Fotanian Open Studio

Since the industries had migrated to the Mainland, artists turn the industrial lofts into art studio. During Fotanian Open Studio, these artists open their studio to the general public. Visitors and artists can openly share and exchange their experience in making art.

 This is the first time that I visit such big and organized exhibition which engages such a huge number of local artists. I really love the idea of visiting the studio of the artist. By explore artists’ workplaces and listen about their artworks and experience on making art, this brings the artists and me closer, making me easier to understand and appreciate their art works.

I like the way how artists use this abandoned lofts for their studios. The headroom of industrial lofts is high and spacious that gives artist a more relaxing and comfortable environment for thinking and creating art. My friends and I wish to rent a loft for our studio where we can make and put our architectural model. I can picture one day I can also join the Fotanian Open Studio and showcase my works to the public. Hope that is not a dream.

One of the favorite artworks I see in the exhibition is a sculpture produced by Joe Lee. First, I am attracted by the very real tree sculpture made of copper. And I try to look at it closer, I find there are two ladders: one leading from the ground to the house on the trees and the other one going from the house to the top of tree. Strangely, I don’t really get what it means. Then I look up, and surprisingly, there is another longer ladder above the tree, yes above the tree, hanging off in the air which links up to many giant wire-framed cubes. Finally I look at the title of the art work. It is called “Goals”. 

Suddenly, I get something from this work. Sometimes in the journey of chasing some goals, we may feel easy at the beginning. But as the journey goes on, we all meet some hitch, so called the neck of bottle. However, we have to take a risk and jump that gap. Just like how the person in the sculpture leaps from the tree top to the ladder above. Otherwise, if we give up, we never fulfill our goals, our dream and get stuck at the neck of bottle. Life is worth or not is up to whether you want to gamble or not. This reminds me of a song. “Life is just a gamble, so just enjoy the game” quoted from a song called “join the club” by Lucy Spraggan.

Another art piece I like very much is a head sculpture. I don’t know why. But when I look at ‘her’, I find a feeling of peace, silence and softness. Perhaps, it was ‘her’ vulnerable look that makes me want to treasure ‘her’ and the moment I look at her. With ‘her’ closed eyes, it seems that ‘she’ doesn’t look at me or ‘she’ is sleeping. Like the eyes of Buddha, that also gives people a sense of peace in their minds. Well, it looks so powerful, peaceful, and mortal to me.

Visiting Fotanian Open Studio not only truly opens my eyes toward the local art, but also nurtures my interest in appreciating different art form.