Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Lecture by Peter van Dijk
I didn't fall asleep at all watching this lecture... he's really interesting. And the things he talked about... How one should get a solid grounding as a person (history, literature, philosophy, etc), how heritage is not a cosmetic but something living and evolving, how instead of focusing on trying by hook or by crook to be original one should first try to be good... things like that, I might turn them over in my head for a while... How architecture is a social art, living, interacting with people... how a building should have a soul, a church that looks like a church... Louis Kahn's buildings will be great ruins... the play of natural light in the interiors of buildings, the amazing gothic cathedrals... How 'modern' is a spirit, not a style... a spirit where one tries to improve existing conditions through the methods available at the point in time... how he misses the spirit of the early avant garde, where it is not all about ego...
I'll think about it for a while...
"Design is about exploring the possibilities, not just pulling something out of the clouds. It is about finding the best solution. A lot of it ends up in the waste basket, but you can go back to it. It involves a lot of self-criticism... but eventually, you get there."
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
From Lecture by Jacques Herzog at Harvard GSD 5/5/11
"I repeated what I said many times in the past - that I don't believe in books about architecture, they are bound to fail and then disappear, even faster than architecture. Architecture sometimes last for a few generations, maybe sometimes even centuries, as everything else it goes and it disappears, which is also great to know, somehow.
"What I wanted to say is not that I have no respect for people who write books, because we have since the beginning written a lot. We have always felt the need for an intellectual and conceptual approach which uses the word and involves the word. But we said it for totally different reasons. I want to point out, once again, how important it is that a discipline is just what it is. Poetry is poetry, architecture is architecture, literature is literature, painting is painting, photography is photography. We don't- we're not so interested in things about things, illustrative things, narrative things, because they use something else to exist. And especially talking about architecture, the great thing, as everybody knows here, when you are facing a piece of architecture, a new one or an old one, the sheer experience, the immediate physical experience is what counts and what makes this piece of architecture survive. Whether it's fragile and made out of paper and wood like the old Japanese imperial palace which lasted centuries even if it's not very solid or whether it's a comtemporary building or whether it's an old medieval church. And this immediate sensation which involves all the senses we have, it's very key today that we are not involved in only visual senses, reading, so as to speak, architecture, but really living it is what we continue to underscore. We try to teach this to our students and we try to realize it in our work.
"I think it's very important that things come on the table, you lay them out like you are cooking. The project and the program is laid out, then one option is of course that you start to play with this and then you do all these possible things, you know, which are sometimes very ridiculous or childish, then sometimes it leads to really unexpected qualities, and sometimes you have to reject it and start again. So, you know, there is really no recipes in how you do architecture, but once it's there, the analytical potential of what you've done is very important. If you cannot somehow try to understand that what you've done seems to attract you for this or that reason, that it has a real coherence or it has a real complexity in it - that, you can talk about. But before, you could not talk about. Before, you cannot say well I do this, then I do this, then I do this, then I do this - this will lead to some kind of boring and architecturally worthless thing. But once it's there, you could say why it potentially is interesting or why not, and we have that dialogue. I mean we are training ourselves, we want to, you know, trigger these discussions in the same way as I did now. I could perhaps do a lecture using mostly the same projects and tell you totally different things, you know. And that is more important for me than to say or to insist on saying this building or this project belongs to this or that category and I would love you to see it this or that way. I think that's not interesting, and then we come back to the very first statement I made, it's not interesting because the only thing that is interesting is you who go there, and you like it or you don't like it. Because in a generation or two generations, people don't use the building anymore, and it's worthless because people also don't care about it, it disappears, and that's ok. But some of the greatest buildings survive, because people love them. Because people just love them, and that's much stronger than someone telling you it's interesting, important, because of this, this, this and this. Because nobody cares about what you explain to them. It's like a love affair, it is or it is not. Nobody has to explain.
