MUCHA' s Art Nuoveau Works

Friday afternoon,Sept. 9th, just as soon as I got done with all my work for the day, packing shipping, emails - I got ready and armed with Juliana's direction on how to get to the National Palace Museum, boldly I went.... now, I have been in the Museum many times before but always by car or scooter... this time I was on my own and taking Public Transportation...

It was a BREEZE!!! Thank God for the fine directions, the Great Public Transit System in Taiwan, and the kind people I asked a long the way - I made it with no trouble at all - the Heat of the Sun does not count... that cannot be helped... :)

A FAVE Piece from the Exhibition...

It was a GREAT Exhibition overall... lots of early works, original illustrations, and commissioned works on display.... sadly we were not allowed to photograph inside (though I did manage to sneak a few shots! you can check them out by clicking here: MUCHA EXHIBITION)... the exhibition ends tomorrow, September 12th... it has been running since June 11th, but with the schedule I keep - I was not able to go (had to force myself or miss out)till the 9th of this month... LOL!

National Palace Museum Link

AstroBoy & The World of Tezuka Osamu

Had the pleasure of taking in a TRULY AMAZING EXHIBITION this morning: The World of Tezuka Osamu - world known Japanese Artist/Illustrator, Father & Creator of much loved ANIME/MANGA comics, animation, characters such as Black Jack, Princess Knight, Kimba: The White Lion, PIKOKO, Phoenix, Buddha, and of course, AstroBoy!!! Even if you are not an ANIME DIE HARD - you must have seen or heard of AstroBoy - especially with the recent Hollywood treatment....

In Japan, he is often referred to as the "Godfather of Anime"... and is likened to America's Walt Disney - admittedly, an inspiration to Master Tezuka in his formative years. Of special note: The distinctive "large eyes" style of Japanese animation is very much attributed to Mr. Tezuka. It is said that he drew inspirations on cartoons of the time such as Betty Boop, Walt Disney's Bambi and Mickey Mouse.

Born in 1928, he started to draw comics around his second year of elementary school. At an early age, he came to the realization that he could use manga as a means of helping to convince people to care for the world. It was after World War II, that he created his first piece of work (at age 17), Diary of Ma-chan and then Shin Takarajima (New Treasure Island), this is attributed as the beginning of the golden age of manga, a craze comparable to American comic books at the time. Hence, Japanese manga artists started referring to him as: "Manga-no-kami sama" (the god of manga). And there was no stopping him ever since....

A succession of COMICS that were translated to Manga Books, then on to Anime Films - and the rest they say is history... and what a legacy he has left for Manga Lovers the world over.... his tales and illustrations are timeless - and like his IDOL,Mr Disney, himself - Mr Tezuka and his works will live on for generations and generations to come....

And again, THANK YOU Juliana for making sure I get to see this EXHIBITION... TRULY MUCH APPRECIATED!!! And was a PLEASURE meeting Frank and Laurie, too - FINALLY!!! :)

COMPLETE EXHIBITION PHOTOS HERE

New Day Tees by Murakami

Apple Daily, one of the leading newpapers of Taipei, has teamed up with Japanese artist, Murakami, to come up with these ULTRA COOL & FUN Tees to benefit the victims of the recent Japanese Quake and Tsunami. Murakami used his famous, loved by many, characters: Kai Kai & Kiki. Same ones that have been used before for Louis Vuitton - and are distinctly, Murakami.The way it works is that, the newspaper URGES all to DONATE a minimum of NT$3500 (about $110US) - to the Japan Relief Fund they have set up - and they will be sent one of the tees. The Tees are, I believe Limited to 8,000 pcs only and are available in 4 colors, White, Pink, Green, & Blue.Taiwan's Super Idols: Jolin Tsai & Wu Chun Models the Fun Tees!!!

sometimes... you just gotta go it alone...

Okay, right of the bat - do not think anything heavy here.... just lack of a title really.... sometimes, one just really have to do thing on their own, no matter how much more fun it would have been with another person... or at least, less tricky, desperate and frustrating when
taking photos...

