Tokyo
Asakusa
Category Archives: Graphics
“My Ruler is in my Head”
Shibazhan
The moment GeShuxian energetically greets you, you know you have just met someone unique and creative. Running around, she brings out intricately decorated and carefully constructed boxes, hats, bags, clothes, and pictures that spill out from every corner of her temporary home.
During a tea break, while chatting and smoking, she peels into layers a piece of birchbark lying on the floor and starts cutting away to reveal a whole arrange of beautiful patterns. Nothing is pre-drawn, she doesn’t use the computer, no cutting patterns or tape measures. Everything is by eye. In this age of technology, you forget that life and design can flourish without Apple macs. Perhaps it is time for us all to discover our inner ruler!
Stop and Eat
Beijing 798
“Prohibit Prohibit Stopping”
Food is important in any culture. None more so than in China, even the graffiti tells you to “Eat”!
Body-Popping Shadow Puppets
Chengdu
Mass-produced shadow puppets, dancing to pop rap songs in the street, surrounded by tourists and shoppers. A single dance capturing the direction in which China is moving.
Learning to Count
Yau Ma Tei
One typewriter, One abacas, One accountant.
Suzhou / Huama numeral prices in dessert cafe.
Evolution of Words
Yuen Po Street, Bird Market
Ancient script
What a Difference a Rainbow Makes
Wing Lee Street
Historical building preservation, something to celebrate right?
Not for everyone. The owner of this house had been waiting for compensation and relocation. Wing Lee Street had originally been part of a redevelopment plan, until the film “Echos of the Rainbow” made it famous and indestructible. Under this new preservation scheme, residents will only be able to sell their buildings at market value, which despite their location is relatively low, as the buildings are in very bad repair and over 60 years old.
While I am glad that this little snippet of old Hong Kong charm will be saved the destiny of becoming another high-rise block, I am only too aware of the irony. For the residents, the sudden increase in historical value of their homes has decreased the monetary value, and for the time being taken away from them an immediate improved standard of living. As the surrounding area is proliferating rapidly, whether they will benefit in the long term, only time will tell.
Fast Food
Macau
Street food snack.
Dim sum brunch.
Afternoon cafe coffee.
MaMa
Macau
Graffiti, Chinese words say 媽媽 which means “Mum”.
Scriptures
Labrang Monastery
Enroute the kora.
Old scriptures.