Category Archives: Mind Philosophy

Shining the spotlight on the creative realm of the sublimely artistic and bringing the latest and breaking news from the art world

EZ 44 - Mind Philosophy, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Connecting Captains Capturing Contemporaries Hong Kong 捕捉现代典雅掠影香港

October 21, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Talk to anyone that has visited Hong Kong before and most will tell you with confidence how one should go about visiting the island. Not to mention, there are plenty of information on the world wide web providing visitors with comprehensive to-do lists and how to go around doing it. In an attempt to bring readers beyond the normal and expected route, we have chosen a few interesting spot for those who would prefer a touch a elegance, class and style.

The Art of Collecting

Hong Kong has a long history of playing the middle man between East and West, hence making this a treasure island for collectors of arts and antiques especially Chinese artefacts. These highly sought-after items continue to see auction houses around the world hammering new record prices every now and then. Hollywood Road and its surrounding areas have historically been the hunting ground for many of such unique pieces and continue to be a popular area for new discoveries. A note of caution to those who may have stumbled across a good art deal, which more than likely be forged or copied artwork professionally crafted to look just like the real deal. Be prepared to make a purchase with the absolute knowledge of the artwork and mindful that you can always go away and do a little research before coming back with an offer.

Pearl Lam Galleries in Pedder Building nearby is a respected art gallery that plays a vital role in promoting Chinese and Asian contemporary art. This unique gallery is committed to encouraging cross cultural exchange and stimulating international dialogues. A few other art galleries are also located in the same building. Another interesting art gallery to visit is none other than the Opera Gallery on Wyndham Street. With a headquarter based in Paris, this well-established international chain of galleries, is one of the leading dealers in modern and contemporary art.

只要提到去香港，许多人会老马识途般给你扎堆的吃喝玩乐建议，更别提网络上巨细靡遗的旅游攻略。为了试图带给读者超越预期的路线，我们选择趣味的另一面：展现香港优雅、高贵和时尚的风貌。

藏品的艺术
长久以来，香港在东方与西方之间一直扮演着中间人的角色，从而成就它作为艺术和古董收藏家的金银岛，尤其是中国经典文物。从以前到现在，这些受到高度追捧的文物不断在世界各地拍卖行锤击出全新或创纪录的价格。而作为古董古玩的最大狩猎场-荷李活道及周边区域是随时能淘到宝的热点地方。不过，要注意就算发现心仪的艺术品，也可能是专业制作的赝品，只是看起来惟妙惟肖的仿真品。如果做好购买的准备，除了具备对艺术品的绝对知识，其实可以考虑先离开走一圈，过后再回来报价交易。

驻扎毕打行的 “艺术门画廊- Pearl Lam Galleries”是相当受推崇的艺术画廊，它在促进中国和亚洲当代艺术起着关键作用。这家独特的画廊致力于跨文化交流与倡导国际对话，而一些艺术画廊也设在同一大楼，其中最吸引人的是云咸街的“Opera Gallery”，这个总部设在巴黎，颇具规模的国际连锁画廊，是现代与当代艺术的主要经销商之一。

EZ 44 - Mind Philosophy, Mind Philosophy

The Heirloom 传家之宝

October 21, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

The Heirloom is a mesmerising and sophisticated contemporary piece that blends the impeccable Baba Nyonya style with delightful design. Thousands of lustrous and quality coloured stones with intriguing matrix including Rubies, Emerald, Alexandrite, Multi-coloured Sapphire, Diamonds, Spinel and Tourmaline were meticulously handpicked just to create an exquisite piece reminiscence of the Baba Nyonya era.

Only the finest quality and rarest stones were used for The Heirloom as it was set with precision and put together with intricate craftsmanship. This exquisite piece of jewellery represents one of the finest composition of stones that includes 226 pieces of diamonds (an equivalent of 1carat), 222 pieces of compelling coloured stones and 40g of gold. These stones were mixed to enhance its visual texture and light reflections.

Shaped like a key, The Heirloom represents elegance, prosperity and eternity while bringing meaning to inheritance and family roots. It exudes the true spirit of the Baba Nyonya culture through its intricate design and colours. It can serve as an inheritance for a family that can be passed on from generation to generation.

