Chinese Contemporary Art

Galliano Rears Ugly Duckling While Black Swan’s Portman Triumphs

spielman — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:29:39 +0000

In the run-up to Natalie Portman’s best actress Oscar win at the 83rd annual Academy Awards on 27 February 2011 at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles, California, for her all-consuming portrayal of ballerina Nina Sayers in a production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake in the Darren Aronofsky–directed film Black Swan, over in Paris, a number of unsettling reports of expressions of racism recently voiced by John Galliano surfaced, which prompted fashion house Christian Dior to suspend their head designer.

These allegations were given weight when British tabloid newspaper The Sun, published on their website, on 28 February 2011, a short mobile phone video recording, made in December 2010, of Galliano proclaiming a love for Hitler and an unmistakable disdain for ugly people while winding down the evening at La Perle café-bar in Paris. The video footage led Dior to dismiss him on 1 March 2011, while Portman stated she will no longer endorse his work.

In these increasingly crowded, complex and uncaring times, where the realities of horror, war and genocide are closing flanks, is it any surprise that such an arguably great, sensitive artist like Galliano, pre-occupied with the pursuit of perfection, elegance and beauty in his creations, would be susceptible to concepts of chaos and corruption, and possess a dark ugliness, that would rear its head in times of inebriety? With her Oscar win, Natalie Portman affirms that purity and beauty, although a rarity, are by no means mutually exclusive.

By Arturo Tora on Arts and Culture
Tokyo (4 March 2011)

New World Fashion Day Logos Released

spielman — Sun, 16 May 2010 18:17:30 +0000

World Fashion Day Logo

New World Fashion Day Logos have been published on WFD’s Facebook page. They epitomize simplicity and sophistication at once.

Dangdaier Issues Dangdai Dolls 2010 Mother’s Day Cards

spielman — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:38:12 +0000

Dangdai Doll Dong-dong follows in footsteps of Mother Nature

Tora on Fashion for World Fashion Day

spielman — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:03:29 +0000

Award-winning writer Arturo Tora’s poem on fashion for World Fashion Day published 2 May 2010:

Fashion

Who knows the tale of how fashion arose?
A mystery of humanity lost in the floes,
Of relics, old drawings, fading frescos,
Document attire among bows and arrows!

Eclectic urban wear of mean streets expose,
Sartorial contrasts with college fellows!
Whites and blacks of brides and widows,
Ends of spectrums of reds and yellows!

Twists and turns in ribbons and bows,
Among floral prints of ubiquitous rose,
Flow in the breeze like birch and willows,
Across lofty dreams of fields and meadows!

Bolted rooms where designers transpose,
Ideas into works of art, greats compose,
Creations that elicit cheers and bravos,
In a sea of fresh faces, ecstatic throes!

Stunning silhouettes in pleats and furrows,
Complement movement, tranquil repose,
Courting doves and swooping sparrows,
Dot the ground and climb plateaus!

Intellectuals in cafes and bistros disclose,
Intimate chambers of reeds and cellos!
Sun, wind and rain, the season goes,
Cycles of life never cease, I suppose!

Evil villains and courageous heroes,
Wage wars of words that come to blows!
As heads of state count triumphs, woes,
Work is never finished, as the tailor sews!

In the end, however, everyone knows,
Of a great passion, no need to oppose:
As a feeling of desire for cover grows,
I must say, your style, really shows!

By Arturo Tora (2 May 2010)

Dangdaier Issues Beri Beru Designs

spielman — Sat, 01 May 2010 08:23:49 +0000

Beri Beru logo

World Fashion Day Launches Poetry in Pose Contest

spielman — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 20:51:45 +0000

World Fashion Day's Poetry in Pose Contest

World Fashion Day’s Poetry in Pose monthly competition awards winners by exhibition of the winning stylish images at Moca Asia Galleries in Central, Hong Kong.

Entrants can upload their fashion photos on the World Fashion Day Facebook page for a chance to showcase their images!

Dangdai Dolls Special Limited Edition 2010 Easter Sunday Card

spielman — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:46:14 +0000

Dangdai Dolls 2010 Easter Sunday Card

Dangdaier Issues Dangdai Explorer Series Logos

spielman — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 11:17:05 +0000

Dangdaier has issued a number of Dangdai Explorer Series logos for vehicle designs covering the Chinese elements Air, Water and Earth (AWE).

Moca Asia Establishes World Fashion Day March 21

spielman — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:37:45 +0000

World Fashion Day

World Fashion Day, officially established by Moca Asia, under its Art and Fashion Initiative, as March 21 around vernal equinox annually, promises an exhilarating day in celebration of the glory, spirit and art of fashion!

Dangdai Dolls Celebrate 2010 World Poetry Day

spielman — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 22:30:38 +0000

The Dangdai Dolls celebrate World Poetry Day, 21 March 2010:
“It’s only proper to go out and play,
When sun shines bright throughout the day!”