A Gull's Christmas Day

I love my camera.

Happy holidays

Happy holidays

Found this amazing motion typography...
Spread the love :)

http://vimeo.com/7968634

The New Humans - "Fever"

So I've been missing from the blog world for weeks. Please don't blame my laziness, it's really because I was too busy.

What was I so busy with? Learning Adobe After Effects of course. It's one crazy program.
I love it.

I have come a long way since my last post. 10 weeks of the typography in motion class really made my wannabe-designer eyes open up.

Here's my final project, a typographic music video of "Fever" by The New Humans. Enjoy.

Self Image

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0qFI6jnJ3g

My first of many "type diary" entries.

Enjoy!

(Type choice: Frutiger LT Std)

-hanchia

Future

I just watched the President's address to students.
I feel inspired. I will try my best to kick ass, so that later in life I can earn major bank and support my parents with everything they've ever dreamed of. And then I will donate to improve humanity.

That's the promise I'll keep to myself.

Good night America.

-hanchia

So I noticed I have abandoned my blog for too long...

I'm sorry, but I'm too busy with my life to share it with all of you.
Erm...

I've been working on a couple of things:
1) Website


2) Kung-fu Pets and Farmville
3)...eat?

That's pretty much it. But it's taking up a lot of time!
I just finished an internship in Taiwan, it was amazing. I'll always remember it, but I'm not sure what I can say about it...

Recently, I have started listening to American music again. Maybe it'll help me fit in better here in the US. When I came back from Taiwan, I felt quite out of place here culturally.
Actually, not just culturally... a lot of other things, too. I just don't feel at home here, I'm not sure why.
My English also became quite horrible (yes, worse than before).

In search of my childhood, I have been biking around Fremont. I'll share those pictures another time.

For now, let us enjoy some intense fan art of Doraemon.

For love and peace,
Han-Chia

2009 三國演義: 中日合資

Hi all.
Today is a very happy day because I found this


I am very flipping excited.
The best part is that it's already on Youku: http://v.youku.com/v_playlist/f2455069o1p1.html
The worst part is that the armors look too intense (especially 呂布). I like to see some more realism.

But overall, I'm in love.

I love China and Japan.

AFTER WATCHING THE TRAILER:
Nevermind, it sucks... :(
sigh

To Do List

People have been asking me, "What are you planning to do after you graduate?" My answer has always been, "I'm not sure, whatever life throws at me I guess."

Today, I realized something. My answer is like that because I have no clue what I'm going to do in life. I don't love money, I don't have a goal, I don't really have a career path as of now...

Almost 21 and I'm still clueless, this is not cool.

Alexander the Great was proclaimed King by the Macedonians at the age of 20. He pacified Greece and planned to enter Persia by the age of 21.

Sun Ce conquered most of Southeastern China and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wu at the age of 20.

Date Masamune carried out his revenge against his father's murderers, killed his brother to take power, and conquered most of Oshu by the age of 22.

Do I not have ambitions?

I do, so I need to create a list of things I will like to accomplish within the next 60 years of my life:

-Bike around Taiwan island

-Trace my roots in Shantou and Fuzhou

-Spend a significant amount of time traveling around China

-Spend a significant amount of time traveling around Japan

-Spend a significant amount of time traveling around Europe

-Cross the United States from Pacific to Atlantic

-Make a legendary personal website

-Make an ass-kicking physical portfolio

-Write and publish a book

-Open an exhibition

-Paint something taller and wider than myself

-Be vegetarian for at least 1 year

-Read and understand all of the Four Books of Confucianism: 1)Great Learning, 2)Doctrine of the Mean, 3)Analects of Confucius, 4)Mencius

-Read the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese: 1)Romance of the Three Kingdoms, 2)Water Margin, 3)Journey to the West, 4)Dream of the Red Chamber

-Attend a 1)concert, 2)opera, and 3)performance of immense cultural significance

-Buy a studio for my mother and I

-Do some intense charity work

-Teach and spread morals and ethics in some way

-Find the most beautiful woman and talk to her about love, life, and wisdom

Yea, I'll add to it when I feel like it.

Love life,

Kevin Han-Chia Chen

Home Sweet Home

Hello all, sorry about neglecting blogspot for so long.

Excuses? Projects, final projects, vacation, in Taiwan, you know... I've been busy.

Lots of things have happened since the last posting date. I haven't been exactly happy in Davis. I was always lonely, hungry, and stressed out. Now that summer is here, I knew it's time to get out and go home.