The Heirloom is a brainchild from the Founding President of One East Museum as a way to showcase the significance of the Baba Nyonya or the Straits Chinese Peranakan culture. This is a culture that harks back to the rich and notable Baba Nyonya families from the golden era where Chinese immigrants adopted local customs with a decidedly Western influences in their traditions and ways of living. It is also a specially designed piece to celebrate the success story of The North Banquet 2016 – The Hosts & The VIPs, the first red carpet gala dinner in Butterworth.

《传家之宝Heirloom》吊坠深具独特魅力，堪称是现代精致艺术品，尤其是结合有传统娘惹优美文化设计，再精挑细选出数百颗完美的红宝石、蓝宝石、祖母绿宝石、亚历山大变石、蓝宝石、钻石等珍贵天然彩宝中嵌入在这件艺术品上，从颜色搭配、设计原型、细节构造，都充分展现娘惹文化深厚的底蕴，完美的设计，让传家之宝毫无暇疵感。

只有最好品质珍贵宝石才会嵌入在传家之宝吊坠上，由于是手工打造，每个细节都要百分百精确度。这件原创又完美的珠宝艺术品包含有226颗钻石，相等于一克拉，222颗多彩宝石及40克金属。宝石加强吊坠的质感及视觉性，还有光耀度。

传家之宝的形状如门匙，每一处细节都是精益求精，同时也蕴意一代传一代的含义，更代表站高雅、繁盛及永恒。吊坠就有如在述说着一个家族的事迹，也流露出娘惹后裔在文化传承的真谛。传家之宝象征和气生辉，代代相传的理念，潺潺不绝的流传下去。
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传家之宝的概念出自马来西亚一东博物馆创办人，从传统娘惹文化风格出发，并提供创作概念原型。在南洋昌盛的时代，一般的娘惹巴巴都来自名门望族。并有传承习俗的观念，独有的历史文化，让娘惹巴巴被记载在历史中。传家之宝也为2016北马鸿宴划下一个圆满成功的记录。

EZ 43, EZ 43, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Colourful Dreams Floating in the Air 台湾台东国际热气球节 : 梦想升空

August 12, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Since year 2011, many colourful and vibrant hot air balloons can be seen floating in Taitung City’s stunning blue sky every summer. Those amazing balloons carry passengers slowly in the air, soaring above the mountains, fields and lakes, bringing them closer to the sky for a breathtaking 360 degree view of picturesque beauty.

Travel to Taiwan and you will have a whole summer to ride one of these colourful hot air balloons and have your dreams come true! Taitung Taiwan International Balloon Festival is coming to its 6th year in 2016. It will kick start on 1 July and end on 7 August. In 2014, BBC named it as one of the Top 10 Hot Air Balloon Festivals around the world. One of Taiwan renowned magazine Common Wealth also appraised this as one of the Top 5 festivals in Taiwan.

Although the main event takes place in Luye Gaotai township, a series of other activities such as the fantastic Night Glows concert will take place across different towsnships such as Jhihben hot spring area at Beinan Township and Dapo Pond at Chihshang Township. While at Sansiantai at Chenggong Township and The Aurora Garden at Taimali Township, you can enjoy the Morning Glow. Be it in the daytime or at night, those performances are promised to bring upon great and memorable experiences to the audiences.

Due to the wind direction and safety concerns, hot air balloon rides are only available in the early morning and evening. If you are planning to visit the festival, please make sure you log on to their official website (balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/index.asp) to have its latest updates. Once you come to beautiful Taitung for the hot air balloon festival, remember to pamper yourself by staying for a few more days and embrace this lovely land.

从2011年开始，每年夏天，都可以见到五彩缤纷的热气球翱翔在台东蔚蓝的天空中，以极慢的速度飘浮在空中，让游客可以用360度全视野悠哉地俯视并享受台东独特的山脉溪谷、农田原野及水塘湖泊之美。

这个已经迈入第6个年头的台东国际热气球节，早在2014年就被BBC评选为世界十大热气球节，且被台湾知名的《天下杂志》评选为台湾五大金牌活动之一。今年的台东国际热气球节将从7月1日开始知道8月7日始结束，让这个美丽梦幻延续了整个盛夏。这场国际热气球嘉年华会虽然以鹿野高台为中心，但是延伸活动光雕音乐会却拓展到台东不同乡镇如卑南乡知本温泉区、池上乡大坡池等举行，而在成功镇三仙台和太麻里乡的太麻里曙光园区则会举行日出光雕音乐会，让热气球在白天与黑夜两种不同感觉的大自然布幕中欢歌起舞。