"Maybe it's more interesting to hear from you, about what you believe is our value system. I don't think that I have a value system per se... I think it's important that architecture appeals to the different senses, you know, and not just to the visual one or to... but I couldn't put this on the table, up front... maybe the gentleman in the blue cloak could give you further explanation, he seems to have a value system. Yah, that's exactly... yah maybe you have a value system. That's exactly the point, this kind of ideological preconception which I think is really the reason why there is so much bad architecture.
"I again say something dangerous, but somehow, architecture is like nature. Let's say a tree is here, a house is here, and some just see this is a tree, this is a house, and that's it, and that's fine- there's no problem with this. If you like, you can see more, if there is more. You can smell it, you can take a fruit, you can whatever, you know, and the house may offer you other opportunities, you may discover other beauties or other advantages or even smell or even whatever, and that's what it is. I mean it's interesting to do- complexities define what it is, that if you look at it more carefully, you discover something that goes beyond. Let's say advertisement is not complex, advertisement can be analysed in a way that- it's an interesting analysis but advertisement has a clear purpose, it tells you you should smoke this or that brand or you should whatever - but that's it. There's a clear message. Architecture has no clear message. No message at all. And art has no message. If you look at a piece of red paint on the wall and you just see it is a piece of red paint, but if you look more carefully maybe there is more. And what you see more is not what the artist wants to tell you but it is what you see in that piece, and that's much more interesting than what the artist wants to tell you. Or what the architect wants to tell you. Or what the stupid book wants to tell you. Because it's about power, the book is about power, and it wants to tell you how important the author is who has written the book. Whereas poetry is never about power, it's just about this or that poem. That's it."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
I'm actually taking a break from binging on Supernatural. Well... I never knew or probed much into Herzog and De Meuron's works... but I really enjoyed this talk. Mostly the beginning pre-slide show talk and the ending QnA session where I got the above excerpt from. The rest of the time, I was trying to keep awake, as it is with all talks about works. But from the way he speaks about architecture, about doing it, experiencing it, it really hit something in me. It cheered me up a little. I think, all the good architects, they have something in common. Like all the great writers... they always hit the same note, somehow, some way. Just my opinion. And on we go.
"What I wanted to say is not that I have no respect for people who write books, because we have since the beginning written a lot. We have always felt the need for an intellectual and conceptual approach which uses the word and involves the word. But we said it for totally different reasons. I want to point out, once again, how important it is that a discipline is just what it is. Poetry is poetry, architecture is architecture, literature is literature, painting is painting, photography is photography. We don't- we're not so interested in things about things, illustrative things, narrative things, because they use something else to exist. And especially talking about architecture, the great thing, as everybody knows here, when you are facing a piece of architecture, a new one or an old one, the sheer experience, the immediate physical experience is what counts and what makes this piece of architecture survive. Whether it's fragile and made out of paper and wood like the old Japanese imperial palace which lasted centuries even if it's not very solid or whether it's a comtemporary building or whether it's an old medieval church. And this immediate sensation which involves all the senses we have, it's very key today that we are not involved in only visual senses, reading, so as to speak, architecture, but really living it is what we continue to underscore. We try to teach this to our students and we try to realize it in our work.
"I think it's very important that things come on the table, you lay them out like you are cooking. The project and the program is laid out, then one option is of course that you start to play with this and then you do all these possible things, you know, which are sometimes very ridiculous or childish, then sometimes it leads to really unexpected qualities, and sometimes you have to reject it and start again. So, you know, there is really no recipes in how you do architecture, but once it's there, the analytical potential of what you've done is very important. If you cannot somehow try to understand that what you've done seems to attract you for this or that reason, that it has a real coherence or it has a real complexity in it - that, you can talk about. But before, you could not talk about. Before, you cannot say well I do this, then I do this, then I do this, then I do this - this will lead to some kind of boring and architecturally worthless thing. But once it's there, you could say why it potentially is interesting or why not, and we have that dialogue. I mean we are training ourselves, we want to, you know, trigger these discussions in the same way as I did now. I could perhaps do a lecture using mostly the same projects and tell you totally different things, you know. And that is more important for me than to say or to insist on saying this building or this project belongs to this or that category and I would love you to see it this or that way. I think that's not interesting, and then we come back to the very first statement I made, it's not interesting because the only thing that is interesting is you who go there, and you like it or you don't like it. Because in a generation or two generations, people don't use the building anymore, and it's worthless because people also don't care about it, it disappears, and that's ok. But some of the greatest buildings survive, because people love them. Because people just love them, and that's much stronger than someone telling you it's interesting, important, because of this, this, this and this. Because nobody cares about what you explain to them. It's like a love affair, it is or it is not. Nobody has to explain.