I'm in Taipei right now. Even though I've lived in the U.S. for 12 years, I still consider Taipei my home. It's great, I feel like I belong here... funny thing.

I love this place; I love the people, the culture, the history, the public transportations, 7-11, food, etc.

I'm currently living at my grandma's house in Muzha. It's a beautiful place. I wasn't born here, but many of my paternal relatives where (including my dad). Even though I'm not familiar with the place, I feel a strong connection with it.

Ching-mei River by the National Chengchi University

A great view

The market place in the busy morning

Honest people with the best vegetables in town

I love home.

-Kevin Han-Chia Chen

The Art is in the Detail: Secrets behind the Chinese Painting

I recently came across an art review article in the New York Times by Holland Cotter. It talks about Chinese art; its beauty, stories, and amazing examples in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have had the chance to be exposed to Chinese art (painting, chop, calligraphy, etc.) at a young age, so I know some things on the subject matter as well.

Cotter begins with a graphic explanation on the 13th century Qian Xuan’s painting, “Wang Xizhi Watching Geese.” Wang Xizhi is a famous 4th century Chinese scholar, and the father of classical calligraphy. He is also a model of living as a recluse. Cotter describes that Westerner love Asian art due to its serenity, simplicity, and grace. In fact, he explains that the serene subjects reflect the Chinese artist’s ideal for the perfect lifestyle. As a 15th century Chinese writer puts it, “A nice cottage. A clean table. A clear sky with a beautiful moon. A vase of flowers. No cares of the world.”

Qian Xuan's "Wang Xizhi Watching Geese"

Detailed View

However, I would like to point out that Cotter’s depiction of the “ideal life” for Chinese artists of the past is not absolutely universal. Many artists, poets, writers, and scholars have given their lives to their nation, their government, and the well-being of their people. In the Confucian model, people with extensive knowledge and skills should serve their nation. Wang Xizhi was a recluse because of the time-period he had lived in. During times of warfare, many scholars could not simply serve their nation. Instead, many literati chose to follow the Daoist model of an educated man, which was to live in a recluse and self-improve.

This topic reminds me of the choices modern designers have to face. There are designs made to show self-expression, and there are also designs made to alert the masses of a specific problem. One cannot define which is right or wrong, just like one cannot define the rights and wrongs in Daoist ideals and Confucian values.

Du Fu, Tang dynasty poet. During his time, China suffered from years of chaos and rebellion. Forced to move around the country due to warfare, he had a miserable and depressing life. He was wise and skilled, and wished to serve the government his whole life, but never had a chance to accomplish his ambition. He died in agony.

Li Bai, Tang dynasty poet. He lived in the same era as Du Fu. Du admired Li greatly for his beautiful and free poetry. Li Bai was a small bureaucrat, but he did not care for the social world nor Confucianism. In many stories and myths, he appears to be a free-spirited immortal. He was famous for his Daoist imagery and love for liquor.

Cotter talks about many other important artists. One of the most famous ones among them is Yuan Dynasty’s Zhao Mengfu, which the class has had a chance to learn about. Cotter mentions that Zhao Mengfu’s paintings were different; his style moved away from the realism and romanticism of the past. His twists and turns in the strokes are “alive”, and many subject matters were “awkwardly” painted, so the artist must have something to say. Cotter makes an interesting comparison of Zhao’s art to the fairly modern conceptual art. Conceptual art is art which began as an idea in the artist’s head. The idea then creates the art piece.

Zhao Mengfu's "Twin Pines, Level Distance"

Zhao Mengfu was royalty of the Southern Song Dynasty, but when the Mongols conquered China and established the Yuan Dynasty, he was forced to work for the Mongols. Later critiques have blamed him for “betraying” his country. For this reason, his calligraphy and art were viewed as always “imperfect,” because there were “problems” with his personality and values. Modern scholars have tried to decipher Zhao’s hidden messages in his awkward paintings. A popular explanation is that Zhao felt immense shame for working for the Mongol dynasty, which all of China viewed as the enemy. The only way he could express his angers and sorrows was through awkward art. One of the most famous ones is his “Qiao and Hua Mountains.” They were painted on opposite sides of each other; the Hua is supposed to be in the West, but was depicted to be in the East. Also, the trees below the mountains were painted to be too large and proportionally unstable. Perhaps the weird details were his way of quiet opposition against the government. This certainly was and always will be one piece of unsolved visual communication.

