Exhibition Review

Review of The Surrealism House

(418 words total)

Recentely,an exhibition has been held in Barbican art gallery named “The Surrealism House”,which “is the first to explore the relevance of surrealism for architecture”.(Guide of The Surrealism House,2010) The structure of this exhibition can be considered as the most brilliant part, curators attemped to present an attractive “house” using exceptional space arrangements and hundreds of various artworks including films,photography,paintings,installations and sculptures.

First success of this show was the engaging space dividing.Two floors have been separated to a series of houses to lay out differient artists’ works and each house has their own theam. More interestingly,the whole structure seemd like a big maze which hleped me to keep the curiosity easily because I would never know what would be displayed in next room.

Additionally,my profound impreesion were given by two famous earlier artist who both have the highest reputation in surrealism brand, Salvador Dali(1904-1989 )and Maya Deren(1917-1961 ). This exhibition showed their typifier artworks which were titled “Sleep”(Dali,1937) and “Meshes of The Afternoon”(Maya Dren,1943) respectively. Dali and Maya Deren not only have played dominate roles in surrealism process but also have brought the surrealism art into public’s eyes.Therefore,in my view ,they make the ticket of this show more valuable.

However,apart from the highlights that I discussed above,two weaknesses are worth to point out.First is that too many attentions have been paid on making a surreal atmosphere such as the lower temperature or caliginous lights. The fact that it was too horrible and cold,therefore,I could not concentrate on those artworks and just wanted to finish the visiting quickly. Secondly,a number of pieces were lack of memorability,some of them were insipid,kitsch or just funny.I could not catch any surreal sprit or passion from it,even missed their main purpose. For instance,”Metal Fucking Rats” and “Horn’s Concert for Anarchy” were both quirky as well as failed to arrest my heart.Except their funny form or high-tech skills,I could not give any comments emotionally.Especially that the piano never stopped making horrific voice which continuing disturbed me througout the whole visiting.

In conclusion,The Surrealism House still gives me an unusual viewpoint of surrealism as well as the representation of a special structure within several extraordinary artworks. Nvertheless, from my perspective,overemphasizing the importance of exhibition’s form or atmosphere may cause a misunderstanding of artists’ original expression. Although the curators have planned to present their own particular version of surrealism,they still fail to catch the core of surrealism and display it exactly. I hope that someday an exhibition can give a redefinition of surrealism for public perfectly .

Reflect on good design.

According to this article analysis,we can see the viewpoint of writer clearly that currently,majority of digital products cannot stress on the importance of consumer’s demands.Through the process of good design from early years to present,there are three elements considered as the main points to definition of good design: usefulness;usability and desirability. Specifically, when designers attempt to achieve good design,they should ensure that they do know what is their product’s function?what is people’s expectation and where or how consumers can use this product? This compositive standard aim to set up a beefy framework to judgement that what is a good design for us in this massive digital age.

As above stated,making a product which conformed to good design become more difficult. Since nowadays,we live in a over crowded information age that people perhaps face to vast kind of choices especially the selection of products,which also may lead to attenuation of consuming behavior. Therefore,giving a typical criterion of good design is quite benefit to make user easier to choose suitable products as well as promote the creation of designers.

Conclusively, there are a lot of differences of identifying good design between past and the contemporary age. Design has advanced big steps and transformation to toward widely stage.However,one point has never changed that if you can never fail to attract consumers or keep their trusts for your products,you would be considered as a good designer no matter what times.

Big as London,small as me---Inspiration of London

Where shall we begin?

In London,Every moment has several things explored.The lover kissing in the square,police wagons cross the road with ringing,bicycle rider moving in the cars river quickly just like fishes and the beautiful pink hair girl walking on the street without shoes.In this fantastic city,people can do anything on the road such as drinking,eating,looking for ways with map or deal with business seriously.You will never recognize people's nationality who walking pass you because of there are so many people who come from various country live in this city where always crowded and fulling with energy.London as a big city presents a spirit question of contemporary society that how many diverse possibility can be accepted or created in people's life now?Is it too fast or enormous that start to over loading?But what the most interesting thing is despite you wanna figure out some questions or just wanna going to deeper points,another problems always catching your eyes easily and break your thinking.The only reason can be found out is the new question never stopping happen in your london life.

This feeling both positive and negative,you can find funny things frequently and easy to keep the fresh feel to this city,but you also easy to feel tired for the life pace and lose your enthusiasm contrastively.As for me,how to keep the strong emotion for my daily life is a important way which can help me to explain art and learn about life. London is a such big and brilliant city but I am just a teeny spot in the london map,consequently，I am trying to express the relation between small me and this huge city also showing my little life story.This is an idea which I want to put into my London project as well.

traveling with dream maker.

Today we visit an exhibition which is held in Barbican art gallery to display about the surrealism art. This exhibition aim to highlight the importance of the house within surrealism and its legacies. Furthermore,it is the first show trying to discuss the connection between surrealism and architecture. A majority of artworks are made by pioneers of surrealism,beyond that,there still are some contemporary surrealist invited cooperation to built the ‘house’ which has dramatic structure combined by art,film and architecture.

The first artwork which catching my eyes is an exquisite production that sits next by entrance. It Named MY MOTHER,MY FATHER,MY SISTER,MY BROTHER and made by Donald Rodney in 1996. This work represents that a teeny house made from human skin and pins putted into a transparent glass box. I am shocked by this work owing to its heavy emotion for family and unimaginable created skills.

Crossing the first house I come to a dark pathway where exhibits a painting created by Salvador Dali ,who is the most famous surrealist artist in the world. He is well known for his magic vision of paint and extraordinary imagination. This painting named LA REINE SALOME and created in 1937,it shows a depressive scene about a stabbed face with tears and a huge breast lay on chapped land. This production is a typical example of Dali’s style,which has printed a remarkable sign in surrealism progress.

After the pathway then through a white hall which displays sculptures and installations,I walk into a projection room that plays a classical experimental film MESHES OF THE AFTERNOON which made by Maya Deren(1917-1961),who almost has the highest reputation in the avantgarde art field as a female. She always knows how to create magic stories with unusual montages in surrealist way and never fail to attract audience for her brilliant narrative structure. Just like this film described,a strange dream of a woman’s nap within some quirky views,dreamlike feelings and appropriate musics. Maya Deren sets up another way to express stories also separated the traditional form. This is why she was considered as the key-character of the experimental arts.

When I finish the whole visiting,I feel the strong feeling and deeply shock for the surrealism,excellent art works and those great artists. I also understand that surrealism means a totally different way of expression and metaphysic of poetry. It focus on the core of the mind also trying to find various symbols of objects or each sense. As for me,THE SURREAL HOUSE present a specific and easier way to reach the soul of surrealism.

02/07/2010

sometimes

Sometimes I hate myself just coz I'm not as good as I expected.

Sometimes I feel depressing just coz I look at myself through a mirror with lightsome dusts.

Sometimes I am tired like a falling bird and crying like a baby who needs deeply love.

Sometimes I wanna be strong as a mountain but also flowing as a streamlet.

I do know some questions will be unveiled on someday.

But if I have a key which can open the life's door,I will never use it.