Lotus Pond is an amazing place to photograph insects.

I had been going to this lotus pond for at least a year. I had not been shooting much at this pond. Recently the lotus was flourishing and it was a great sight. I had been inspired and spend the a few weeks shooting and observing the pond. I learn a lot a bout light and shadow.

This is my attempt to paint with light. Love the reflections and colors.

These works are printed in canvass and can go as large as 2-3 metres. If you interested to purchase them do Contact Me.

All works are copyrighted.

Please email the author if you have intention to collaborate, choomengfoo[a]gmail.com