ARTPOST - Line Doc 2 by Andrew Yeung: June 2011

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts - AGO IV

Mughai Emperoe Shah Alam II presented to General Lake of the East India Company in 1803. To mark victory over the Marathas.
c. 1803, made of: Gilded copper and yak hair.

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts - AGO III

Three pieces of instruments on display, stringed instrument, North India 1800-1900. Musical instrument part of court life in the fan shape of the peacock - a symbol of royalty in India.
The sword handle made of steel; gold; diamonds; emeralds and rubies.
A games symbol, made of rosewood; ivory and brass.

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts - AGO II

Nafiz Muhammad Multani Throne from the Rahjit Singh's Court, Lahore, c. 1820.
Materials: Wood, resin and gold.

Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts - AGO I

The grand entrance display of 2 steel wireframed elephant and horse parade in a glittering fashion covered with fine jewelery and craftmanship a reflection of the Maharaja wealth and power.

"...The Art Gallery of Ontario unveils an extraordinary exhibition that explores in depth the opulent world of the maharajas, from the beginning of the eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Maharaja: The Splendour of India’s Royal Courts brings to Canada for the first time more than 200 spectacular works of art created for India’s great kings — including paintings, furniture, decorative arts and jewellery. These magnificent objects chronicle the many aspects of royal life and celebrate a legacy of cultural patronage by generations of maharajas, both in India and in Europe."

http://www.ago.net/maharaja-exhibition

Black Ice At AGO - II

A part of the David Blackwood exhibition is the display of collections, in this collections are the powderhones for loading the hunter's rifles.

Black Ice At AGO - I

David Blackwood, wall projection of sinking ship.

David Blackwood is one of Canada’s leading printmakers and most popular artists. This exhibition showcases some iconic works for the first time, revealing the richness of Blackwood’s imagination and his working methods.

Blackwood has been telling stories about Newfoundland in the form of epic visual narratives for 30 years. To bring this narrative to life, the exhibition will situate Blackwood’s prints in time and space by looking at the history of Newfoundland and the people who settled there. Blackwood explores the timeless theme of the struggle for survival between humans and nature in one of the most exposed and hostile environments on earth. He depicts a town and a centuries-old way of life that has disappeared. His dramas encapsulate class, gender and intergenerational issues that can only be understood in the context of the formation of the landscape, its natural resources, immigration and settlement, religious and political debate, economic and social conditions, and the environmental threat to the survival of traditional lifestyles.

He has created an iconography of Newfoundland which is as universal as it is personal, as mythic as it is rooted in reality, and as timeless as it is linked to specific events. This exhibition draws on childhood memories, dreams, superstitions, legends, the oral tradition, and the political realities of the Wesleyville community on Bonavista Bay where Blackwood was born and raised.

http://www.ago.net/black-ice-david-blackwoods-prints-of-newfoundland

Chi Lin Nunnery - Simple Household Display

The simple wood handcrafted household utensils reflected the earlier living and their basic needs.

Another notes on the Chi Lin Nummery:
"Chi Lin Nunnery was founded in the 1934 and provides great cultural, educational, religious, and elderly care in Hong Kong. This great structure stands on an eight acre piece of land, houses a lotus pond rock garden of Zen style, 16 Buddhist halls, and ten thousand Buddhist pagodas.

The building was built with Canadian imported cedar wood, and one thing that makes it so interesting is that Chinese artisans hand carved the pieces like jigsaw puzzles – amazingly not a nail was used to build it!"

http://www.stay.com/hong-kong/attractions/4117/chi-lin-nunnery/

Chi Lin Nunnery - Restaurant Interior

"Chi Lin Vegetarian, a restaurant inside the Chi Lin nunnery in Nan Lian garden, a stunning Buddhist temple complex in Kowloon; its isolation has allowed it to develop a unique school of contemporary vegetarian Cantonese food. Its new garden restaurant behind and under the Silver Strand waterfalls."

http://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/kowloon/restaurants/chi-lin-vegetarian-kowloon

Chi Lin Nunnery - Temple III

Temple close-up with trees.

"...where frangipani flowers scent the air, run beside the nunnery. The gardens are filled with bonsai trees and artful rockeries. Nature is also present inside: the various halls and galleries all look onto two courtyards filled with geometric lotus ponds and manicured bushes."

http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/china/hong-kong/review-167036.html

Chi Lin Nunnery - Temple II

Temple sketches.

"...The buildings face south toward the sea, to bring abundance; their backs are to the mountain, provider of strength and good energy. The temple's clean lines are a vast departure from most of Hong Kong's colorful religious buildings—here polished wood and gleaming Buddha statues are the only adornments."

http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/china/hong-kong/review-167036.html

Chi Lin Nunnery - Temple I

One of the temple sketch with high density living beyond.

