Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Allegorical Painting "Birds and Men"

I don't consider myself as a colorist; yet, sometimes, I managed to utilize some vibrant colors to create paintings with vibrant colors, bold, striking, yet harmonious, such as my 2003 oil painting, Birds and Men.

Birds and Men / 鳥與人 / Vögel und Menschen, Oil on Canvas, 30
Birds and Men / 鳥與人 / Vögel und Menschen
Oil on Canvas
30" x 40"
2003

11 Paintings Completed in 2003 (part 1 of 2)

With that painting, and several others made in 2003, I started my Apocalypse Series, intended to document human sufferings inflicted by reckless or repressive political, religious or cultural forces. The direct impetus to create such series was the impending invasion of Iraq, led by George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Tony Blair, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell, et. al.

As stated in my standard bio: "Life is a harsh experience, yet it is beautiful. Art ought to be from life, and above life. To merely document surfaces is not enough: I want to grasp what is behind, which to me is far more compelling and worthwhile.

As with many artists, my early work is grounded in realism, and evolved into a style that retains a representative cast but rejects slavish naturalism. I immerse myself in the patterns and rhythms of forms, particularly the contradiction between the surface beauty and harsh subjects, and from these foci has formed a distinctive style. The subject matter of my work ranges from portraiture and landscape/cityscape, to allegories and abstraction."

Originally published on matthewfelixsun.com

Saturday, February 21, 2015

The Moon, Mars and Venus

Last night, the Moon, Mars and Venus clustered together and formed a wonderful celestial sight.  Here a few snapshots I took:

DSCN1105 _ Moon, Mars and Venus DSCN1089 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1080 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1088 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1086 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1081 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1095 _ Moon, Mars and Venus DSCN1099 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

DSCN1090 _ Moon, Mars and Venus DSCN1103 _ Moon, Mars and Venus

The new moon was also the first moon of Lunar Year of Ram, celebrated in majority of east Asian last Thursday.


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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Wickedly Fun Hotel - The Standard in Los Angeles

Last year, I traveled to Los Angels for business and stayed in a wickedly fun hotel in downtown: The Standard. Its exterior was a rather non-descriptive, utilitarian looking, more an officer tower than your usual hotel; yet its idiosyncrasies started to announce themselves from its parking lot -- notice the upside down logo of the hotel (same upside down logo was also just above main entrance to the building):

DSCN0817 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles DSCN1312 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0681 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0677 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

There was no lobby to speak of if one entered from the street entrance, though there was an interesting console underneath a light globe in the far end (above); if one entered from the other side, via the parking lot, a small lively courtyard and an atmospheric lounge greeted the traveler in sequence before the receptionists:

DSCN0676 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0642 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

The reception desk was against a large curtain, subtly dramatic, and together with the adjacent barber shop, it created a fantastic feeling to the humble lobby:

DSCN0933 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN1309 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

The courtyard mentioned above was connected to the hotel restaurant, which had a pleasant setting and served decent meals:

DSCN0682 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

Checked into my room, I was delighted by the spaciousness of my room, and its unusual modern decor: see how the wall painting seamlessly extended onto the curtain:

DSCN0679 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0410 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0406 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

The most unusual feature of the room was the see-through bathroom: a large room itself, its partitioned from the sleeping quarter was transparent panel, which also faced the window; I started to wonder if I booked the right business hotel:

DSCN0408m _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0680 _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles DSCN0411m _Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0407a _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles 2

DSCN0412 _ See through bathroom in Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0408a _ Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

The fun of the hotel continued.  I really liked their clever signage: such as the fire extinguisher in the lobby, and the seal on the toilet paper roll:

DSCN1174 _ Signage in Standard Hotel, Los Angeles DSCN1176 _ Signage in Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN1178 _ Signage in Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

On the rooftop, there was a beer garden restaurant and a large swimming pool; the view on the platform was fabulous and the invitingly lit pool competed mightily with the brilliant sunset, and drew people into its deep blue tiny ripples:

DSCN0665 _ from rooftop of Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0664 _ from rooftop of Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0642 _ from Rooftop of Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0652 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0658 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles DSCN0670 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0668 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles DSCN0659 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0669 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

DSCN0662 _ Rooftop, Standard Hotel, Los Angeles

A quirky hotel with many usually, and often hidden features. Loved it.


