Meanwhile, on the other side of the world..

art
While art has been flourishing in the West, it's branches have also been growing on the other side of planet earth. It's like art binds the whole world together! :)

Art Beyond the West
     African                    Indian
     Islamic                    Chinese
     Oceanic                   Japanese
     Native American


SUBJECT MATTER: religion, shrines
STYLE: symbolism, realism, naturalism, abstractionism

Here are some examples of art that were developed in places other than the West:





"Altar of the Hand and Arm" by Benin Nigeria
The king in this artwork has a triangular apex which signifies that he is the leader.

(African)






"The Ruler of Orangun-Ila" Airowayoye I
The height of the crown of the ruler means that he is the center of power.

(African)








"Nkisi Nkondi" (hunter figure)
Nkisi means spiritual charm while Nkondi stands for carved power.

(African)







"The Great Mosque" Djenne Mali

              • ferey = sun-baked earth bricks
              • rodier palm/toron = spikes
(Oceanic)



"Great Stone Figures" on Easter Island
These figures are 60 feet tall. It shows a belief that political power is equal to spiritual power.

(Oceanic)





"Castas" by Miguel Cabrera
This painting is a depiction of racial mixtures through marriage of two cultures. Castas = mestizo, referring to the children. The father is European while the mother's Native American.

(Spain)




"Taj Mahal"
Originally built as a mausoleum. Pure marble

(Islamic)





"The Great Stupa"
The fence is called the vedika (separation of heaveny & earthly). The dome represents the sky. Pilgrims circumnavigate the structure clockwise, repeating the movement of the sun across the sky. Most of their rituals are done outside the dome. (Indian)





"Fan K'uan" Travellers Among Mountains and Streams
This artwork does not show any vanishing points.

(Chinese)







"Sudden Rain at Atake and Ohashi" by Andro Hiroshige
This is light-colored because it is a woodblock print.
It was imitated by the famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh


(Japanese)






"Bridge in the Rain" by Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh's version of the "Sudden Rain at Atake and Ohashi"

(Post-impressionism)

Keep Moving Forward, Asia!


Technology really is widely used in Asia: the latest gadgets, machines, the internet, etc. But I guess if I talk about it and its status as a whole, I can't really describe it as “flimsy” and I can't say “booming” either since all countries in Asia have their own very different levels of techie-ness. For some, it is very advanced but for the others, it’s literally poor and weak. Some are very dependent on it while the others really aren’t.

Well everyone probably knows that most of the monsters-of-technology come from Asia.

Some Asians may be 'small' but 'incredible'!
Extremely skilled in using and
developing technology

Like when I hear “Japan,” for example, I get this wow-yes-Japanese-techies kind of thoughts. Like robots and stuff :) *beep-bop-beep* They have discovered so much about technology already and their nation is known as the most high-tech one, not just in Asia, but in the whole wide world. On top of the list ever since.

I know some people who have lived there for several years and they were testifying about how advanced the technology there is. In their stories, they put so much emphasis on how accurate the weather forecasts there were (like if it says it’s going to snow at 6 in the morning it really does snow at 6). My point is that a simple thing like that serves as a proof that they really are high-tech. Well, I wouldn’t be so surprised. They have Sony, Yasaki, Toyota, Toshiba, Fujitsu, and geez, a whole lot more!

         When it comes to Asia’s internet connection, Singapore would be #1 in speed (with the “award winning” 61 Mbps!!). Imagine downloading an HD movie for only less than an hour..GLORIOUS! T^T it makes me want to migrate haha. Kidding. The Philippines has her own first place too! The first one in the list of Asian countries with the slowest internet connection (3 Mbps) </3 and one of the text messaging champs in the world.

         I’m not sure if there are any countries in Asia that aren't very much involved with using technology but I guess most of the countries are. It has played a huge part in the huge continent of Asia. Today, a country’s “technology level” may be in huge contrast with another but I still believe that there is always room for improvement ;) Keep moving forward, Asia! 

Reference: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/357617/scitech/technology/phl-internet-slowest-in-asean-report
(on Thoughts About Technology Usage in Asia)

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