由于风向以及安全因素考虑，热气球只在清晨以及傍晚才可以升空，所以远道而来的游客请务必先到官网(balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/index.asp)查询活动咨询。而当你来到美丽梦幻的台东，除了追逐那与梦幻一起升空的热气球，也请腾出几天假期，让你的身心安顿在这片美丽乐土上，一起感受台东的漫活乐趣。

EZ 43, EZ 43, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Dala’il al-Khayrat Prayer Manuscripts From The 16th To 19th Centuries

August 11, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

One of the most celebrated manuscripts of the Islamic world is the Dala’il al-Khayrat, which means Waymarks of Benefits. It is a famous collection of prayers for Prophet Muhammad (SAW), which was written by the Moroccan Sufi and Islamic scholar Muhammad Sulaiman al-Jazuli ash Shadhili, who died in 1465. Alongside the prayers are beautifully-illuminated pages decorated in colourful pigments and gold leaf.

Since it was first inscribed, the Dala’il al-Khayrat has inspired calligraphers, illuminators and painters of court ateliers from around the world. They take great pains to reproduce these sumptuous illustrated and illuminated manuscripts and in the process contribute to its rich and diverse heritage.

In order to reveal the outstanding history and artistry of the Dala’il al-Khayrat, the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia (IAMM) in Kuala Lumpur is showcasing an exhibition entitled Dala’il al-Khayrat: Prayer Manuscripts From The 16th To 19th Centuries. The exhibition showcases the museum’s own collection of some of the finest Dala’il al-Khayrat copies from its native land, Morocco, to as far as East Turkistan and China.

The exhibition is divided into several sections, beginning with the history of the Dala’il al-Khayrat and its author, Imam Al-Jazuli, whose ancestry can be traced to Imam Hassan ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Among the highlights are exquisite Moroccan copies and a rare monumental single-page Dala’il Al-Khayrat signed by Alhafiz Mahbub Muhammad. The exhibition enables visitors to uncover the contents of the Dala’il Al-Khayrat and appreciate its content, the 8 ahzab (days of recitation) and other main elements.

Meanwhile, a special section of the exhibition teaches visitors how to distinguish the regional characteristics of the Dala’il al-Khayrat, showing beautiful masterpieces from North Africa, Central Asia, Turkey, Indian Subcontinent, China and South East Asia. The most beautiful part of these manuscripts are the illustrations of the two holiest sites in Islam – the An Nabawi Mosque in Madinah and Al Haram Mosque in Mecca. At the beginning of this section, Imam Al-Jazuli wrote: “This is the description of Al-Rawdah Al-Mubarakah (the Blessed Garden) in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is buried, together with his two companions Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA)”. In reference to this passage, illuminators and painters of subsequent centuries have been encouraged to add an illustration, which later became the focal point of the Dala’il al-Khayrat.

Last, but not least, is a dedicated section for Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and an explanation for the tradition of praising the Prophet, as well as other living Islamic traditions that are still being practiced today. In conjunction with the exhibition, the IAMM has published a comprehensive catalogue featuring these celebrated manuscripts. Showcasing more than 100 artefacts from the IAMM collection, the catalogue unveils the beauty and intricacy of the pages of the Dala’il al-Khayrat and other related artefacts.

The Dala’il al-Khayrat exhibition will be on display for four months at Special Gallery 1 of the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia from 11th March 2016 until 31st August 2016.

EZ 43, EZ 43, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Relationship 亲情牵心

August 11, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

PINKGUY Gallery hosted Asian sculptor Chng Huck Theng’s bronze work for the second time entitled ‘Relationship’.

