Why Chinese people prefer green jade?

We know jade and jadeite represent a part of the Chinese culture. In fact, jade has many different colors: red, green,yellow, purple, white, and others. When the Chinese think of jade, green is the color first comes to mind? What is the reason Chinese prefer green jade? Because queens and princesses of Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912) adored green jade and green jadeite, and this influence tilted Chinese aesthetic from royalties to the regular folks. Thus Chinese like green more than others to this day.

為什麼玉總是讓人聯想起綠色？

事實上，玉有許多的顏色，紅、黃、紫、綠、白等。中國文化喜愛玉，特別是清朝，後宮佳麗獨鍾綠色的玉和翡翠，這股風潮從宮內蔓延到民間，至今仍持續影響華人對玉的評價。

Chinese Jade Jar

翠玉雕花鳥瓶，現藏台北故宮

Chinese Jade Folding Screen Wall

碧玉屏風，現藏台北故宮

Tidbit: Up to 90 percent of the world’s jadeite is produced in Myanmar.

全世界有百分之九十以上的翡翠產於緬甸

Image from xinhuanet and National Palace Museum

Why is it easy to sing along with pop songs?

Why is it easy to sing along with pop songs?
Because the same melody is repeated over and over again.
"Hey Jude" is a perfect example of the most popular songs.

為什麼流行歌曲容易朗朗上口？ 因為旋律持續重複。
來聽聽一個很棒的例子： Hey Jude

演唱：披頭四樂隊

In classical music, we can recognize Ravel's Bolero easily because it's consisted of the same rhythm and melody being repeated over and over again. Maurice Ravel (French, 1875 – 1937) composed this piece in the early 20th century. Let’s listen to it.

古典音樂中，法國作曲家拉威爾(1875 – 1937)在20世紀初創作的西班牙舞曲：波麗露 (又稱為：博萊羅)，也出現旋律和節奏持續重複的情況，一起來聽聽。

Valentin Serov ( Валентин Серов ), Russia's Silver Age - Russian portrai...

Valentin Serov (1865–1911) was a famous Russian portrait artist, he painted the portraits of many celebrities at that time.

瓦倫丁•謝羅夫 (1865–1911)是俄羅斯著名的肖像畫家，為許多名人畫肖像畫。

Self-portrait,1880s. Pencil on paper.

瓦倫丁•謝羅夫自畫像 (鉛筆畫)  1880年代

Portrait of Nicholas II of Russia, 1896

Nicholas II of Russia (1868 – 1918)

尼古拉二世

Portrait of Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov, 1898

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov(1844 – 1908), Russian composer.

林姆斯基-高沙可夫(里姆斯基-科萨科夫)，俄羅斯作曲家

Portrait of Children (Sasha and Yura Serov), 1899

孩子

Portrait of Maria Yermolova, 1905

Maria Yermolova (1853 – 1928), Russian actress

俄羅斯著名女演員Maria Yermolova

Portrait of Ida Rubinstein, 1910

Ida Rubinstein(1885 – 1960)), Russian ballerina

俄羅斯著名的女芭蕾舞者Ida Rubinstein

常玉: 中國現代/20世紀畫家 Sanyu: 20th-century Chinese artist

Sanyu(1901 - 1966), an early 20th-century Chinese artist, is a master in using fluent lines to display concise expressions. Brush lines are the main techniques to paint in traditional Chinese art. He can manage lines in a way that would startle patrons of Chinese oil paintings. Sanyu learned art in China and in Japan in his early years. Then in 1920, when he was 19, he went to Paris, which was a prominent art center at the time, to study art, and subsequently spent the rest of his life in Pairs besides a two-year residence in New York. However, Sanyu was an art student out of the norm. He spent much time in reading literature at café, playing music, and strolling on the streets of Paris. In the 1930s, Sanyu was one of the few artists from the East who drew attention in the art circles of Paris. The subjects of Sanyu’s paintings mostly surround flowers, nudes, and animals. Now let’s get an intimate look at the way he uses lines in oils.

中國畫講求線條，我們來看看出生在20世紀的中國畫家常玉，如何利用線條，簡潔的表達圖像，顛覆你對中國油畫的想像。常玉誕生於1901年，曾在中國和日本學畫，到了1920年，19歲的他前往法國巴黎，因為巴黎是當時的世界藝術中心，在巴黎，常玉喜歡待在咖啡館閱讀文學、拉小提琴，藉由獨特的方式感受西方藝術的精神勝過到美術學校接受傳統教育。1930年代前後，常玉的作品開始受到巴黎藝術圈的矚目，成為少數亮眼的東方藝術家。常玉繪畫的主題大多圍繞在花卉靜物、裸女、動物。自19歲離開中國，曾到美國紐約居住2年，後半生幾乎都在法國度過。
一起來感受他的油畫中善用簡潔的線條。

Sanyu was born in Sichuan, China.

