In general, the term formalism describes the critical position that the most important aspect of a work of art is its form, that is, the way it is made and its purely visual aspects, rather than its narrative, content or its relationship to the visible world. In painting, a formalist critic would focus exclusively on the qualities of color, brushwork,form,line and composition. Formalism as a critical stance came into being in response to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in which unprecedented emphasis was placed on the purely visual aspects of the work. In 1890 the Post-Impressionist painter Maurice Denise wrote, ‘Remember, that a picture, before it is a picture of a battle horse, a nude woman, or some story, is essentially a flat surface covered in colors arranged in a certain order.’ Denis emphasised that aesthetic pleasure was to be found in the painting itself, not its subject. Writer Clive Bell formulated the notion of ‘significant form’, that form itself can convey feeling. All these led to Abstract art, an art of pure form.

– The Tate guide to Modern art terms

My piece for CE Contest II 2012, a platform toy worldwide competition based on the CE figure.
I gave this guy the name My name is Hello. I guess you kinda know what he represents yeh~

An exhibition at Milk Tea & Pearl(London), a bubble tea shop, was held in January 2012 to celebrate Pao’s second year of life. Titled Phenomenon No.II(as a major Phenomenon happens on every birthday of Pao), the narrative was created with context of the exhibition space in mind.
Click on the pictures for more photos and h e r e for the full story. Sale of the exhibition publication is also available h e r e

Vicente Huidobro was a cosmopolitan Chilean poet, exponent of the artistic movement of Creacionismo, which held that artists of any stripe should ‘create’ rather than ‘imitate’, that is to say invent or ‘add to the facts of the world’.

We must create. That is the sign of our times.

Inventing is making things that are parallel in space, meet in time or vice versa, so that they present a new fact in their conjunction.

The totality of the diverse new facts united by a single spirit constitutes the created work. If they are not united by a single spirit, the result will be an impure work with an amorphous look, resulting from a fantasy with no laws.

The study of art throughout history shows us clearly this tendency of imitation to move towards creation in all human productions.

In art the power of the creator interests us more than that of the observer, and besides the former contains in itself the second, to a higher degree.

It has been some time since I wrote a diary entry, I cannot remember the last time I did. So many things has happened since. I cannot recall all of them, despite my huge head. Please pardon me. And my head. I am now two years old, although I do not see any significant signs of physical growth, but logically and emotionally, like a full grown two year old carrot, I am a tad more mature. IMHO. I think I will still look the same ten years pass, the same old me, the same old wedge head carrot(odd), but perhaps a little more vulnerable inside. I will still be asked by strangers(and carrots) who am I, what do I do, and maybe even why am I here. The answer to the last I do not have. I still witness signs and Phenomenons occasionally. Sometimes they appear as ordinary objects and I miss them, sometimes they stand right in my path. They will point the way and lead me, I faithfully believe. I have learnt that sometimes you need to have faith, in things and people. For example, having faith in my sharp teeth that they will not hurt you. Peace. I guess that is one important lesson I have learnt as a new year beckons. If you ask me about my future, my ambition, my dreams, well, look at me, I am a wanderer. A hermit. An explorer. An unclassified. A subculture.
A ‘non-A’.

I cannot envision myself staying in one place for too long. I cannot be permanent. I wish to see with my very own eyes, unique as they are, this world I have been put into, every corner of this planet, I wish to lay my feet, wave my flag and speak its language. Perhaps one days when I have accomplished this, then I can enter the parallel universe and continue the next phase of this never-ending journey. Fear of the unknown I do not have, for I do not give thought to these things. My friends? I believe they will be wherever I go. X, R, Whao and PE. I also hope to find the village of my ancestors eventually. More wedge head carrots, in other words. They must be out there somewhere. And the Phenomenons will lead me to where I truly belong.

P.S. You have heard of 353, haven’t you? If you have observed, the number 3 looks like my right eye. We encounter 353s everyday without noticing them, but it could be the clue to what lies ahead for me–Phenomenon No. III. I have to find out the connection between the number 3 and my facial feature. If you happen to spot these three numbers sitting next to one another, please take a picture and send it to me. Remember to note down the exact location as well, so that I can pay a visit to the place when the time is right. I look forward to your good news.