Saturday, January 3, 2009

Hope (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



Say "Hong Kong" to many people and their immediate visions are of an urban jungle where shopping is the main activity and attraction, followed by eating. Without it having been consciously aimed for though, it has turned out that -- in tandem with chronicling my activities and interests while living in Asia's World City -- one of this blog's results has been to show that the Fragrant Harbour offers far more than that.

This I think I've done for the most part thus far through my copious Hong Kong hiking photo-essays and a sprinkling of photo hunt entries (like those for Wide and Blue). But Hong Kong also is far from a cultural along with natural desert. And although its cinematic and performing arts offerings tend to overshadow its fine arts sector, there are exponents and exhibitions that are worthy too of people's attention.

Take, as an example, the self-taught ceramicist and sculptor named Johnson Tsang, an exhibition of whose works I caught a little more than a month ago at the exhibition area of the Central Library. Of the many fine art in the exhibition, I found myself particularly drawn to two works that both are expressions of hope -- and therefore eminently suitable for exhibiting in this week's Photo Hunt entry.

The first of these is entitled Conversion (Dedicated ToThose Striking for Peace). And in case you can't make it out immediately, here's urging you to click on the photo to see an enlarged shot of this sculpture in which a melting gun held by a pair of hands is transformed below into the makings of a peaceful head of Gautama Buddha. The second's meaning along with shapes should be more immediately obvious. And yes, Heal the World is indeed the title of the work that looks cute as well as couched with hope.

(More than by the way, thanks, tnchick, for the great start to what I hope will be yet another fun and wonderful year of Photo Hunting. And happy 2009 to this blog's visitors, readers and appreciators!)

49 comments:

Bengbeng said...

my comment nagged you into not procrastinating further huh? hahahahaha.. may yr new yr be full of hope and promises.

Bengbeng

Photo Cache said...

very interesting. good take on the theme.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post - I love both of these works of art, they are cool and very unique and I love the focus on peace. :)

Best wishes for a wonderful 2009!

Anonymous said...

Interesting figurines of Hope :)

Carver said...

What a good take on the theme. Your posts are always so interesting and this one was no exception. Happy New Year!

YTSL said...

Hi Bengbeng --

Actually, found your comment (on my Penang food photo-essay entry) after I got online to 'work' on my Photo Hunt entry for this week! So no nagging required!! ;b

Hi Photo Cache --

Thanks.

Hi Annie --

I'd like to think that wanting peace is something universal. Some days, it doesn't feel that way but one can only hope that it will be.

Hi Napaboaniya --

Agreed! :)

Hi Carver --

Thanks for the compliments -- really appreciate them -- and happy new year to you too! :)

eastcoastlife said...

I go HK quite often but have yet to go sightseeing and visit the museums. I must spend some time doing that. The sculptures look awesome! I would have loved to see them.

I hope I will not grow to like my Chinese herbal medicine. LOL

Anonymous said...

Nice take for the theme. TC happy weekend. Mine is up also.

marcia@joyismygoal said...

Wow powerful meanings there and what talent and creativity

bonggamom said...

Great take on this week's theme. Happy New Year!

CRIZ LAI said...

Wow.. can I have a set of those cute tea sets? At least I can have hope in the house forever.. haha :P

Happy New Year!
Criz & J Family Kitties
http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

SASSY MOM said...

Interesting work of art. Nice take.

Have a Blessed 2009!

Anonymous said...

Interesting post :)

Wishing you the best for 2009 :)

Leslie said...

Great photos for this week. Happy New Year! :)

http://lesliesmyers.blogspot.com/2009/01/photohunt-hope-to-get-back-to-venice.html

jams o donnell said...

What wonderful ceramics. A happy New Year to you and yours.

YTSL said...

Hi East Coast Life --

Especially if you visit Hong Kong for leisure (as opposed to on business), you really should check out Hong Kong's non-shopping attractions.

And teehee re your Chinese medicine remarks -- I guess it gives you incentive to get well soon instead!

Hi gen/entry --

Thanks and yup, not to worry, went and visited! :)

Hi Marcia --

Thanks for appreciating. :)

Hi Bonggamom --

Thanks and happy new year to you too. Also, if you return for a visit, could you give me a link to your Photo Hunt entry for this week? Am afraid I couldn't find it as you've got too many blogs for me to deal with!

Hi Criz Lai --

Those aren't mine to own or give away, actually! Instead, am just glad that visitors like me were allowed to take photos in that exhibition space! ;b

Hi Sassy Mom --

Thanks and you too! :)

Hi Julie --

Ditto! ;)

Hi jams o donnell --

They are, aren't they? And happy new year to you and yours as well! :)

Anonymous said...

I always enjoy interesting expressions of any idea in any form! thanks for sharing those 2 pieces!

Anonymous said...

Let's hope for a better world tomorrow !!!
http://chewygummy.net/blog/2009/01/photo-hunter-hope/

Smalltown RN said...

interesting take on the theme...and yes with the photo hunt I also hope to see many new and interesting photos from fellow bloggers...

Hootin Anni said...

I love this post! And the photos are super.

My Photo Hunt entry is here....
For the Birds

Granny said...