常玉誕生在中國四川，來自富商家庭

Sanyu

常玉

Takashi Murakami: Japanese contemporary artist

Sushi, kimonos, geisha, robots, and Mount Fuji may makes you think of Japan. Once you arrive in Japan, you will probably be surprised by the popularity of myriad manga (Japanese comics) and kawaii (Japanese for "cute") fashion around the country. These pop culture trends deeply influence Japanese commercial activities, and even daily life in that society. For instance, you might easily catch a glimpse of younger people as well as the elderly reading manga in the metro, or you might find yourself gazing at Japanese dressing in kawaii clothing. 

The cultural atmosphere impels Takashi Murakami (1962- ), an internationally renowned Japanese contemporary artist, to create many art pieces about otaku culture. Otaku refers to a person who is addicted to anime and manga fandoms. And this kind of artworks made Takashi Murakami world-famous. Let’s see his “cute” artworks first.

壽司、和服、藝妓、機器人、富士山讓人聯想哪個國家？
日本! 
的確，一旦有機會抵達日本，你會驚訝四處充滿漫畫和卡哇伊流行，這樣的文化早已深深影響日本當地的商業活動和日常生活。舉例來說，走在路上會瞥見穿著可愛打扮的男女，地鐵裡的青少年和老年人都在讀漫畫，商店販售大量卡哇依商品。種種獨特的文化風格，促使日本當代藝術家村上隆（1962 - ），創作關於御宅族文化的藝術作品，並使村上隆躍上世界的舞台，大放異彩。一起來看看這些「可愛」的作品。

御宅族：沉迷動畫和漫畫的人

And then and then and then and then

Mr.DOB

Tan Tan Bo Puking

Time bokan-pink

Miss Ko2

Flower Ball

Kaikai Kiki 

Planet 66

Jellyfish Eyes

Jellyfish Eyes- Max and Simon in the Strange Forest

Super Nova

Eco Eco Rangers Earth Force

In 2003, he cooperated with the fashion brand Louis Vuition.

2003年，村上隆與時尚品牌路易威登合作

Eye Love Superflat

Take a look at an anime ”Superflat Monogran Cartoon”.

P.S. The term Superflat, an art movement founded by Takashi Murakami, refers to the sense of emptiness in Japanese popular culture and art, as nowadays Japanese like cute things lacking substance. 

Here are his art pieces displayed at the Palace of Versailles, France, in 2010.

2010年，村上隆的作品展示於法國凡爾賽宮

Image from Takashi Murakami and Château de Versailles 

Tofu’s birthplace

Have you ever tasted Tofu? If so, do you know who invented it? Although Tofu is one of the most common foods in Asia and shared by many cultures, it actually originated more than 2,000 years ago in China. In the attempt to make the elixir of immortality, ancient Chinese people used the wrong formula and voila! Tofu was born. The primary ingredient in tofu is soy beans, which are extremely good source of protein for a healthy diet. Next time you are in an Asian restaurant, give it a go!

亞洲常見的豆腐，你知道是誰發明的嗎？
距今2000多年前，豆腐誕生在中國漢朝(西元前200年左右)，當時為了製造長生不老仙丹，陰錯陽差發明了豆腐。

Mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐

Stinky tofu 臭豆腐

Image from mingpaofun / tranews

Blue sponges

What do sponges remind you of? Scrubbing?
How about using sponges to create your own artwork?
French artist Yves Klein (1928-1962) made many sponge sculptures, and the sponges were impregnated with blue pigment during the process. 

海綿會讓你聯想到什麼？
試過把海綿做成藝術品嗎？

法國藝術家伊夫•克萊因(1928-1962)把海綿變成雕塑。

Yves Klein and blue sponges 

伊夫•克萊因和藍海綿雕塑

This blue pigment is named International Klein Blue (IKB).

伊夫•克萊因把海綿染成藍色。這種顏料稱為：克萊因藍

Chinese "Shui diao ge tou" + Irish "Down by the Salley Gardens"

Have you ever been asked to memorize a poem in school?

It is easy to remember a poem if you could attach a melody to the poem and sing it. Here are two good examples: 

Chinese "Shui diao ge tou" from Asia and Irish "Down by the Salley Gardens" in the western culture.

