The curled obssesion ---- Robbie Rowlands

The 'wow' factor of Robbie Rowlands' work is the unusual twist he created of daily objects or scenes people are very familiar with, or the routine order of people's daily life.

A very simple idea, but it somehow scratches the viewers' sensation. His work is site specific and almost spontaneous. I do not know what he really wants to say through his work; It seems to me that he just want to have fun and create an unusual visual sensation.

I personally like this one better. It's called 'white elephant', and it is what it's called, very cute and alive. The artist seems to have the desire to give cold, still, lifeless objects a bit sign of living by giving them curling 'arms' from out of their own bodies.

Or giving 'life' to a sign by making it fall in a cartoonish way; thought it's lying on the ground, but it's alive, not dead.

I think his work is very soft and relaxing, I mean it never feels harsh although there is some destruction.

The silky road ---- Akiko Ikeuchi

I did not know that silk is part of Japanese culture too, I guess it makes sense since it's right next to China and the culture must be greatly influenced. It is not surprising to see a Japanese artist's obsession with silk, but it will be a bit surprising if it is an American artist.

'Knotted Thread', 2009. Akiko's work to me is not extremely strong, but definitely breath-taking. The quiet and unique simplicity is due to the restrained Asian culture and personality (Japan, China and Korea especially).

I am very amazed that the artist had such enduring patience to work with extremely delicate silk threads to form these complex geometric forms. I have seen original silk threads myself, they are extremely soft and thin that one can barely see each single thread with human eyes. I probably will go crazy if I have to work on a installation like this.

I definitely think that every artist is culturally characterized just like every single nation. It is very easy for me to see the similarities between Japanese and Chinese artists. The 'romantic serenity or quietness in a very organized way' is the shared trait I see from Akiko's art.

You don't see a lot of crazy explosive emotional expressions from art works done by Asian artists even if they are trying to show emotions. It is always quiet and a slow development like creeping vines.

The attachment ---- Tadashi Kawamata

Somehow as I was browsing through pictures of Tadashi's work, the word 'attachment' came into my mind. Going through the pictures again, I had an even stronger confirmation of my initial perception.

First of all, I do like the scenes he created with natural wood, wooden chairs and crates. The massive natural scenes are very pleasant to look at. The artist is very attached to ancient or classical western style buildings. And the attachment is shown in his art: thousands of wooden objects are always tightly constructed in between, on top of or inside one of those buildings, attached to the aged wall or floor, eager to make a connection with or merge into the mother constructions (the buildings).

I like the combination of the western classical and the irregular arrangement of the nature (the wood) very much, probably because I am a big fan of ancient western architecture, and also because I am very obsessed with natural things.

I find comfort and warmth in this piece, maybe a little bit too much protection.

The beauty of his art is not just from the installation he made, the ancient buildings take a major part.

This piece is built connecting to a more recent building, I don't think it's as nearly as strong as the other pieces. It is lacking a 'majestic' feeling, like the heavy classical music from a gigantic pipe organ in a church.