The exhibition was probably the first of its kind in Malaysia where there was only one artwork on display and it was kept in an exclusively handcrafted blue wooden box specially designed to keep the bronze sculpture. Guests were kept wondering if there was an exhibition as there were no signs of sculptures being displayed like the previous one. The official unveiling of the sculpture was by none other than the Director General of National Visual Art Gallery Malaysia Dato Dr Mohamed Najib Ahmad Dawa. The gallery managed to secure ten pieces from a limited edition of seventeen for this exhibition. Owner of PINKGUY Gallery Winson Loh said that he always has confidence in Chng’s work as it is not only unique but it carries meaning. Eighty percent exhibited were collected on the night.

web2 — Collector : Tony Hii with his wife

Collector : Vincent Lee, Mr & Mrs C.H.Lee

Inspired by the fact that an ordinary civilian plane MH17 could just be shot down from the air by a missile even when it was unprovoked, Ch’ng was saddened by the unfortunate incident but he chose to reflect his feelings and emotion by creating the sculpture ‘Relationship’ which captures the essence that reminds people not to take life or relationship for granted as it may be here today and gone tomorrow. The sculpture depicts an old man and a little girl standing on a wreckage looking up to the sky, wondering what they would have done otherwise if time could be reversed.

Living life, loving someone and caring for others only make sense if they are still alive. Regretting after everything has gone is meaningless.

PINKGUY画廊举办亚洲当代雕塑家庄学腾 2016年第二次青铜作品展 “亲情牵心”。

这是马来西亚首次举办的特别展出，因为会场只有一个艺术作品。有一个特别设计的蓝色木箱，把独家手工制作的青铜雕塑保存在内。它引起参观者的疑惑和怀疑，这场展览会是否真在进行中？因为这不像马来西亚国家视觉艺术画廊总监拿督莫哈末纳吉博阿末达瓦博士主持开幕礼，画廊在十七项限量版作品中，收藏了10项。另外，策展人 Winson Loh非常喜爱庄学腾的作品，其中八个雕塑也已经找到买家了。

一班普通的民航机MH17也可能只因一个无端发射的导弹，而在半空中被击落下来，这宗不幸的事件让庄学腾感到非常难过，于是他选择通过雕塑创作“亲情牵心”，反映出他的感情和情绪，提醒人们别认为生命或亲情是理所当然的，因为它今天在这里，但明天可能就离开了。此雕塑作品描绘一个老人和一个小女孩站在残骸上仰视天空，思考如果时间可以逆转，他们将会做什么？

人生在世，唯有活着，爱人和关心他人才有意义。一切逝去后才来遗憾，是毫无意义的。

EZ 43, EZ 43, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Whistler’s Mother in NGV “惠斯勒的母亲”

August 11, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Some may have only seen the Whistler’s Mother before in the movie Bean (1997) when Mr. Bean accidentally sneezed on it and eventually destroyed it. Thankfully it was just a fiction and Australians still have the opportunity to be up close and personal with the genuine painting in National Gallery Victoria (NGV) for three months, starting from 26th March. The Whistler’s Mother is one of the most important paintings in the world that made its debut down on loan form the Musée d’Orsay in Paris in exchange to lending NGV’s Pierre Bonnard’s Siesta (La Siesta) from 1900 as part of a cultural exchange program.

The artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834 and moved with his family to Russia when he was 10 years old. He was trained as a painter since 1855 and ‘Portrait of the artist’s mother’ was painted in 1871. It was a controversial painting then and only became popular in 1934 when President Franklin Roosevelt devised a modified design of the work for a Mother’s Day stamp. Today it is an iconic painting, recognised alongside Mona Lisa and The Scream.

The purpose of NGV having this exhibition was to encourage viewers to see Whistler’s work afresh, highlighting what is so intriguing and mysterious about this magnificent work. It was undoubtedly a golden opportunity for those who love art and appreciate culture.

看过1997年电影“憨豆大灾难”的观众可能会记忆犹新，憨豆先生不小心打了个喷嚏就将名画“惠斯勒的母亲-Whistler’s Mother”摧毁了。值得庆幸的是这仅是一个虚构的剧情，澳大利亚人仍然有机会自3月26日开始，3个月内在维多利亚国家美术馆(NGV)与这幅名画亲密接触。

“惠斯勒的母亲”是世界上最重要的画作之一，而这幅画作首次亮相展出是以交流形式从巴黎奥赛博物馆借出，NGV以提供另外一幅法国画家Pierre Bonnard’s在1900年的名画 “La Siesta”作为文化交流项目的部分。