學生要背詩詞，如果每首詩詞都能變成歌曲，有助於記憶，該有多好！

兩個很棒的例子：

中國的詩《水調歌頭•丙辰中秋》北宋，蘇軾/蘇東坡(1037-1101)

愛爾蘭的詩《走在莎莉花園》威廉•巴特勒•葉芝/葉慈(1865-1939)

《水調歌頭•丙辰中秋》北宋，蘇軾/蘇東坡(1037-1101)

明月幾時有？把酒問青天。不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。起舞弄清影，何似在人間。

轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。不應有恨，何事長向別時圓？人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。

When Will The Moon Be Clear And Bright

Written by Su Shi (1037-1101)

When will the moon be clear and bright?

With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky

what season it would be up the heaven for tonight.

Oh Moon, how I wish to get closer

By riding on the breeze.

Yet I fear your crystal and jade chateau,

Are much too high and cold.

So, let me just dance here with my moonlight shadow.

Rounds and rounds, my red mansion, till you shine on my silk pillow,

Sleepless, but bearing no regrets

Blame not the full moon when people has to apart

Sorrow or joy, be near or far,

Things happen like that, and we still believe in fate.

Toast to you, we are all be blessed

Though distant away, we look at the same moon

And in that way, we have never been apart.

Down by the Salley Gardens

Written by William Butler Yeats ( 1865-1939 )

Down by the salley gardens my love and I did meet;

She passed the salley gardens with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree;

But I, being young and foolish, with her did not agree.

In a field by the river my love and I did stand,

And on my leaning shoulder she lay her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs;

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

《走在莎莉花園》

作者：威廉•巴特勒•葉芝/葉慈 (愛爾蘭詩人，1865-1939 )

在莎莉花園深處，吾愛與我曾經相遇。

她穿越莎莉花園，以雪白的小腳。

她囑咐我要愛得輕鬆，當新葉在枝椏萌芽。

但我當年年幼無知，不予輕率苟同。

在河邊的田野，吾愛與我曾經駐足。

她依靠在我的肩膀，以雪白的小手。

她囑咐我要活得輕鬆，當青草在堤岸滋長。

但我當年年幼無知，而今熱淚盈眶。

Eating fish balls or sitting on it?

Have you ever sat in a fish ball chair?

Fish balls actually are common and popular food in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and so on. Yet a Singaporean designer Jason Goh created an interesting chair called Moyee Chair, inspired by childhood memories. Jason Goh said, "I had a habit of playing with my food when I was young, especially the fish balls." His grandmother used to tell him, "If you keep messing with them, the fish balls will turn into a big hairy monster and eat you up."

你可能吃過魚丸(魚旦)，但你有坐過魚丸椅子嗎？
新加坡設計師Jason Goh製造一個有趣的魚丸怪物椅，靈感來自於童年的回憶：因為小時候愛玩食物，祖母說魚丸會變成怪物把他吃掉。

Fish balls

魚丸/魚旦

Image from 21food

Here is Jason's comics depicting his childhood memories of fish ball.
魚丸椅的漫畫故事

Then, take a look at the funny chair "Moyee".
魚丸怪物椅

Image from Jason Goh

Konstantin Korovin ( Константи́н Коро́вин ): Russian Impressionist painter

We may often see beautiful night scene photos but why do we rarely see night scene paintings?

1. The light bulb was invented in the early 19th century. 

2. It is difficult to paint night scene in oil paints.

But Russian Impressionist painter Konstantin Korovin(1861-1939) had a great talent in painting Paris at night. Konstantin Korovin was born in Moscow. He was not only a painter but also a writer and stage designer. 

為什麼經常看見捕捉夜景的照片，卻很少看到描繪夜景的繪畫？

由於1.電燈的發明在19世紀初。2. 夜景畫很難畫。

然而，俄羅斯印象派畫家康斯坦丁•柯羅文(1861-1939)卻擅長畫夜景，特別是巴黎的夜晚。康斯坦丁•柯羅文出生在莫斯科，身兼多種身分：畫家、作家、舞台設計師。


Boulevards of Paris / Les grands boulevards à Paris

巴黎大道

Portrait of Konstantin Korovin 

Painter: Valentin Serov

康斯坦丁•柯羅文的肖像畫

畫家：瓦倫丁•謝羅夫

Moreover, his paintings are excellent examples of the mastering of color. Take a look at his choice of colors.

康斯坦丁•柯羅文的畫作，他的色彩運用傑出，一起來學習他使用的配色。