Interesting sculptures - I especially liked the second "Heal the World". Looking forward to seeing more of Hong Kong through your camera lens this new year. Wishing you all the best in 2009 & lots of fun PhotoHunting!

YTSL said...

Hi Saint3 --

Thanks for appreciating what I shared! :)

Hi AlvinC --

A better world starting from tomorrow would suit me fine indeed! :b

Hi Smalltown RN --

Seems we're in agreement that interesting is good (and so is variety)! :)

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Thanks, am glad you got much out of this post. :)

Hi Granny --

Thanks and hope to see more comments from you on this blog (so that I know that you're continuing to visit!). :)

Rebecca Mecomber said...

I love art. How interesting!

My Photo Hunters is up today. I 'HOPE' you get the chance to visit and leave your link.
http://newyorktraveler.net/photo-hunters-hope/
Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Very cool! Best wishes and a super happy new year!

Anonymous said...

Although I love the second one, the first is absolutely beautiful. Not only had it a great message, those hands are wonderful.

Health and happiness for 2009!

jenny said...

Very cool! A look from my corner of Texas, USA, into Hong Kong! Always a joy. Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

Very interesting :) Thanks for visiting my blog :)

ipanema said...

great take on the theme. happy new year!

Anonymous said...

Interesting pix!

I played too :)

Anonymous said...

I am newcomer to your blog so I am not yet very much acquainted to how you show Hongkong is... 'hopefully' your efforts bear good fruits! Lovely sculptures! Artists are also idealist...lets just hope too that the ideal become reality...

Liz Hinds said...

What wonderful pieces of art.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm...quite interesting post. Thanks for the info and the cool pieces of art!

Happy 2009!

Dragonstar said...

These two pieces are so different! He has quite a talent.

This is a fascinating post.

sammawow said...

What a wonderful post for hope! Both pieces are so interesting!

Biker Betty said...

Great photos of hope. Happy New Year.

Anonymous said...

Great choices from his exhibit. Have a happy new year.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by my Photo Hunt.
The first sculpture is really powerful in its message and the second is an adorable picture of hope for the future of the planet.

Bengbeng said...

so many comments on yr blog. but you got great pics :)

Bengbeng said...

love the first pic. happy new year

jmb said...

You have indeed shown us how much more HK is than shopping.
Great pieces and great photos YTSL.

Happy New year and have a good weekend.

Gattina said...

Very nice interpretation of the theme !

YTSL said...

Hi Mrs Mecomber --

Welcome, fellow art lover and your hope about me visiting your blog has been indeed fulfilled! :)

Hi JC --

Thanks and you too! :)

Hi A --

Seeing the pains you took with your own 'hope' entry, really am happy that you like my contribution to this week's Photo Hunt. :)

Hi Jenny --

Texas is so far away from Hong Kong geographically but just a click or two away on the internet. Cool, eh? ;)

Hi "The Social Frog" --

Thanks and you're welcome!

Hi Ipanema --

Thanks and same to you! :)

Hi Teena --

Yep, and I noticed... ;)

Hi Mirage --

If you're interested in seeing 'my' Hong Kong, you can always check the older entries... or keep on visiting! ;b

Hi Liz --

Agreed!

Hi Pat --

Only "quite"? ;(

(More seriously though, thanks! ;b)

Hi Dragonstar --

Johnson Tsang does indeed have quite the range -- of styles but also subject matter -- as shown in the exhibition. Really do look forward to checking out more works by this artist.

Hi Sammawow --

Thanks, am glad you think so.

Hi Biker Betty --

Happy new year to you too! :)

Hi Kissedalotatoads --

The funny thing is that I didn't take those pictures expressly for the photo hunt but, rather, they really were my favorites from the exhibit! :)

Hi JyLnC --

You're welcome and thanks for reciprocating and appreciating. :)

Hi Bengbeng --

Well, you've contributed with not one but THREE sets of comments on this entry alone! :D

Hi JMB --

Am so glad you think so and thanks for continuing to visit my blog regularly! :)

Hi Gattina --

Thanks (and must say that you and JMB were among the first Photo Hunters with whom I became familiar)! :)

sammawow said...

Thanks for visiting mine. And, no the park where my daughter was married was not in Philadelphia but in the St. Louis County area. It's a beautiful park called Shaw's Nature Reserve right on the Meramec River, on the historic Route 66.

Anonymous said...

Happy new year and that those are very interesting artworks.

YTSL said...

Hi again Sammawow --

You're welcome re the visit and thanks for coming back and answering the query I posted on your blog! :)

Hi Irene --

Thanks and I agree! :)

SabineM said...

Nice take on the theme! I was in Hong Kong first and last time in 1994. Lovely place. I am sure it has changed alot since the change of gvt!

YTSL said...

Hi Sabine M --

I'd be interested to hear what you think should you return to Hong Kong to visit. Maybe you'll be surprised to find that not as much has changed as you thought would... (There's still a statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Park, after all!) ;b

Heart of Rachel said...

Those are very interesting and meaningful pieces. I support the message of the first one. I hope that the need for firearms will be lessened. Heal the world is a noble call for all of us.

YTSL said...

Hi "Heart of Rachel" --

Am glad you got the works' meanings and appreciate them. :)