http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org Empowered by creativity Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:29:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2010/01/29/ceramicist-brendan-tang-manga-ormolu-version-50f/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2010/01/29/ceramicist-brendan-tang-manga-ormolu-version-50f/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:28:56 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org Colliding Worlds Not on home http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2010/01/29/ceramicist-brendan-tang-manga-ormolu-version-50f/ This traditional Ming-style vase sprouts robotic tubes and mutates into something coolly sci-fi. Over the past decade, the humble lump of clay has become the site of immense energy, facility, and provocation. Brendan Tang is known for his ability to compress beauty, grotesquerie, humour, and probing intelligence into his quite distinct works. His artistic practice embodies the influences, tensions and contradictions that define the postmodern world. To this end, his earthenware and mixed-media sculptures enfold Chinese porcelain and French ormolu traditions into contemporary Japanese manga forms. The result is a series of compelling mutations in which blue-and-white Ming-style vases are at first supported and then undermined by shiny robotic arms, legs, bolts, pods, tubes, and tentacles. The Ming-vase elements take on a curiously organic character, and in some instances appear to be rumpled, deflated, or detached, like flayed skin or severed limbs. This sounds horrible, but really it’s sci-fi/po-mo wonderful. It also speaks eloquently of high and low, tradition and innovation, cultural hybridity, and the impact of technology on the vulnerable human body.]]> This traditional Ming-style vase sprouts robotic tubes and mutates into something coolly sci-fi. Over the past decade, the humble lump of clay has become the site of immense energy, facility, and provocation. Brendan Tang is known for his ability to compress beauty, grotesquerie, humour, and probing intelligence into his quite distinct works. His artistic practice embodies the influences, tensions and contradictions that define the postmodern world. To this end, his earthenware and mixed-media sculptures enfold Chinese porcelain and French ormolu traditions into contemporary Japanese manga forms. The result is a series of compelling mutations in which blue-and-white Ming-style vases are at first supported and then undermined by shiny robotic arms, legs, bolts, pods, tubes, and tentacles. The Ming-vase elements take on a curiously organic character, and in some instances appear to be rumpled, deflated, or detached, like flayed skin or severed limbs. This sounds horrible, but really it’s sci-fi/po-mo wonderful. It also speaks eloquently of high and low, tradition and innovation, cultural hybridity, and the impact of technology on the vulnerable human body.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2010/01/29/ceramicist-brendan-tang-manga-ormolu-version-50f/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/east-resist-2/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/east-resist-2/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org Iran Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/02/05/east-resist-2/ East Resist A10ne 80 x 120]]> East Resist A10ne 80 x 120]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/east-resist-2/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/lesotho/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/lesotho/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/lesotho/ The taxis - public  transportation, the symbol of gold and the Lesotho blanket in the mid right of the image talk about Lesotho.]]> The taxis - public  transportation, the symbol of gold and the Lesotho blanket in the mid right of the image talk about Lesotho.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/lesotho/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/botswana/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/botswana/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/botswana/ She blows the horn of Africa in the centre of the image. Below her is the symbol of weath of the nation - the cattle - the labola, their currency.]]> She blows the horn of Africa in the centre of the image. Below her is the symbol of weath of the nation - the cattle - the labola, their currency.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/botswana/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/angola/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/angola/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/angola/ The black oil drips over this image, whilst the workers labor in search of  oil. Once again contrast of the wealth of the oil industry and the workers' desperate for their meager pay for survival.]]> The black oil drips over this image, whilst the workers labor in search of  oil. Once again contrast of the wealth of the oil industry and the workers' desperate for their meager pay for survival.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/angola/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/south-africa/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/south-africa/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/south-africa/ The Iconographic Jo'burg Man, who worked and built our city, the original, is superimposed onto the portait head of Jan Van Riebeck - founder of the cape of Good Hope . Joburg man celebrates South Africa , carrying his bag of red roses- (a commodity - tea in South Africa called Five Roses)]]> The Iconographic Jo'burg Man, who worked and built our city, the original, is superimposed onto the portait head of Jan Van Riebeck - founder of the cape of Good Hope . Joburg man celebrates South Africa , carrying his bag of red roses- (a commodity - tea in South Africa called Five Roses)]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/south-africa/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/namibia/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/namibia/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/namibia/ Contrast of opulence of  diamond mining and politicians, business men and workers and the Himba Woman. Very dry land, difficult to farm agriculturally, symbolized by the dead end road sign in centre of painting.]]> Contrast of opulence of  diamond mining and politicians, business men and workers and the Himba Woman. Very dry land, difficult to farm agriculturally, symbolized by the dead end road sign in centre of painting.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/namibia/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/mozambique/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/mozambique/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/mozambique/ No more fish in the Sea in Mozambique.The politician and the children in the street.]]> No more fish in the Sea in Mozambique.The politician and the children in the street.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/mozambique/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/malawi/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/malawi/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/malawi/ Traditionally self sufficient  in agricultural  production represented by woman grounding her maize. The image of the boys rowing makora and working upon the lake is a symbol of prosperity. The lake nurtures the nation as is the image of the woman above grinding the maize.]]> Traditionally self sufficient  in agricultural  production represented by woman grounding her maize. The image of the boys rowing makora and working upon the lake is a symbol of prosperity. The lake nurtures the nation as is the image of the woman above grinding the maize.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/malawi/feed/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/zambia/ http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/zambia/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:00:00 +0000 rob@freedomlab.org LiveStock Not just Aid but Art Not on home http://jambo.myngo.nl/2009/01/06/zambia/ Source of the Zambizi river - source of life. It is young country symbolized by a young African boy looking straight into viewers eyes. The fish eagle is the call of the wild in the wilderness.]]> Source of the Zambizi river - source of life. It is young country symbolized by a young African boy looking straight into viewers eyes. The fish eagle is the call of the wild in the wilderness.]]> http://www.freedomlabfoundation.org/2009/02/05/zambia/feed/