Have a sharp and bright 2009, and more.

It was hard to think of what I should post for my first blog entry of the new year, then I saw this ring. WOW. I am totally in love it. As the designer Tobias Wong described "It’s romantic because it means, 'Will you marry me' but it also means, 'I can’t always be there to protect you so if some jerk won’t stop bothering you, puncture him with this.'" I will just get engaged for this ring, I will marry 2009 with this ring, it is going to be a sharp and bright year.

2008 has not failed America, both athletically and politically. I am not gonna let that little pervert called "recession" bothering me too much, now we have both Obama and Hilary in Washington, everyone should have some hope, well, maybe not everyone. And thanks to that 52.1% of the voters in California, some people can't be able to wear this ring yet officially, hope 2009 is the year every couple in America can enjoy the equal rights.

Last but not the least, I wish my home country China has less tragedy, both naturally and man-made. As for my own personal new year resolution, there are quite a few - perhaps spend more time with family, take more good photographs, feed my dog less junk food, read books, kiss more, pray more and be able to do Tittibhasana or more. If you are still reading my blab, I wish you a very Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Ｄrawing by Michael Bilsborough

© Michael Bilsborough
"Thumbs Up" (2005)

© Michael Bilsborough

"Safety in Numbers" (2005)

My new discover is a new SVA alum Michael Bilsborough, his drawing is phenomenal.

As real As it gets.

Adobe Photoshop CS4 Ad. by bates 141
(click the image to enlarge)

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman is having two exhibitions in New York right now. Here is a Vince Aletti's review on The New Yorker.

Time Warp

If you like Dr. Harold Edgerton's work, you will most likely enjoy this program by Discovery Channel called Time Warp. Finally I figured out how my dog gets water into her mouth. It's fascinating!

The Hotness that is...

RuPaul as Obamas.

Best Sports Photos of 2008

© Emilio Morenatti

I don't usually read Sports Illustrated except their Picture of the Year issue (yeah, it's that time of the year), which is out now. I have recently developed a love for sports photography, perhaps because of the Olympics. The issue certainly has no shortage of the reporting from Beijing, as well as a very moving image from Wenchuan, China where the earthquack hit in May this year. And of course, just another picture of Michael "who's talking now" Phelps on the cover. There are many photos I really love, especially those are more about humanity. Emilio Morenatti's wrestling picture is amony some of my favorites, it is almost too beautiful and sensual for the normally ultra energetic magazine, of course, besides that infamous swimming suit issue.

American Photo Image of the Year 2008

© Steven Meisel won the Commercial Work category.
How can you go wrong with Madonna?

Just received American Photo magazine Image of the Year 2008 issue. I was surprised to see my work won Honorable Mention in the Personal Work category. This is the second time I have been included in this category (last time was in 2006 for my portraits from Almost Naked). This year, I send in some work from my on-going project Chinese Sentiment.

A nice spark in a cold and rainy weekend.

Xu Weixin

Soldier © Xu Weixin 2006
oil on canvas
250 x 200 cm / 98.42 x 78.74 in.

I stopped at China Square this afternoon and saw the gigantic oil paintings of Xu Weixin. They are absolutely gorgeous, over the top with a sense of sweetness.

Yijun Liao is a Hot Shot!

© Yijun Liao

I am very excited for my good friend Yijun Liao to be selected as a new member of the Hey, Hot Shot! Also a native of Shanghai, Yijun Liao studied photography at University of Memphis. I first saw Liao's photographs was at a workshop I gave at the University of Memphis in October, she was about to finish her MFA. I was especially drawn into her thesis series Experimental Relationship, she is one brave Chinese girl.

You can go see her work at:
Hey, Hot Shot! (volume iv, edition ii) Showcase
Opening reception: Friday, January 30th, 2009,
6-8 pm at Jen Bekman Gallery
6 Spring Street, NYC.
Work will be on view until Saturday, February 14th, 2009

Bare at Michael Mazzeo Gallery

Hyrand, 2005 © Shen Wei

I am so pleased to be included in this very seductive exhibition with a group of extraordinary photographers. The reception will be held at the gallery on Thursday, December 11, from 6PM to 8PM. Hope to see you there.

MICHAEL MAZZEO GALLERY

DECEMBER 11 - JANUARY 24
BARE
Curated by
JÖRG M. COLBERG
Featuring Artist:
Amy Elkins, Rachael Dunville, Ethan Aaro Jones, Richard Learoyd,
Jennifer Loeber, Hellen van Meene, Josh Quigley, Richard Renaldi,
Jessica Roberts, Alec Soth, Shen Wei, and Carmen Winant

Lianzhou Photo Festival

Dai Xiang © From Once a Hero, Forever a Hero at Lianzhou Photo Festival

The 2008 Lianzhou International Photo Festival will be open in Lianzhou, Guangdong Province tomorrow (today in China). The Lianzhou Photo Festival is one of the two most important photo festivals in China, the another one is Pingyao Photo Festival. While Pingyao is widely popular among photographers in all level, Lianzhou holds a higher standard and more critical acclaimed.

Keeping the Chinese photo festival tradition, the photographs will be displayed in factory/warehouse converted gallery spaces in small village setting; for example, my work was exhibited in Cotton Factory and Diesel Engine Factory, this time in Lianzhou my project Almost Naked will have a solo exhibition at the Granary, unique indeed. I actually really love the gigantic industrial gallery setting in these festivals, it is interesting to look at the contrasty juxtapose of the large greasy machines and the perfectly leveled pictures, I even saw small art work were directly attached on the rusty metal machines. But the best part is after the sun goes down, hundreds of photographers parties all night long in the local coffee shops and bars where the endless rice wines, shrimp chips and handmade moon-cakes are served.

Semiotics of the Kitchen by Martha Rosler

I went to the lecture "Street Art/Street Life" last night, it is one of the lecture series organized by Aperture and Parsons. But I was really going there to see the brilliant and colorful Martha Rosler. Rosler's presentation was the most fascinating for me and she is funny as hell. I have studied Martha Rosler's work when I was in college, her series of transportation sites taught me how to look at the banal in a different perspective. And I just love her video work as well, they are the classics indeed.

Juliana Beasley Holiday Sale. (Updated)

Frieda © Juliana Beasley
18X18", Image size 14.5X14.5"
Lambda Print, Edition of 15 with 2 AP
$250.

Leopard Lady © Juliana Beasley
18X18", Image size 14.5X14.5"
Lambda Print, Edition of 15 with 2 AP
$250.

Miss Reingold © Juliana Beasley
18X18", Image size 14.5X14.5"
Lambda Print, Edition of 15 with 2 AP
$300.

My friend Juliana Beasley is presently offering a holiday sale. Three images from "Last Stop: Rockaway Park" are on sale and are all well priced. They are editions of 15 with 2 APs. All photos are 18X18" with image size at 14.5x14.5". You can contact Juliana for more detail.

TOMY xiao™ + ZINE

Check out this new toy for the saddened Polaroid fans! A 5 Megapixel digital camera with a build-in color printer! The camera is made by Japanese toy company Takara Tomy, they named the invention Xiao™, means "small" in Chinese, I suppose the "small" is referred to the picture size, not the camera. Although the Xiao™ is no Polaroid, and I don't really see the big deal of it. When I had my first laptop, it was an IBM with a "build-in" printer, it is actually a small tube shaped roll paper printer attached on the back of the laptop, and well, I don't remember when was the last time I see that thing anywhere. That being said, Xiao™ is definitely going to be a big party monster.