16/02/2023 Beginning Unit 2 ：Based on the input from Unit 1, I made the decision to concentrate more on the theme of hedonism itself. I talked about the type of hedonism I want to pursue, contrasted it with the type of hedonism I had previously, considered whether there was a difference, and considered whether it was connected to social phenomena. I started to consider the positive aspects of hedonism before wondering about its negative aspects and level of expression. It caused me to reflect on mortality and apathy, so I considered including pieces that dealt with the issue of death in Filet's exhibition. In terms of the actual extension of the hedonistic work, I'm considering creating art using human senses, but because of my own strong visual sensitivity, I still want to create art using painting but with various three-dimensional expressions. to eliminate the original painting's possibilities. I'm looking for fresh innovations because I utilise laser engraving too regularly right now. The first method is to make laser engraving more entertaining and fascinating. The second method is to reconsider the use of technology and various media.
Explore and balance
your hedonism
The hedonism I advocate is closer to exploring your true self, balancing your inner desires, and pursuing your true happiness. I prefer to call it exploration & balance hedonism.
In Unit 1, I talked about the factors that contributed to the birth rate declining under the Confucian cultural circle, but the crucial component—a discussion on hedonism—was absent. 2 by concentrating on the concept of hedonism. I initially read "Sustainable Hedonism" by Orsolya Lelkes in order to analyse hedonism. I first analyse the various hedonisms in order to interpret and discuss them, and only then do I consider the hedonism I am seeking.
Radical hedonists：
According to this text, materialism and selfish pleasure-seeking without boundaries are encouraged by today's iteration of hedonism. Erich Fromm defined radical hedonism as the pursuit of pleasure without concern for the consequences. Radical hedonists sometimes make poor decisions.
The Art of enjoying life: ancient hedonism
Hedonism in the classical era is very different from hedonism in the modern era. Ancient hedonists Epicurus and Aristippus.
Being a student of Socrates, Aristippus had a totally different philosophical outlook, teaching that the purpose of life was to pursue pleasure by modifying one's environment to suit one's needs and exercising proper control over both success and misfortune. The term "ethical hedonism" was used to describe his theory that pleasure is the sole good.
Epicurus (Epicurus) was a Greek philosopher who united the hedonism of Aristippus with the atomism of Democritus. Although he thought that the ultimate objective of life is happiness, he also thought that various pleasures should be properly considered. To acquire bodily health and mental calm, Epicurus emphasised the value of overcoming fear and restraint. Although he held "pure" pleasure to be the highest ideal, he did not share Aristippus' hedonism. The epitaph of Epicurus describes pleasures as "absence of pain" and "peace of soul," and he held that while gratifying some desires may initially provide delight, they also carry the risk of bringing about a later state of discontent, which departs from the goal of life, which is to be pain-free.
Abounding pleasures: the ultra-hedonists
The Cyrenaics were hedonists who saw sexual gratification as the most significant aspect of existence. They believed that the only things that were good were pleasure and pain. Unlike Socrates, who considered virtue to be the only good for humans while still allowing for pleasure as a secondary objective, they rejected the notion that virtue had inherent value. The ultimate purpose of existence was made to be pleasure by Aristippus and his adherents.
Moderate pleasures: Epicurus
The author discusses many types of hedonism and defends their version, which they refer to as
"exploration and balance hedonism." They clarify that, as opposed to indulgence, enjoyment can be attained through a state of rest and moderation. According to Epicurus, happiness results from letting go of need and fear, as well as from keeping wants to those that are essential and natural. The Epicureans made a distinction between active and inert pleasure. To achieve true happiness, the author places a strong emphasis on discovering one's authentic self and juggling inner aspirations.
Explore yourself: Regardless of age, whether a person is a child, adolescent, adult, middle-aged, or elderly, they all have wishes and thoughts. However, not everyone can identify what they want, particularly At every age stage, when big choices must be taken, not everyone understands what they will do in the future or how to live up to their so-called values. As a result, one of the ways to cultivate one's individual hedonism must also be founded on the idea of self-discovery.
Balance the heart: Desires are frequently the origin of discontentment, particularly in the rapidly advancing contemporary society. The proliferation of desires can readily disturb one's inner world, thereby hindering the attainment of inner equilibrium. Nonetheless, such an outcome is not consonant with Epicurean thought, which posits that one should curtail one's desires while being temperate in fulfilling them. This calls for moderate self-restraint, such that even if one errs, one can still recover. Immoderate indulgence can obfuscate moral boundaries, leading to self-inflicted harm. Conversely, the excessive suppression of one's desires is, in and of itself, a painful state of affairs, as it fails to elicit happiness.
References：Epicure Hedonist, the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus who admired pleasure (2022) field station. Available at: https://www.tjxz.cc/26123 (Accessed: 09 May 2023).
Lelkes, O. (2021a) Sustainable hedonism: A thriving life that does not cost the Earth. Bristol: Bristol University Press.