Zhao Mengfu's "Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains"

Read more at Cotter's article in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/arts/design/14asia.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&sq=wang%20xizhi&st=cse&scp=1

Hamtatoe

Hamtatoe passed away today. I will always remember you, dear hamster.
We're lucky to have you with us for so long. And you're lucky for having all these friends.
I know you're in a better place now, so congrats, you're free!

You're not very photogenic.

I'll miss you.

Efforts in Energy Efficiency: Advocating the CFL

The energy crisis was brought to the surface by the 1973 Oil Crisis. Out of the crisis, many developments and organizations were formed to improve energy efficiency. The modern CFL was invented by Ed Hammer during this time. In the beginning, people did not think the CFL would work. Since then, CFL has come a long way and its popularity grew as the cost of energy continues to rise. Many organizations have been sponsoring the efforts of energy efficiency in lights and advocating the CFL (Kanellos).
Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program was created to encourage energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas. Since its beginning in the U.S., many other countries have adopted the program. It created standards for many different kinds of products. Its labels are widely seen on home and office appliances. Only the products that meet the Energy Star standards can earn its label. Because of its popularity and trustworthy name, Energy Star is very effective spreading energy efficient products. In 2007, “Energy Star qualified CFL sales for 2007 nearly double, reaching 20% market share. Also, “it successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers about $19 billion in 2008 alone” (Energy Star).
Despite of its good name, there is still room for improvements. According to Noah D. Horowitz, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Energy Star has not updated a number of products’ efficiency standards to meet higher conservation levels. For example, the current estimate of average use of hot water per household is 64.3 gallons a day. This meets the standard of two decades ago, “when the composition of households was in many cases much different from today’s” (Becker). Also, according to Michael Siminovitch, Director of the California Lighting Technology Center, Energy Star’s standards are the government’s approach to simply provide limitations for products, and by meeting the standard, products appear to be energy efficient. But this recommends products to only do so much as to fit within the standard; it provides a “worst case possible” instead of encouraging industries to make more energy efficient products (Siminovitch).
Alliance to Save Energy is a none-profit coalition of industrial, technological, and energy corporations. The coalition was created in 1978, with the goal of promoting energy efficiency. It is influential to consumers and government as well. One of its biggest news is the phase-out plan of incandescent lamps. In 2007, the Alliance to Save Energy supported the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (previously known as Clean Air Act of 2007), agreeing on the phase out of incandescent lamps between 2012 and 2014 (Alliance to Save Energy, The Library of Congress).
However, the bill faced much opposition as well, mainly from the oil industry and conservative activists. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said that the bill will punish one of the country’s largest industries. Also, the Chamber stated that the new technology is not ready to take the incandescent lamps place; “these emerging technologies are neither developed nor commercially viable enough to replace even a fraction of the energy America receives from hydrocarbon sources” (Josten).
On the side note, Home Depot is a part of the Alliance to Save Energy. According to earth911.org, Home Depot (the closest one being the one at Woodland) performs the recycle services for CFL bulbs. EPA has been looking into drop-off recycle of CFL at local post offices. But its decisions have not been finalized. As of now, 75% of Americans’ homes are within 10 miles of the nearest Home Depot (Rosenbloom).

Work Cited

Kanellos, Michael. "Father of the compact fluorescent bulb looks back." CNET News 16 Aug 2007 Web.21 Apr 2009. http://news.cnet.com/Father-of-the-compact-fluorescent-bulb-looks-back/2100-11392_3-6202996.html.

Energy Star. http://www.energystar.gov/

Becker. Bernie. "Why Obama’s Energy Savings Estimate May Be Skewed ," The New York Times 06 Feb 2009. Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/washington/07energy.html.

Siminovitch, Michael. "The Roots of Energy Efficiency." UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center. Tsakopoulos Library Galleria, Sacramento. 17 Apr 2009. Performance.

Alliance to Save Energy. http://ase.org/

United States. The Library of Congress. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. 2007. Web. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR00006:@@@L&summ2=m&.

Josten, Bruce. "H.R. 6, The Clean Energy Act of 2007." U.S. Chamber of Commerce 17 Jan 2007 Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.uschamber.com/issues/letters/2007/070117_clean_energy_act.htm.

Rosenbloom. Stephanie. " Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs," The New York Times 24 Jan 2008. Web.21 Apr 2009. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/business/24recycling.html?_r=1&em&ex=1214625600&en=8ddbcb7023c75243&ei=5087%0A.