A couple of years now, I have heard about this MRT Station in Taipei, that is decorated with so much, one of my Fave Artists, Jimmy Liao's paintings.... Have been wanting and dreaming of going there to check it out, as he is a FAVE of mine.... Tried to get someone, just about anyone to go with me and check it out - for one it is a bit outside of Taipei - so a company would have been nice... and two, I know it would be more fun and less STUPID like to take photos on my own.... Sadly, no one has had the time... everytime it was put on the schedule to see - it got cancelled and pushed aside... and seeing more write ups about the place in local mags or papers, not to mention photos of it on FLickr, made me wish to see it more....

One nite this week, I decided to just got it alone... the weather not too good but not too bad either - and I pretty much knew already the vicinity it is in, , so I would not be afraid to even get lost... plus, I can ask for my way back home, am pretty sure... and I was SOOOOO VERY GLAD I did.... for a Jimmy Liao fan, it was really a sight to see,,,,, sooo much of his works, well loved character graces the MRT Station - just about everywhere.... Large walls covered with his art was just like HEAVEN for me... I was once again a little boy lost in my fantasy world...Okay now for the sad part, well, funny really if you can IMAGINE it... whenever the TIMER on my digi cam fails me, I had to resort to stopping - nice & friendly looking travelers - to actually stop and SNAP a shot of me - A LOT!!! A lot as the station is big enough that one must go from places to places to see and admire everything...The station, which opened on 2007, boasted the permanent installations of Jimmy Liao works.... and it has remained one of the Best Destinations even if you just want to get off the MRT to check it out and take photos, for both locals and tourists... and on this nite, I spotted at least, 4 different people - doing what I was doing... taking photos and getting embarrassed upon noticing that they are being watched... hahahahahaha... But of course, am a Professional - did not let all the passersby giving me weird looks deter me from my mission... snapped away I did... running quickly to get in the shot using the timer... and yes, begging others to do the snap for me...

All In All, it was a Great Trip... and am soooo very glad I got to do it, even on my own... another one Checked Off on my To See List....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

"How To Own A Corner" Exhibition

Late yesterday afternoon, after Church, I headed down to the Legacy Theatre to see if I can catch Anthony Neely's Mini Concert... did not get advanced tixs as I was not aware there was going to be one... Sadly, the line was way too long and I was not able to get in... but I did have the pleasure of hearing his Sound checks and last minute rehearsal before the show - right outside the theatre for a little while... it'll have to do - for now....

While in the area, I remembered that a new Jimmy Liao Exhibition was going on... so I headed sown to the 1914 Exhibition Halls and treated myself instead to the Sights and Artworks of the very talented, world renowned, Taiwanese Artist. It did not DISAPPOINT at all... even made me forget about not being able to get into the concert.... So much artworks, installations, sculptures and toys based on his many Great works were at hand....

The exhibition was set up into different rooms, with each room's doors painted with IMAGES from his works... you would not just want to get through the door - you would also want to admire it for a bit.... and each door opens up to more wonderful, fantasy-like, whimsical, world of the artist's visions.

The exhibition started Dec 22nd of last year and will run thru the 27th of March.
EXHIBITION PHOTOS HERE

SUGI POP!!!

Popular tokidoki artist and creator, Simone Legno, joins a roster of cool and popular POP artists for an Exhibition going on (in the USA!) right now thru the 16th of January 2011.... Other artists participating in the exhibition are Artists in this exhibition include: Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, KAWS, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, ...and MANY more! The exhibition is entitled SUGI POP -- "Sugi" is Japanese for "too much" which plays on the sometime over the top art these talented artists creates... The above mentioned talented artists integrate influences from anime and manga, graffiti street art, and consumer culture to create the newest phenomenon this exhibition dubs: SugiPOP!. This multi-media exhibition includes painting, drawing, sculpture, video, and original artwork used to make anime films and manga comics. Am pretty sure that this exhibition will WOW crowds of all ages. I only wish I could fly out to view them all in person.

Murakami Art used for the Promotional Posters!

...and this is Simone Legno's art that is part of the exhibition
P0rtsmouth Museum ofArt
Museum Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday 11:00-5:00
Open late Fridays until 8:00
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Location and General Information:
One Harbour Place
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-436-0332

murakami @ this year's Macys' Parade!!!

Renowned artist & LV frequent collaborator, Takashi Murakami, made a bold appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade both in person and with one of his iconic characters. KAWS was on hand to capture the artist who appeared on the cover of THE NEW ORDER with him for issue 2.　I can only WISH to have been there to see him and his giant balloons in person.... now that would have been something else to be Thankful for!!!