艺术画家詹姆斯惠斯勒出生于美国马萨诸塞州。在1834年，10岁的他与家人搬到俄罗斯，在1855年他受训启发后成为一名画家，并在1871年完成”画家母亲的肖像”这个杰作。而这幅极具争议的画作会广大流传是在1934年，美国总统Franklin Roosevelt将画作设制为母亲节邮票印章。今天，它成为名画之一，与“蒙娜丽莎”和“呐喊”并肩齐驱。

NGV举办这项展出是为了鼓励观众目睹这名艺术家的美好作品，展现这幅作品迷人和神秘之处,无疑是为艺术爱好者提供鉴赏的黄金机会。

Image(s) courtesy of NGV

EZ 42, EZ 42, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Quick & Easy Tokyo 东京自由行 PART 2

March 24, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Tokyo prior to 1968 was known as Edo, a small castle town in the 16th century but today it is the world’s most populous metropolis and one of Asia’s must visit destinations for unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture, art and dining. Not to mention the rich history offered by this city to visitors is beyond words can describe. If one only have a few days in Tokyo then…

1968年之前，东京被称为江户，是一个16世纪的小城堡。但是，今天东京是世界上人口最多的大都市，亚洲必访的选择无限之购物、娱乐、文化、艺术和餐饮旅游胜地。暂且不提深厚的历史背景，这个城市给予游客的感觉笔墨难以形容。如果一个人在东京只有几天的时间…

Japan_UenoPark-CMYK edited — Ueno Park 上野公园

Ueno is a good choice for those who seek a walk in the park and a chance to visit a few museums at close proximity. Ueno Park is famous for its cherry blossoms that bloom in Spring and lotuses that flower in Summer. Nearby are the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum and the Tokyo Cultural Hall. Children will love the zoo in the park. Next to the Ueno station is the Ameyayokocho Market where one can again wander around shopping for miscellaneous that include clothes, bags, shoes, etc.

对于喜欢在公园散步，参观博物馆的人而言，上野是一个好地方。上野公园因春季樱花和夏天莲花盛开而闻名。附近有国立西方艺术博物馆、东京国立博物馆、东京都市博物馆和东京文化会馆，而孩子们最喜欢公园里的动物园。上野站的下一站是阿美横町市场，你可在这里购买服装、箱包、鞋子等等。

Shinjuku is one of the busiest place in Tokyo where the JR train station here serves more than 3.5 million passengers a day. There are large scale shopping stores such as Time Square, Keio department store, Isetan and many more. It is almost impossible to tell one how to walk around Shijuku as it is a big area with too many shopping and entertainment. Stamina and deep pockets are very much needed in this area.

When the sun sets, then that is the time when Kabukicho comes alive and the dancers strip. The place is relatively safe at night but visitors should be careful of scams and pick pockets. There are a few good Ramen stores around where one can request another two extra ramen noodle free of charge if you have such big stomach.

新宿是东京最繁华的地方，JR火车站每天进出的人次超过350万人。这里有大型购物商场如时代广场、庆应义塾百货、伊势丹等等。由于新宿范围太大，购物及娱乐场所太多，你难以教人如何在那儿逛街。脚力和雄厚的财力，在这里都很重要。夕阳西下时，则是歌舞伎町开始活跃，舞者开始赤裸的时候。虽然这个地方晚上相对比较安全，但游客也要小心提防骗子和扒手。这里有几家不错的拉面店，如果你胃口够大，还可以额外吃两碗免费的拉面。

Akibahara or Akiba in short is well known for being the world leading electronic place. Not only this is the place for those looking for the latest electronic gadgets, it is also the mecca for otakus. Visiting anime or idol fans from near and far will visit this place especially on Sundays where many be in their manga, anime and Japan cosplay. Some may consider this culture twisted especially for those with traditional up-bringing or conservative mind-set but to others, it is an opportunity where the virtual world comes alive.

秋叶是世界领先的电子产品圣地，这不仅是寻觅最新电子产品的地方，它也是御宅族的圣地。来自各地的动漫迷都会前来此地参观，特别在星期日，许多人会以漫画、动画和日本角色扮演的形象出现。对于比较传统保守的人士而言，这种文化显得扭曲，但对其他人而言，这是虚拟世界变成真实的机会。

Tokyo Sky Tree is the venue for those who prefer an indoor, more relaxing and cooler shopping experience. It is the world’s tallest ‘free-standing tower’ at 634m with two observation decks overlooking Tokyo with a spectacular panoramic view. A large shopping complex and an aquarium are located on the base.