"Maybe it's more interesting to hear from you, about what you believe is our value system. I don't think that I have a value system per se... I think it's important that architecture appeals to the different senses, you know, and not just to the visual one or to... but I couldn't put this on the table, up front... maybe the gentleman in the blue cloak could give you further explanation, he seems to have a value system. Yah, that's exactly... yah maybe you have a value system. That's exactly the point, this kind of ideological preconception which I think is really the reason why there is so much bad architecture.
"I again say something dangerous, but somehow, architecture is like nature. Let's say a tree is here, a house is here, and some just see this is a tree, this is a house, and that's it, and that's fine- there's no problem with this. If you like, you can see more, if there is more. You can smell it, you can take a fruit, you can whatever, you know, and the house may offer you other opportunities, you may discover other beauties or other advantages or even smell or even whatever, and that's what it is. I mean it's interesting to do- complexities define what it is, that if you look at it more carefully, you discover something that goes beyond. Let's say advertisement is not complex, advertisement can be analysed in a way that- it's an interesting analysis but advertisement has a clear purpose, it tells you you should smoke this or that brand or you should whatever - but that's it. There's a clear message. Architecture has no clear message. No message at all. And art has no message. If you look at a piece of red paint on the wall and you just see it is a piece of red paint, but if you look more carefully maybe there is more. And what you see more is not what the artist wants to tell you but it is what you see in that piece, and that's much more interesting than what the artist wants to tell you. Or what the architect wants to tell you. Or what the stupid book wants to tell you. Because it's about power, the book is about power, and it wants to tell you how important the author is who has written the book. Whereas poetry is never about power, it's just about this or that poem. That's it."
I'm actually taking a break from binging on Supernatural. Well... I never knew or probed much into Herzog and De Meuron's works... but I really enjoyed this talk. Mostly the beginning pre-slide show talk and the ending QnA session where I got the above excerpt from. The rest of the time, I was trying to keep awake, as it is with all talks about works. But from the way he speaks about architecture, about doing it, experiencing it, it really hit something in me. It cheered me up a little. I think, all the good architects, they have something in common. Like all the great writers... they always hit the same note, somehow, some way. Just my opinion. And on we go.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
I'll make it. I promise.
Ah... interview coming up next Thursday. I'll do my best.
Merlin is returning this Autumn, September or October. Yes! Haha. I'll be in Boston at that time... new place, new life, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. But I'm really looking forward to it. To both, my journey and the show.
Ah, hopefully, in July, I'll get great news yet again.
Father, thank You so much.
Ah... interview coming up next Thursday. I'll do my best.
Merlin is returning this Autumn, September or October. Yes! Haha. I'll be in Boston at that time... new place, new life, and I'm not sure when I'll be back. But I'm really looking forward to it. To both, my journey and the show.
Ah, hopefully, in July, I'll get great news yet again.
Father, thank You so much.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Black Books
-No! I want the weekend off. I mean it! I want a life!
-This is life! We suffer and slave and expire! That's it!
-We have needs! Fran's got a piano, I want some time to myself, you want to go out with a girl.
-Don't make me laugh... bitterly. Fran will fail, you'll toil your life away and I'll die alone upside down on the floor of a public toilet.
(from Black Books Season 2 Episode 1 "The Entertainer")
Haha I love Black Books. I think Dylan Moran is the cutest thing since Tony Slattery.
