Day 10

Workshop: Cézanne's Play
Date: 21 December 2008
Time: 10-11am & 11.30am-12.30pm
Participants: Chan Sze Qi, Chan Yun Sheng, Hee Li Jie, Lim Jun Hong & Chin Yi Ton, Saw Khe Xin, Wong Kah Lok, Annabelle Yap Li Xing
Details: The idea of Cézanne's Play derived from the 'form-oriented' approach of Paul Cézanne on the use of geometric shapes while visualizing the natural form. This truly physical activity of perceiving forms assists the participants in drawing/painting. Also from the very basic geometric shapes (cone, cube, cylinder, sphere), how can the participants imagine and rationally add in details to make each shape an object of particular interest in life. Other than the very act of seeing 2-D visuals in planar abstraction, we are also interested in the experimental Sensorimotor stage as suggested in Piaget's 4 Stages Mental Development, in which other than 'sight', touch is also an integral part of the learning process. The participants will also learn how to visualize through touching shapes, and mentally conjure up an object with details manifested by the shapes. Such were the physical ways of learning art.

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"Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world."
- Archimedes

The principle of lever was introduced in this workshop, to get the participants to consider the relation between fulcrum - load - effort while constructing a balance/imbalance composition. It may sound too difficult for the participants, don't you think so? I thought so. But through examples, where I first explained, and later got them into showing me which was fulcrum, load or effort, they got it correct. Examples shown were significant compositional paintings like those of De Stijl, James McNeill Whistler, and Barnett Newman.

I got them drawing compositions utilizing shapes, lines, dots and the principle of lever for a while before we got into the 3-dimensional exercises playing with shadows and touch. It ended up in zest and the participants especially the younger one were very participative.

There will be a replacement of this workshop on 27 Dec 08, pictures will not be exposed until that day.

"The problem of a painting is physical and metaphysical, the same as I think life is physical and metaphysical."
- Barnett Newman