"...Not a single nail was used to build this nunnery, which dates from 1934. Instead, traditional Tang Dynasty architectural techniques involving wooden dowels and bracket work hold its 228,000 pieces of timber together. Most of the 15 cedar halls house altars to bodhisattvas (those who have reached enlightenment)—bronze plaques explain each one."

Chi Lin Nunnery - Religious Sites, Fodor's Choice
http://www.fodors.com/world/asia/china/hong-kong/review-167036.html

Chi Lin Nunnery - Trees & Rocks

The landscape in Chi Lin is based on the classical Chinese landscape concept - insetting rocks, trees to created a layering effects of distance mountain and trees, like a scroll painting.

"...From the nunnery complex, a stately causeway leads to a bonus that's even better for solitude (a precious commodity here): Nan Lian Garden. A single lazy circuit takes me through its three hectares or so, filled with carefully crafted landscaping, meditative paths and further halls and towers in matching Tang style. Scrupulously managed by the nunnery, this could possibly be the prettiest public spot in all Hong Kong. It is surely the quietest. Even with surveillance cameras and piped-in plucked koto music, Nan Lian feels like a sincere homage to gardens past -- and not some Sinoland theme park.

An authentic variety of pu'er and other sharp, high-end teas is served after 11 a.m. in the mini-gazebo beside a lotus pond. The larger vegetarian restaurant looks even more enjoyable, with an eight-course set menu including an all-veg hot pot and string beans braised with porcini mushrooms. Perhaps there are some budding Julia Childs among the nuns.

I can't say there's much else to do here but stroll and rid one's self of impure, materialistic thoughts. But that's saying a lot in a place with among the world's lowest ratios of urban parkland to population. You almost don't notice the high-density apartment blocks looming on all sides."

One Hour Out: Hong Kong - In a City Notoriously Low On Parks, Green Space Beckons
By JOHN KRICH

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122115254901124087.html?mod=googlewsj

Chi Lin Nunnery - Lotus Pond

One of the lotus pond in Chi Lin Nunnery to break up the courtyard to matrix grid of land and water.

Chi Lin Nunnery (traditional Chinese: 志蓮淨苑) is a large Buddhist temple complex located in Diamond Hill, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Covering a space of more than 33,000 square meters, the temple complex includes a nunnery, temple halls, Chinese gardens, visitor's hostels and a vegetarian restaurant. The temple hall have statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy Guanyin and other bodhisattvas. These statues are made from gold, clay, wood and stone.
The Chi Lin Nunnery was founded in 1934 but was rebuilt in 1990 following the style of Tang Dynasty traditional Chinese architecture. The present-day buildings are wood frame buildings built without the use of any iron nails. This construction is based on traditional Chinese architectural techniques dating from the Tang Dynasty that uses special interlocking systems cut into the wood to hold them in place. The Chi Lin Nunnery buildings are the only buildings to be built in this style in modern day Hong Kong.
The temple halls and the Chinese garden in front of the nunnery is open to the public daily without charge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Lin_Nunnery

Trees In Hong Kong Park

A close-up of the trees in the park.

1881 Heritage - Former Marine Police HQ, TST, Hong Kong

The transplanted full grown trees dotted the new development of a traditional European style building complex for upscale retails.

The Former Marine Police Headquarters Compound (Chinese: 前水警總部), constructed in 1884, is located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The site is now officially renamed as 1881 Heritage.
The Kowloon compound used to be occupied by the Marine Police, now a unit within the Hong Kong Police Force, since its establishment until late 1996; when it was moved to Sai Wan Ho.
The compound is a declared monument since 1994 as it is one of the four oldest surviving government buildings in Hong Kong. The Compound and the Old Kowloon Fire Station has been re-developed into a heritage hotel with food and beverage outlets and retail facilities in a project headed by architect Daniel Lin, opened in 2009.

The former Marine Police Headquarters was constructed in 1884, comprises a main building, a stable block and signal tower. It has been used by the Marine Police, except for the Japanese Occupation (1941–1945) when the compound was used as a base by the Japanese navy.
During the Japanese Occupation period, extensive underground tunnels were constructed beneath the lawn but after World War II, these tunnels were blocked and the lawn was returfed for the safety of public.
In 1970s the compound lost a large part of its grounds, when the slope was levelled to make way for the construction of Kowloon Park Drive.
The station was also featured in Jackie Chan's films Project A and Project A Part II.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Former_Marine_Police_Headquarters_Compound

YMCA Cafe - Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

A panoramic view from the cafe - looking into the TST performance centre and Central across the harbour.

Traditional House in Sai Kung, Hong Kong - 2

The mixture of trees and plants have dressed the garden with lively colours.