Friday, April 22, 2011
In the mid-1990s, after leaving Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Slattery suffered what he described as a "mid-life crisis" — triggered by excessive drinking and cocaine use (spending up to £4000 per week on the drug) — culminating in 1996 with a six-month period of reclusiveness, during which he did not answer his door or telephone, "or open bills, or wash... I just sat." Eventually, one of his friends broke down the door of his flat and persuaded him to go to hospital. He was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder. He discussed this period and his subsequent living with the disorder in a documentary made by Stephen Fry, The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive, in 2006; Slattery claimed that he spent time living in a warehouse and "throwing [his] furniture into the Thames".
-From the Wikipedia article on Tony Slattery
実は、みんなも同じ… そう思ってるときもある。 I don't know the reason for other people's sadness and pain, but the pain itself, it is the same, is it not...
@YoshikiOfficial Yoshiki
Wish I could sleep forever....
13 hours ago via web
@YoshikiOfficial Yoshiki
and never wake up...again...
13 hours ago via web
@YoshikiOfficial Yoshiki
Why do we sleep?
30 Mar via web
@YoshikiOfficial Yoshiki
....to forget the pain.....
30 Mar via web
Yoshiki's tweets... He's still the way I remembered...
何時まで続くのかな。ね、よしきさん。 人は何処まで行けば、幸せになれるんかな。
Thursday, April 21, 2011
On my wish list
To catch Whose Live Anyway? live!
Ah... but the dates and locations don't look good... and I have absolutely no idea how much a ticket would cost. We'll see! :):)
Ah... but the dates and locations don't look good... and I have absolutely no idea how much a ticket would cost. We'll see! :):)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
カカオよりココロ
I just watched Gintama Episode 204, or Season 5 Episode 3. The second half is about Kagura trying to give chocolates to Gin-chan and Shinpachi during Valentine's day.
Kagura coated in chocolate because of a misadventure with Sacchi the kinky ninja (haha, her seiyuu is awesome)
Kawaii Kagura in the shower at the end
This is from the first half, Katsura being the nonsensical entity that he is, is waiting on stand-by for a non-existent wedding. And Elizabeth too. Haha, I love Katsura. (And his seiyuu is awesome)
Anyway, all in all, I'm glad Gintama is back!
「そんなことないよ。みんなと一緒に女の子ぽいことをして楽しかったある。もともとキャラじゃなかったね。これでいいね。」
Kagura coated in chocolate because of a misadventure with Sacchi the kinky ninja (haha, her seiyuu is awesome)
Kawaii Kagura in the shower at the end
This is from the first half, Katsura being the nonsensical entity that he is, is waiting on stand-by for a non-existent wedding. And Elizabeth too. Haha, I love Katsura. (And his seiyuu is awesome)
Anyway, all in all, I'm glad Gintama is back!
「そんなことないよ。みんなと一緒に女の子ぽいことをして楽しかったある。もともとキャラじゃなかったね。これでいいね。」
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Grateful
In a post I wrote in December last year, I was hoping that when April comes, there will be good news together with the start of the new Gintama season. Back then, I didn't know if I would get into grad school or not.
And it came true! :) I'm accepted.
I just watched the first two episodes of the new Gintama season... it's hilarious... and I was reminded of how I felt last year...
Thank You so much, Father.
There will be more ups and downs from now on, but I will do my best
And it came true! :) I'm accepted.
I just watched the first two episodes of the new Gintama season... it's hilarious... and I was reminded of how I felt last year...
Thank You so much, Father.
There will be more ups and downs from now on, but I will do my best
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ソメイヨシノ
I remember that I really loved this song. It's beautiful. I really liked Tsuyoshi. The words that he write... in songs like this, like 街, like Original Color.
On another note, I notice that I have a big appetite. Actually, I noticed it quite some time ago... it started from around the time when I was in Europe... the hall food, I can't seem to get enough of it, especially breakfast.
I still eat a lot for breakfast these days... and dinner.