21/02/2023 Forces of the Small: Project for an Artwork Compacted and Condensed：
In relation to the concept of hedonism, I contemplate the negative aspects of individuals embodying hedonistic traits. While my research on hedonism has primarily revealed positive attributes, I sought to explore negative themes, such as death.
Death, or the permanent termination of all biological functions that sustain a living being, is a phenomenon relative to the existence or survival of a living body. Various circumstances, including ageing, predation, malnutrition, disease, suffocation, suicide, homicide, starvation, dehydration, accidents, executions, allergies, drug overdoses, and injuries, may lead to death.
To me, death represents the final stage of life, but I am interested in how people around me perceive death and how individuals encounter a living body prior to death. I have experienced numerous incidents where individuals exhibited indifference and a lack of compassion towards victims of misfortune. Although these situations did not culminate in the death of the victim, they had a profound effect on the victim's psyche. Victims may wonder "Why me?" or question why others remain indifferent to their plight. Conversely, observers may adopt the view that the incident is not their problem, or that it simply does not matter.
In selecting elements for the Meet Death project, I chose to incorporate orchids, black swans, crows, and certain religious symbols. Orchids were inspired by the exhibition I attended at Kew Gardens, where I was struck by the leopard print orchids. The leopard print pattern evoked a sense of dark power and mystery. Black swans and crows also featured prominently in my Unit 1 presentation. Black swans represent unforeseeable events with low probability, yet they have the potential to trigger chain reactions and yield significant negative consequences. Although they are accidental, if not managed appropriately, they can lead to systemic risks and serious outcomes. Crows, which symbolize death, fear, and bad luck in Chinese culture, are often associated with negative omens in ancient witchcraft texts. These birds are considered to be ominous and despised by many.
Religious symbols, inspired by churches in Spain, were likewise incorporated into the Meet Death project. The graph depicts a state of ritualistic being.
References: Epicure Hedonist, the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus who admired pleasure (2022) field station. Available at: https://www.tjxz.cc/26123 (Accessed: 09 May 2023).
Lelkes, O. (2021a) Sustainable hedonism: A thriving life that does not cost the Earth. Bristol: Bristol University Press.
John H Ahern, Miniature Building Construction, Mode & Allied Publications, Ltd, 1950
Daphe Foskett, British Portrait Miniatures, Spring Books, 1968
Sigmund Freud, Introductory Lectures on Psychoanalysis (English version 1920, numerous
reprints)
Stephane Mallarme, The Poems, Penguin, 1977 Susan Sontag, On Photography, Penguin, 1979
Ralph Rugoff/Susan Stewart, At the Threshold of the Visible: Miniscule and Small-Scale Art 1964-1996, Independent Curators Incorporated, 1997
Susan Stewart, On Longing: Narratives of the Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, the Collection, Duke University Press, 1993
Starck, N. (2006) Life after death: The art of the obituary. Carlton, Vic, Australia : Melbourne University Press.
Errington, S. (2000) The death of authentic primitive art and Other tales of progress. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
23/02/2023 Reflection about Laster Cutter
While creating the sculpture, I faced difficulties assembling it even though I followed the size measurements generated by AI. I attempted to fix the issue by reducing the size of the sculpture sockets. Nevertheless, this action did not solve the problem completely. As a result, I opted for a more drastic solution by considerably reducing the size of the spigot. I also used a spatula to scrape away any extra material that was not required. This helped me in achieving the desired outcome.
01/03/2023 Thinking about Screen Printing：As I explored screen printing as a method to create my final artwork, I faced a hurdle. I discovered that unless my final piece was a large-scale manuscript or I used extremely precise formatting during the digital painting stage, the resulting screen-printing lacked the crisp and polished appearance that I desired.
05/03/2023 Thinking about Collage： As it stands, creating collage art is a significant challenge for me. While I have enjoyed the process of making collages in workshops, I am currently dissatisfied with the final products that do not meet my personal standards or align with the original vision I have for my artwork.
07/03/2023 Thinking about Unit 2 works： The original "Six Ways" by Unit 1 is expanded upon in Unit 2's "Vortex Dreamland" piece. In order to determine whether it can travel through the four sides of the image, I want to use the original 2D image. I debated whether to utilise a whole circle and fill the screen with forms when displaying the work. However, I discovered that the single circle and the rectangle canvas have the same lack of attraction. Therefore, I intend to separate a single design and create many graphic combinations.
Six ways,2023,collage,49×60cm
16/03/2023 Tutorial with Mujeeb Bhatti： My conversation with Mujeeb Bhatti got me to question whether I really needed to reassemble all the boards into one piece as planned. He felt that if I did, it would look more like design than art, and art is supposed to open up the world to the viewer's imagination. After being influenced by him, I did realise that allowing the audience to independently assemble the works would be more engaging than doing a thorough splicing of the works. My background is from the visual communication, so I'll also consider whether I should give the audience greater room to roam, let them to explore on their own, and let them experience the art through their own eyes. As someone whose background is aviation, I will consider whether I should give the audience more room to move around and experience the work of the artist using their own senses. Even if the artist creates a piece of art perfectly, the audience's reactions will still be different. Instead, it would be preferable to expand the audience's "possibilities" for independent exploration.