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Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Anderson Collection at Stanford University


DSCN9230 _ Anderson Collection

DSCN9069 _ Anderson Collection DSCN9072 _ Anderson Collection

A trove of modern art was gifted to Stanford University recently by Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson and Mary Patricia Anderson Pence, the Bay Area family who built the collection over the last 50 years, and Stanford built a new facility, next to the Cantor Museum of Art at Stanford, to host this outstanding collection, Anderson Collection at Stanford University.

I will not attempt to describe these extraordinary art works; rather I will present them in clusters as curated by the museum, mostly grouped together according the the similar styles of the artworks or artists.  Below are the majority of those on display, which either captivated or intrigued me when I visited the museum in December last year:

DSCN9112 _ Untitled Standing Figure, 1982, Manuel Neri, in front of Four Women, 1959, David Park, Anderson Collection
Untitled Standing Figure, 1982, Manuel Neri, in front of Four Women, 1959, David Park

DSCN9099 _ Girl on the Beach, 1957, Richard Diebenkorn, Anderson Collection
Girl on the Beach, 1957, Richard Diebenkorn

DSCN9100 _ Berkeley #26, 1954, Richard 
DIebenkorn, Anderson Collection DSCN9103 _ Figure by Window, 1962, Paul Wonner, Anderson Collection
Berkeley #26, 1954, Richard Diebenkorn & Figure by Window, 1962, Paul Wonner

DSCN9096 - Reclining Nude, 1958, Nathan Oliveira, Anderson Collection
Reclining Nude, 1958, Nathan Oliveira

DSCN9098 _ Four Women, 1959, David Park, Anderson Collection
Four Women, 1959, David Park

DSCN9097 - Nude in Environment I, 1962, Nathan Oliveira, Anderson Collection
Nude in Environment I, 1962, Nathan Oliveira

DSCN9213 _ 1946, 1992, Christopher Brown, Anderson Collection
1946, 1992, Christopher Brown

DSCN9101 _ Wine Glass and Postcard (Zurbarán), 1968, Paul Wonner,  Anderson Collection DSCN9102 _ Stage #2 with Bed, 1967, Nathan Oliveira, Anderson Collection
Wine Glass and Postcard (Zurbarán), 1968, Paul Wonner & Stage #2 with Bed, 1967, Nathan Oliveira

DSCN9117 _ Just to Mention a Few (after Bosch), 1994, William T. Wiley, Anderson Collection
Just to Mention a Few (after Bosch), 1994, William T. Wiley

DSCN9128 _ Anderson Collection

DSCN9116 _ Summer Image (For My Mother), 1983, Jay DeFeo, Anderson Collection
Summer Image (For My Mother), 1983, Jay DeFeo

DSCN9129 _ Mouse Cup, 1981-1982, Elizabeth Murray, Anderson Collection DSCN9139 _ Theophrastus' Garden, 1982, Terry Winters, Anderson Collection
Mouse Cup, 1981-1982, Elizabeth Murray & Theophrastus' Garden, 1982, Terry Winters

DSCN9130 _ Zeltweg, 1982, Frank Stella, Anderson Collection
Zeltweg, 1982, Frank Stella

DSCN9136 _ Zeltweg, 1982, Frank Stella, Anderson Collection DSCN9137 _ Yosemite Falls (Homages to Watkins), 1993, Mark Tansey, Anderson Collection
Zeltweg, 1982, Frank Stella & Yosemite Falls (Homages to Watkins), 1993, Mark Tansey