Traditional House in Sai Kung, Hong Kong - 1

Veranda wrapped frontage and trees created a nice environment.

Rock Tunnel In Hong Kong Park

The rock tunnel with plants and falling water.

This Park, being built at a cost of $398 million and opened in May 1991, covers 8 hectares in Central and is an outstanding example of modern design and facilities blending with the natural landscape.

A further attraction is the way of flowing water, which has been employed as a thematic motif to link the different features of the park by waterfalls, streams, ponds and cliffs from artificial rocks.

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/parks/hkp/en/index.php

Tree In To Tung Lo Wan Road & Brown Street, Tai Hang

Nice full grown trees in the courtyard of a member's club in Tai Hang.

Tai Hang Back Alley, Hong Kong

A typical back alley in Tai Hang, Hong Kong.
The green awning covered the alley restaurant.

Tai Hang is adjacent to Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island, an L-shaped area bordered by Tung Lo Wan Road and Wun Sha Street. Tai Hang is a miniature of what you will find in many places in Hong Kong, a mix of the old and new, contrasting but coexisting perfectly together. On one end, you will see seniors selling eggs, salted fish, fruit, and incense, chatting away or most likely nodding off in the afternoon sun. However, just behind these tiny metal shacks or makeshift stores, there is an up and coming hip dining area, comprised of little restaurants with an array of cuisine, all yours to explore. Tai Hang is rich with cultural traditions that happen to fall on one of the biggest Chinese Festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival. Tai Hang is situated right behind the Hong Kong Central Library and one street away from Victoria Park. The area though small is big with personality and beckons you for a leisurely visit.

Tai Hang is a tight knit community where everybody knows everybody. All the basic necessities can be found in these tiny streets. People who live in the area do not have to venture far from these streets to get what they need, be it basic household supplies to fresh food. There is a tiny wet market selling vegetable, fish and meat, tiny meaning one stall each. Feeling a little under the weather? Both western and Chinese doctors, again one each, are at your disposal. There is even a modern clinic offering Chinese acupuncture and pressure point therapy. It’s amazing what this little neighborhood can hold. The bond is made even stronger with The Tai Hang Resident Welfare Association, which oversees the neighborhood. The camaraderie is none more evident than in the collective effort to bring the biggest event in the district, the “Fire Dragon Dance” to a blast every year.

http://tourism-hongkong.com/tai-hang/

Man Yee Playground, Sai Kung, Hong Kong

Man Yee Playground a central small community park in Sai Kung.

Streamer Bar Cafe In Sai Kung

Streamer is a popular bar in Sai Kung near the market and the entrance into the village.

Shing Wong Street Scaffolding On Post-War Building

This typical Post-WWII structure is slowly vanishing from the Hong Kong real estate bloom, it will soon be transform into a super luxurious condo north of the west end central.

The Waves and Embankment Rocks In Sai Kung

The waves washing the embankment on the coast of Sai Kung, Hong Kong.

Ormsey Street Corner Garage With Rolls Royce, Hong Kong.

Grey primer coated Roll Royce behind half shuttered garage, waiting to be painted to returns to the old glory.

Poets Bar And Pub In Sai Kung, Hong Kong - 2

The brass S-shape railing suspended the wine glasses on the ceiling, the taps on the counter and the drawings on the walls, the 2 customers drinking from the bar and chatting with the owner in a lazy afternoon.

Poets Bar And Pub In Sai Kung, Hong Kong

Afternoon drop-in to the open bar to have a drink and chat with the owner.

Cheng Lung Village Dim Sum, Tai Mo Shan, Hong Kong

a Village Dim Sum Restaurant in Tai Mo Shan.

A nice narration from the nobalglomad.
Right now I’m standing at the lesser touristed main land peak of Tai Mo Shan 大帽山, Hong Kong’s highest mountain with an altitude of 957m. This spot is geographically the centre of the New Territories, standing some 400m higher than Hong Kong Island’s Victoria Peak. The vista’s not bad on this clearer than usual day. Thanks to China’s drifting coal burning belch the air pollution in Honkers is considered a serious problem, with visibility less than 8km for 30% of the year… anyone for a run in the park?

We head to Cheng Lung Village at the base of the mountain to find Chuen Lung Dim Sum. The point of difference here is everything’s DIY… except the cooking . We rinse tea pots and head to the lazy-susan’d table armed with enough piping hot Jasmine tea to calm a small horse. Chinese typically do not drink alcohol during their meals. This is rustic Chinese fare. You can see the handwork in the assembly, nothing here is brought in from the mainland pre-made.

http://www.nobalglomad.com/index.php/2010/12/dim-sum-dai-pai-dongs/