While worrying a little about eating so much, I also think, at the back of my mind, that it's good I have a big appetite. Because I've learnt in the past that when one is sad and one's heart is heavy, food does not seem so appealing anymore, and one doesn't eat much. So, despite feeling a little lost this couple of days... looking for a job and all... I'm still pretty happy, it seems.
326
Ah, I just watched Keroro Gunso episode 354B "623, tragedy of the radio star" (623 ラジオスターの悲劇であります)
I really like Saburo-sempai... If I have a ranking for the anime guys I like best of all... it might look like this:
1) Gin-chan (Gintama)
1) Saburo-sempai (Keroro Gunso)
3) Katsura (Gintama)
Somewhat, maybe, because he's dependable) Doumeki (xxxHolic)
Funny, but totally undependable) Morita (Honey & Clover)
Haha ok, what kind of デタラメ ranking is that?
This is Saburo-sempai catching hold of Nacchi's hand to stop her from walking into the path of the bicycle...
And this is Saburo-sempai and Nacchi talking in the sunset... なんかいいね... なっちの気持ちわかってる… 私は絶対なっちみたいな女の子じゃないけど…
I really think this is a very nice episode. About people passing by each other, about faces. The scene with Koyuki and the other ninja is quite poignant. And Saburo-sempai is always, you know, the way he is.
Nacchi is so cute, she's praying in front of the letter box for her letter to be chosen by 623's radio program so that she can attend his last live recording session... *clap, clap* (Nacchi is like the girl in all of us... anyway this anime is full of typical girls, Momocchi is another one haha, I can totally relate to her split personality)
326「時々、全部投げ出して何処か行っちゃいたいんなんと思う時もあるよね。６２３もそうだったりして」
723「（小さな声で）さぶろ先輩は、何処かに行っちゃたりしませんね…」
I really like Saburo-sempai... If I have a ranking for the anime guys I like best of all... it might look like this:
1) Gin-chan (Gintama)
1) Saburo-sempai (Keroro Gunso)
3) Katsura (Gintama)
Somewhat, maybe, because he's dependable) Doumeki (xxxHolic)
Funny, but totally undependable) Morita (Honey & Clover)
Haha ok, what kind of デタラメ ranking is that?
This is Saburo-sempai catching hold of Nacchi's hand to stop her from walking into the path of the bicycle...
And this is Saburo-sempai and Nacchi talking in the sunset... なんかいいね... なっちの気持ちわかってる… 私は絶対なっちみたいな女の子じゃないけど…
I really think this is a very nice episode. About people passing by each other, about faces. The scene with Koyuki and the other ninja is quite poignant. And Saburo-sempai is always, you know, the way he is.
Nacchi is so cute, she's praying in front of the letter box for her letter to be chosen by 623's radio program so that she can attend his last live recording session... *clap, clap* (Nacchi is like the girl in all of us... anyway this anime is full of typical girls, Momocchi is another one haha, I can totally relate to her split personality)
326「時々、全部投げ出して何処か行っちゃいたいんなんと思う時もあるよね。６２３もそうだったりして」
723「（小さな声で）さぶろ先輩は、何処かに行っちゃたりしませんね…」
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
天早灰藍 想告別 偏未晚
我是真的很喜欢王菲的歌啦。
她的歌说出我的心
『曖昧』 『矜持』 『如風』
个个都说出我的心
七年前的心也好
此刻的心也好
也许，过几天，心就开始不会像现在这样淡淡的忧伤
过几天，又开始忘记
// 來又如風 離又如風
或我亦不應再這般心痛 //
可是，我是真的很喜欢你啦
// 雖然你從來不曾對我著迷 //
是真的，真心喜欢过你
她的歌说出我的心
『曖昧』 『矜持』 『如風』
个个都说出我的心
七年前的心也好
此刻的心也好
也许，过几天，心就开始不会像现在这样淡淡的忧伤
过几天，又开始忘记
// 來又如風 離又如風
或我亦不應再這般心痛 //
可是，我是真的很喜欢你啦
// 雖然你從來不曾對我著迷 //
是真的，真心喜欢过你
Friday, April 8, 2011
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