东京天空树特别为喜欢室内轻松和超酷购物体验的人而设立，它是世界上最高的“自由独立塔”，高634米，具有两个观景台，可俯瞰东京壮观的全景，底层是一个大型购物中心和水族馆。

If you only have time to visit one temple then the Sensoji Temple located in Asakusa will be the perfect choice. This is Tokyo’s oldest and one of the most popular yet most colourful temples. It is hard to miss this temple as it has a big red lantern with Japanese wordings written in black hanging in front of the main entrance. Upon entering, visitors will be greeted with a 200 meters shopping street called Nakamise that have interesting small shops selling from typical Japanese souvenirs such as folding fans, chopsticks, etc., to local traditional hand made snacks. Only after walking through the centuries old shopping street then one will approach the main hall and the five starred pagoda. There are many events held throughout the year here and the annual festival of the Asakusa Shrine, the Sanjay Matsui held in May is the biggest.

如果你只有时间参观一所庙宇，那么浅草寺将是你完美的选择。这是东京最古老和最受欢迎，也最丰富多彩的寺庙。你很难错过这个寺庙，因为它有一个写上黑色日文的大红灯笼挂在大门前。步入其间，将有200米长的仲见世购物街欢迎你。这里有许多有趣的小店铺，售卖典型的日本纪念品如折扇、筷子、当地传统的精致点心等等。走过了这条拥有百年历史的商业街，你就会来到正殿和五宝塔。这里整年活动不断，浅草寺每年5月举办的一年一度三社祭是最大型的节庆。

EZ 42, EZ 42, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

Malaysia Art 2016 2016年的马来西亚艺术圈

March 24, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

It is undeniable that Malaysian art industry was expecting a tough ride after the introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2015. It gave rise to unprecedented jam-packed auctions just before its official implementation with the hope that collectors would take advantage of saving instead of paying GST. Although most expected a bad year of 2015, the overall total sales result was a complete astonishment with around RM2 million higher than 2014. Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers outperformed the rest with more than RM10.7 million sales, followed by KLAS Art Auction with about RM8 million, RM7.5 million for Masterpiece Auction KL and The Edge Auction for RM1.5 million.

2016 marks an interesting year for Malaysian art industry as it will be the time for collectors to transform into bargain hunters, making it an uphill battle for both artists and art galleries. Although some of the relatively new galleries have decided to call it a day, the more established galleries such as Wei-Ling Gallery, G13, Core Design Gallery and Richard Koh Fine Art were among those that brave the outlook as they not only go on the offensive with interesting local exhibitions, but also going abroad to promote in-house artists in international art exhibitions such as Art Stage Singapore. While other galleries such as Galeri Seni Mutiara and The Art Gallery from Penang and KL-based galleries such as PINKGUY Gallery and Segaris Art Centre prefer to focus more on local presentations. In short, galleries today must showcase its strength towards the artists they represent in order to gain collectors’ confidence with an apparent objective that they will be the blue chip when it comes to art investment.

With an expected slowdown in the Malaysian economy, the art industry will be facing a challenging year ahead. It is also crunch time for true dedicated artists and professional art galleries to prove to the public that their creations are worth collecting and investing, as the world has had enough of self-proclaimed and non-serious artists while some better artists demand prices beyond the reach of most especially the newcomers. Collectors are not dumb rich people; artists and their artworks are just like other professions and products that consumers pay with expectations.

无可否认，马来西亚艺术圈在2015年大马政府实行消费税之后，对前景的展望是崎岖难行。另外，消费税实施之前，大马拍卖行引起了前所未有的拥挤，因为收藏家们想提早省一笔钱。虽然多数人预计2015年是不利的一年，但实际上拍卖行的整体营收仍令人惊讶，达200万令吉，高于2014年的记录。其中，亨利艺术拍卖行表现鹤立鸡群，营收超过1070万令吉，其次是KLAS艺术拍卖行，大约800万令吉；吉隆坡尚品艺术拍卖行750万令吉；The Edge拍卖行150万令吉。