DSCN9133 _ Anderson Collection

DSCN9141 _ Fountain Figure #4, 1986-87, Robert Graham, Anderson Collection DSCN9142 _ Fountain Figure #4, 1986-87, Robert Graham, Anderson Collection
Fountain Figure #4, 1986-87, Robert Graham

DSCN9145 _ Dumb Luck, 1990, Martin Puryear, Anderson Collection DSCN9146 _ Wishbone, 1979, Susan Rothenberg, Anderson Collection
Dumb Luck, 1990, Martin Puryear & Wishbone, 1979, Susan Rothenberg

DSCN9151 _ Lever (#4), 1989, Martin Puryear, Anderson Collection DSCN9155 _ Anderson Collection
Lever (#4), 1989, Martin Puryear

DSCN9157 _ Factory Fire, August 8, 1985, 1985, Donad Sultan, Anderson Collection DSCN9163 _ Anderson Collection
Factory Fire, August 8, 1985, 1985, Donad Sultan

DSCN9168 _ Wend, 1987, Loren Madsen, Anderson Collection
Wend, 1987, Loren Madsen

DSCN9160 _ Red Ascending, 1990, Sean Scully, Anderson Collection
Red Ascending, 1990, Sean Scully

DSCN9170 _ Anderson Collection

DSCN9173 _ Anderson Collection

DSCN9216 _ Fall Euphony, 1959, Hans Hofmann, Anderson Collection
Fall Euphony, 1959, Hans Hofmann

DSCN9219 _ Guy in the Dunes, 1979, Denial, 1983-1986, Bill Jensen, Anderson Collection
Guy in the Dunes, 1979, & Denial, 1983-1986, Bill Jensen

DSCN9205 _ Sky Garden by Nevelson, Window by Mark Tobey, and Wall Painting No. IV by Robert Motherwell, Anderson Collection
Sky Garden by Nevelson, Window by Mark Tobey, and Wall Painting No. IV by Robert Motherwell

DSCN9181 _ Sky Garden, 1959-1964, Louise Nevelson, Anderson Collection DSCN9184 _ Window, 1953, Mark Tobey, Anderson Collection
Sky Garden, 1959-1964, Louise Nevelson & Window, 1953, Mark Tobey

DSCN9094 - 1957-J No. 1 (PH-142), 1957, Clyfoord Still, Anderson Colelction
1957-J No. 1 (PH-142), 1957, Clyfford Still

DSCN9199 _ Lucifer, 1947, Jackson Pollock,  Anderson Collection
Lucifer, 1947, Jackson Pollock

DSCN9210 _ Serpentine, 1961, William 
Baziotes, Anderson Collection
Serpentine, 1961, William Baziotes

DSCN9200 _  Figure 8, 1952, Franz Kline, Anderson Collection DSCN9198 _ Italian Summer, 1963, Robert Motherwell, Anderson Collection
Figure 8, 1952, Franz Kline & Italian Summer, 1963, Robert Motherwell

DSCN9186 _ Woman Standing--Pink, 1954-55, Willem De Kooning, Anderson Collection DSCN9092 _ Ocean Park #60, 1973, Richard Diebenkorn, Anderson Collection
Woman Standing--Pink, 1954-55, Willem De Kooning & Ocean Park #60, 1973, Richard Diebenkorn

DSCN9185 _ Wall Painting No. IV, 1954, Robert Motherwell, Anderson Collection
Wall Painting No. IV, 1954, Robert Motherwell

DSCN9197 _ Untitled (Black on Gray), 1969, Mark Rothko, Anderson Collection
Untitled (Black on Gray), 1969, Mark Rothko

DSCN9201 _ Pink and White over Red, 1957, Mark Rothko, Anderson Collection
Pink and White over Red, 1957, Mark Rothko

DSCN9195 _ The Coat II, 1977, Philip Guston, Anderson Collection
The Coat II, 1977, Philip Guston


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