Little Pigs in the Backyard

One day, when I went to the deck to look for my cat, I was startled to see that in the backyard down below, there were some rounded pinkish figures on a bright blue tarp.  My hard-working neighbor has been improving the backyard incessantly, with constant additions of fountains, lanterns, plus many maintenance works done to the yard and the building.

The new addition were quite funny and adorable - they were three pigs - a family, perhaps - in the unadorned ceramic base color, quite similar to real pigs, I suppose.

The rounded forms of those pigs were quite eye catching, quite like my cat's.  I hoped the egoistic cat wouldn't be too jealous of these pink animals, as she was to my stuffed elephant, Agnieszka, and push them off their temporary or permanent bases.  However, I shouldn't worry too much.  These pigs were much heavier than my elephant.

Art Displays in San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

When I travel, I like to be in the airport early, so as to avoid the anxiety of being short of time.  Besides, many modern airports, such as San Francisco International Airport (SFO) often has wonderful art installations and exhibitions to enjoy.

Last month, I traveled to Shenyang, China to see my relatives and had seen a particularly wonderful installation at SFO:









Besides this installation, there were some nice and whimsical ceramic displays and I was quite taken by the little animals:









I also found the bird mural fun, which had buttons linked to the birds' sounds, just like the two stools below, also formed like a xylophone.






Label: Shenyang Trip 2012

Paintings by Jong Ro

I encountered Jong Ro on the photo sharing website - Flickr.com. His paintings are exclusively abstract, a style I found quite daunting. Instead of relying on the familiarity of real figures, animals, landscape, props, etc., abstract paintings need to convey emotions, feelings and dramas through contrast, interplay and complementary of hues and values of paints and forms. It is a highly intellectual endeavor.

Jong Ro's paintings have all that and more. The transcendent beauty is incredible and the emotions are overwhelming.

Below are a sample of his paintings:


Along Side 22 x 30 in. mixed media on paper
Originally uploaded by Jong Ro


A Midsummer Night's Dream 24 in. x 20 in., monotype on paper
Originally uploaded by Jong Ro


Violin & Piano 30 in. x 40 in., oil on canvas
Originally uploaded by Jong Ro


Opus 5 43 in. x 33 in., oil on canvas
Originally uploaded by Jong Ro

Jong Ro also makes very interesting ceramics. Below is one I find quite whimsical:


49c 7" x 15"
Originally uploaded by Jong Ro