Thinking about flush hanging
Adding only a 1/8" space between the cabinet and the wall, flush-mount wall hangers provide rock-solid mounting. Each half of an interlocking pair is identical, so there's no need to keep track of which half goes on the wall or cabinet. And because they require no mortising, they install in a jiffy.
23/03/2023 Tutorial with Sarah Woodfine：Sarah Woodfine inspired me to expand my thinking about how to display my work beyond just the medium's shape. Previously, I had primarily displayed my paintings on the wall in isolation. However, after our discussion, I realized that there are other possibilities to be explored, such as the use of space. This realization has opened up new doors, and I am now considering moving my work from the wall to the floor for display. I am intrigued by the idea of adjusting the level of the work on the ground to create a different impact. Additionally, I am exploring ways to break free from the limitations of gravity and challenge traditional stereotypes by displaying my work on the ground in a way that creates a sense of defiance and weightlessness. Overall, my conversation with Sarah Woodfine has sparked exciting new ideas for presenting my work in a unique and compelling way.
28/04/2023 Bargehouse Reflection：
In preparation for the Bargehouse exhibition, a site visit was conducted to evaluate various areas of the venue based on their lighting and wall textures. After careful consideration, Zone 1 was chosen as the display area for the artwork. Originally intended to be wall-mounted, the artwork was eventually installed on the ground due to the step in Zone 1, which allowed for a unique topdown viewing angle. Unexpectedly, the artwork was displayed on the ground floor of an adjacent building due to a change in the exhibition layout. During the installation process, great care was taken to ensure the artwork was correctly positioned and oriented. Transparent glass walls were used to enhance the viewing experience for passers-by.
At the opening and closing events, the audience was given the opportunity to engage with the artwork and provide feedback. The majority of viewers were impressed with the artwork's exceptional painting skills and were amazed by its scale. However, some feedback suggested that the information conveyed in the artwork was overly complex. As a result, the underlying logic was reviewed to explore possibilities for further refinement.
02/05/2023 Tutorial with Mujeeb Bhatti：So far, Mujeeb Bhatti has expressed satisfaction with Bargehouse's work, but the themes to express are not straightforward enough for Hedonism. He recommends using performance art or video, but I have some doubts about that.
1. Do I need to continue to use drawing techniques to express the theme I want to express (because painting is something I am devoted to).
2. For topics that are difficult to express, is it necessary to use means other than drawing, such as video or performance art?
3. For hedonism, different people have different interpretations and feelings about hedonism. As an artist, do you create works through your own interpretation of hedonism, or express the whole process of hedonism through other people's interpretation of hedonism in a general sense?
4. For hedonism, is it necessarily expressed in the form of pictures such as sex and money? (For me, it's a little too vulgar, or I can change it to other content)
5. Regarding the fourth point, I originally wanted to create a device with various drawing forms and materials for the creation of the following hedonistic content. But can it express its own hedonism and let the audience feel it.
09/05/2023 Tutorial with Qiurui Du：
Qiurui Du：during a tutorial session with Qiurui Du, the following reflections were shared: "If I were solely creating a work, I would not engage in deliberate design or contemplate what I intend to convey with the piece, or what effect it should produce. Rather, I channel the emotions and thoughts I am experiencing at that particular moment and utilize characters and imagery to convey a narrative. Hence, the most straightforward approach is to express a direct moment, situation, and idea. I do not engage in extensive design processes to ensure the comfort of the audience while viewing the piece or to ensure that specific elements such as color or composition align with the design. The core focus is a complete, authentic, and direct expression of my inner feelings and emotions. As the professor noted, every artist must prepare an artist statement, which includes the concept of the work and the intended message. If the statement is incongruous with the work, it may lead to confusion among the audience. This could happen due to the work being too weak and failing to convey the intended message, or the statement being inconsistent with the work. Hence, it is crucial to conduct research on the elements that are emblematic of hedonism and explore how they can be expressed using visual language that is unique to the artist. The theme is quite grand, and the works produced may not be directly related to it. However, the goal is to establish a clear connection between the work and the intended message to convey the process of hedonism in China and the period of declining birthrates. This necessitates a sense of design, which is not a negative attribute, and many artists incorporate it in their works. Nonetheless, the challenge is to clearly express the intended message and concept while employing the artist's unique visual language."
Zuojie Li：In response to these reflections, I would leverage their design expertise to plan and create their works while also enhancing their research skills, broadening their thinking, and strengthening their personal visual language to align with the theme.