2016年对马来西亚艺术圈而言，是有趣的一年。因为这一年，收藏家可能逢低买入，艺术圈成为艺术家和画廊之间的艰苦战场。虽然一些相对较新的画廊已决定关闭，比较资深的画廊，如Wei-Ling Gallery、G13、Core Design Gallery 和 Richard Koh Fine Art却勇敢前进。它们不仅积极举办有趣的本地艺术展，也到国际艺术展如“艺术登陆新加坡”介绍本身的艺术家。槟城的珍珠画廊和The Art画廊，以及来自吉隆坡的画廊，如PINKGUY画廊和Segaris艺术中心比较专注于本地展览。总之，今天的画廊必须向他们所代表的艺术家展现实力，以赢取收藏家的信心–相信他们所购买的艺术品，是蓝筹股级的投资。

随着马来西亚经济预期放缓，大马艺术圈将面临充满挑战的一年。这也是一个关键时刻，真正敬业的艺术家和专业画廊将向公众证明，他们的作品值得收藏和投资。事实上，这个世界受够了自吹自擂和不认真的艺术家，而一些优质艺术家的开价超出了大多数人，特别是新收藏家的购买能力。收藏家不是愚蠢的富人；艺术家和他们的作品就与其他专业人士和产品一样，消费者是抱着满怀期望来购买的。

Abdul Latiff Mohidin

Landskap Rimba
1996 • 81cm x 203cm • Oil on Canvas
KLAS Art Auction 24/05/2015, Lot 57
Price Realised: RM601,800

Yusof Ghani

Bring LXX
2007 • 183cm x 183cm • Oil on canvas
KLAS Art Auction 18/01/2015, Lot 48
Price Realised: RM313,600

Chia Yu Chian

The Waterfall
1983 • 97cm x 184cm • Oil on Canvas
Masterpiece KL 02/08/2015, Lot 109
Price Realised: RM156,800

Ahmad Zakii Anwar

Legong 4
1997 • 120cm x 180cm • Acrylic on Canvas
KLAS Art Auction 24/05/2015, Lot 66
Price Realised: RM118,000

Image(s) courtesy of KLAS Art Auction and Masterpiece Auction

EZ 42, EZ 42, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy

BULLSEYE! Art Stage Singapore resiliently hits the mark 射中靶心! 新加坡艺术舞台击中目标

March 24, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

For the sixth year in a row, Art Stage Singapore has brought Southeast Asian art to the forefront of international art market. The anchor event of Singapore Art Week was held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 21 Jan to 24 this year.

Art Stage Singapore has long been the summit for serious collectors from Southeast Asia and beyond, a fact further proven by attendance of respected international art collectors and experts such as celebrity auctioneer Simon de Pury, architect Rem Koolhaas; and leading collectors Alain Servais (Belgium), Daisuke Miyatsu (Japan), and Deddy Kusuma (Indonesia).

Art Stage Singapore 2016_Yudi Sulistyo_World Without Sea_presented by ARNDT — World Without Sea by Yudi Sulistyo

Highlight of Art Stage Singapore 2016 was the Southeast Asia Forum that explored the bridge between the art market and the non-commercial facets of contemporary art. Encapsulating this idea was the exhibition ‘Seismograph: Sensing the City – Art In the Urban Age’ that successfully underscored the significance of contemporary art in developing the modern society.

Despite facing a gloomy economy and experiencing a dip in the number of visitors, Art Stage Singapore saw favourable sales. Among the top selling artists and artworks at Art Stage include Yayoi Kusama whose works fetched USD1.2 million and Chun Kwang Young who saw one of its works fetching USD 175,000.

新加坡艺术博览会持续第6年走在东南亚国际艺术市场的前沿，这项艺术盛会从2016年1月21日至24日，在新加坡滨海湾金沙会展中心举行。

新加坡艺术博览会俨然是高端收藏家的东南亚峰会，出席的包括国际艺术收藏家和著名拍卖商: Simon de Pury, 建筑师Rem Koolhaas，收藏家 Alain Servais（比利时）, 宫津大辅（日本）与 Deddy Kusuma（印尼）。

2016年新加坡艺术博览会的亮点东南亚论坛，也探讨竖立在艺术市场之间桥梁和非商业的当代艺术。而封装这个概念的展览“地动仪”：感知城市 – 艺术在城市时代”，成功突显了当代艺术在发展现代社会的关键意义。

