Recently I finished reading a rather inspiring book called ‘Think Like An Artist’ by Will Gompertz which I bought from Kelly & Walsh during Art Basel HK 2018.

Why do some people seem to find it easy to come up with fresh, brilliant ideas? And how do they turn them into something worthwhile?

Will Gompertz is a BBC’s art editor. Previously director of Tate Media, Gompertz has written extensively for The Guardian and The Times newspapers. He is the author of What Are You Looking At?: 150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye. In Think Like An Artist, Gompertz doesn’t just comment on the artist’s finished work itself, he also tells the life stories of the like of Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Bridget Riley and Ai Weiwei etc., trying to guide his audience to get into the artist’s mind and explore where their inspirations and creative ideas come from, getting into the artist’s habits and their path to success.

Can’t think of the perfect birthday gift/Christmas present for your parents, relatives or friends? Don’t know what store to start with? Then maybe consider creating something, as opposed to buying it. Although you might not always think it, there’s great value in putting in the work to both think of and make something of your own, something designed only for that one person you intend on giving it to.

After having made

many drawings to my parents and relatives as a child, there was a long period of time where I felt that giving them one of my artworks was “cheap” or not a “real investment”. But lately, I’ve come to realize that giving someone your artwork can actually be a lot more valuable than something you bought at a store. Think of the amount of time you put aside for making it and the reason you had for doing it. It’s the greatest example of the phrase “It’s the thought that counts” — except you also have something to look at for decades to come. And isn’t it more common for your parents or older relatives to show you a drawing that you made for them a long time ago, rather than something that you purchased?

I’d say it is.

(The illustrations below were made as a Christmas gift for my stepfather last year and a recent birthday gift for my mother. They both portray they’re old summer houses back in Sweden.)

Andreas von Buddenbrock,
Programme designer/
facilitator of Ready Set Draw at CMW

At my recent visit back to the UK, I experienced a rather fun art installation by Superflex, a group of Danish artists (founded in 1993) who is best known for their playfully subversive films and art installations. At Tate Modern, Superflex installed an orange line of swings woven through the Turbine Hall.

Each swing has been designed with three people on the same seat; specifying that swinging with two other people has greater potential than swinging alone, thus the work is called One Two Three Swing! Swinging in group of three’s, creates a collective energy that resists gravity and challenges the laws of nature, as claimed by Superflex.

By taking part in this collective installation, you are bound to enjoy the company of many other visitors of all ages! This brings people casually together in a relaxed ambiance to have a good laugh and excitement!

So, if you are heading to the UK sometime in the next few months, do drop by the Tate Modern, London. This installation has extended its exhibit period to 2 October 2018. So try experience One Two Three Swing! first-hand!

Vivien Thumb

We are offering something totally new this summer at our visual and performing arts workshops. For starters, we are introducing ‘Play in Two Days’. A Play in Two Days is the name of our new Drama Festivals where the participants will come in and plan, write, produce, and co-direct a small performance over two days with the Performing Arts practitioners. It’s something that’s really fast-paced and fun for all. In addition to the new Drama Festivals we will also roll out Visual Arts Festivals where the participants will work with two practicing artists-educators on two very different media and conceptualization direction. Of course we are also running our every popular ActOut! and Specialised Art workshops as well as new Music & Lyrics workshops!

Daryl Walker,
Head of Performing Arts /
Director of CMW Centre Stage Production 2018

When I first discovered Herzog & de Meuron’s ‘customized architectural work’, I was living in London. I remember entering the Turbine Hall at the newly converted Tate Modern.

That was in 2000; and we were stepping into the 21st century!

The first feeling was close to the one of entering a cathedral, where one is overwhelmed by first a cavernous smell, and second a sense of enclosed space; feeling the negative space delimitated by a solid structure as opposed to feeling the building’s walls.

From the side entrance (which I recommend if you are a first comer) the slope gradually descends towards the center of the ‘mine’, which is accentuated by its huge head room. I remember thinking: What a luxury of space ! (something I’ve never seen before in a gallery). And then, higher up, you discover protruding blocks coming out of the left wall, as if suddenly you are outside looking at a building! These blocks have big openings with window areas in aqua colour, giving again a futuristic sense (remember, we are in 2000!). Now imagine that behind that wall are the exhibitions venues.

But you are not thinking about the exhibits yet, you are experiencing this gigantic hall!

Herzog & de Meuron made a point of redesigning the power station: expressing architectural qualities of the old building as well as the qualities of the space in the purposely converted art gallery.

Two of their new converted buildings will be unveiled in HK in the coming months. I wonder what they have ‘in the bag’ for the future M+ Museum for Visual Culture and the Tai Kwun Centre for Heritage and Arts?!

Frederique Decombe, 2nd May 2018
Visual Art Teacher, and Course leader of Mentor Studio and Textile Tactile