Art Stage Singapore 2016_Yinka Shonibare MBE_Alien Man on Flying Machine, Alien Woman on Flying Machine, Alien Child _presented by Pearl Lam Galleries — Alien Woman on Flying Machine by Yinka Shonibare MBE

尽管面临着黯淡经济状况和有限的参观者，新加坡艺术博览会还是保持销售率。其中畅销的艺术家和作品叫座能力不减，日本著名艺术家草间弥生的作品卖出120万美元，韩国艺术家全光荣的作品也卖出高价175000美元。

EZ 41, EZ 61 (2), Mind Philosophy, Vol 41

Quick & Easy Tokyo 快速及简易的游览东京

January 26, 2016 EZ Malaysia Leave a comment

Tokyo prior to 1968 was known as Edo, a small castle town in the 16th century but today it is the world’s most populous metropolis and one of Asia’s must visit destinations for unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture, art and dining. Not to mention the rich history offered by this city to visitors is beyond words can describe. If one only have a few days in Tokyo then…

在1968年前，东京被称为江户。若追溯回更早以前的历史，东京在16世纪时只是一个小镇，不过，如今已演变为亚洲着名及必游的大都市，不管是购物、娱乐、文化、艺术及食物，都有着繁多的选择，还有其丰富历史，往往让到访游客目不暇给。如果只能在东京待个几天，建议如下：

It is highly recommended that short stay visitors should purchase a daily travel pass that can be used on all JR, subways and bus lines within the Tokyo district. Trains run from 5am till midnight. Transportation here can be very expensive if one does not plan properly.

推荐打算短程旅游的游客购买一日游车券，这样就可在一天内无限量乘搭东京的地铁及巴士。地铁系统是从早上5时至凌晨运作，若没提早规划行程，东京的交通费是蛮高的。

Tokyo DisneySea is a good choice for those who have been to a few Disneyland around the world and wanted to experience something different but still within the magical Disney. A fantasy theme park inspired by myths and legends of the sea, many reviews have stated that this park is more suitable for the grown up audience but personally I feel that there is no such thing as adults when it comes to the world of Disney. It is the place that even the elderly feel as if they were kids as it just brings back so many memories.

若曾到其他国家的迪斯尼乐园游玩的人士，来东京时不妨到访全球唯一以海洋为主题的迪斯尼海洋乐园，既能带来全新感受，也能继续保有迪斯尼乐园梦幻及童话般的氛围。虽然经常有人会说，迪斯尼海洋乐园是适合成人游玩的园地，可是我还是觉得，既然来到迪斯尼乐园，就再没有小孩及成人之分了。这是一个让成人也能返老还童的乐园，伴随的还有很多年幼时期的美好回忆。

Odaiba is a man-made island in Tokyo Bay where shopping and entertainment are plenty for those who love to explore. Besides the Fuji Building and the Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Joypolis is a fun and exciting play station for those with strong hearts whereas the National Museum of Emerging Science or also known as Miraikan offers visitors an insight to how far technology has progressed and if you are lucky, Asimo will sing for you. Palette Town is a large shopping and entertainment centre that consists of Venus Fort shopping centre, the Ferris Wheel, Zepp Tokyo, Toyota Mega Web and Tokyo Leisureland. There is no doubt that one will feel the ‘pain’ especially on the legs after a long day’s walk so remember to save some time to visit Oedo Onsen, the hot spring theme park that offers baths, scrubs and massages. Guests are expected to be naked.

台场是日本东京湾内一座以填海造陆方式製造出来的巨大人工岛，修筑了许多採用现代规划造景的商场与娱乐设施，供游客探索其中。

位于富士电视台建筑物及彩虹大桥旁的世嘉电子游戏玩乐城，适合追求刺激感的游客。若是来到日本科学未来馆，则可见识科技的进步，幸运的话，还可看到机器人Asimo的演唱。五彩城(Palette Town)是一个大型的娱乐商城，由维纳斯广场、摩天轮、Zepp Tokyo体育馆、丰田汽车Mega Web展示场及东京休闲乐园组成。

要在一天内游览这麽多地方，脚板会一定很痛呢！因此，别忘了预留一些时间到访大江户温泉馆，享受温泉泡澡及按摩。值得一提的是，客人在享受温泉泡澡时必须祼体。

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