My Fantastic Light Bulb Adventure

(For my DES116 assignment, I had to document buying a CFL bulb...)
I walked to Ace at Davis on Wednesday afternoon, planning to buy a compact florescent light bulb for the storage closet in my apartment. It’s been almost half a year since that light went out, so I thought it’d be a great idea to hit two birds with one stone (assignment and finally getting to see what's in that closet).

First lesson learned. Light bulbs are in Hardware, not Houseware...

Walking into the store, I realized a couple of posters urging people to make environmental friendly choices. Even though they were not necessarily the coolest illustrations, I give Ace props for doing the world a favor.

His nose is huge. I would be intimidated if I saw him in real life.

All the incandescent light bulbs were deeper in the aisle. Their packaging always bothered me; wrapping the fragile glass bulbs in simple cardboard never made sense to me. The CFLs seem to have made the packaging a little safer; I saw actual boxes and plastics. Perhaps this was because they cost more problems when they break.

Haha, losers.

After buying the bulb, I told a staff member I was documenting my experience for a design project. She was very enthusiastic and told me her theory on why CFLs are not as popular as they can be. She thought the main problem was the disposal process, and how regular people did not know where and how to dispose them. She said that a while back, Ace used to collect CFLs and recycle them for the customers. But more recently, the government had cut back funding on the matter. Therefore, Ace was not able to carry out the service anymore. She then handed me an informational flyer on how and where to dispose the dead CFLs. These flyers are great, but this is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen the disposal information on paper. Turns out, there was a Yolo County Planning and Public Works Department I was not aware of. They collect household hazardous waste such as acids, batteries, paints, and CFLs every month. This is a great service, but I believe there should be more places and more days we can drop off wastes. This is incredibly inconvenient. Why do we not have trash bins in every household (or at least every neighborhood) for hazardous wastes just like recycling bins?

Also, there is a problem on the packaging of the CFLs. The most eye catching information is on money saving. CFLs are no longer noticeably more expensive than incandescent light bulbs. I don’t think saving money is the main issue, at least not around here. I could not find information on method of disposal within 10 seconds. In the end, I noticed a couple line of words behind the box, reading:

Design fail. This is like food expiration dates, I can't find them!

Honestly, if it was not for the assignment, I will not know where to dispose my CFL. And I don’t think I would go on the website to find out more if I was busy; it was one step too many. When I got home, I asked my housemate whether or not he knew how to dispose CFLs. He said no, and he usually throws it away in the trash. There is a big problem when college students do not know how and where to dispose CFLs.

Problems:
1. Not enough people know the why’s, when’s, how’s, and where’s of CFL disposal.
2. Information is not as accessible as it should be.
3. Lack of services and places for hazardous waste management.
4. Wrong visual hierarchy for packaging; method of waste disposal should be a lot clearer.
5. Much more…


Well, that's all. In the end, I changed the bulb in the storage closet. So small mission complete, big mission is far from being complete.

This is my metaphor for the future.
Bright it up and save us all by buying CFL and disposing them correctly!

Make Captain Planet proud, save the Earth.
-Kevin Han-Chia Chen

OMGWTFBBQ

It's been a while world.
Today, a friend told me my blog was great. It made me feel important, so I'm going to blog about something, anything.

Let's begin with my new quarter?
Yes, it's been busy, but that doesn't mean I didn't have fun.
Just last week, my friends and I went to the fashion show at SF State. For more information, visit The Imaginary Zebra's blog.

But that was not all. A day earlier was the epic BBQ.

Joey's face says it all.

So here's a question: How many UCD students does it take to start a fire?
Answer: 12.5 students and around 2 hours. We're all ashamed.

But that was not the point. ANYWAY.

I was so excited about the fire, I teared (BTW, I'm just kidding).

That's a lot of meat. Mmmm...

We were all happy, especially Joey (How the heck does he do all these faces!?)

I was too full, as usual.

Amazing.

That's it, my camera ran out of power after that.
We played lava monster until 11 pm, super fun stuff.

Happy burning.

Hamtato

My favorite.

She eats and sleeps all the time...

yard work

I was too bored, so I decided to do some weeding.
Results? An aching back and this:

Just how much is this?

Let's see a before-after...

Before

After

Amazing.

Don't waste your youth away kids.

-Kevin

Adventure at Lion's Supermarket

I went on an adventure to Lion's today. I've never noticed before, but the supermarket is a very colorful place. I went on a quest to find the seven colors of the rainbow in the fruit and vegetable section. I failed the quest, but got a couple of interesting pictures.

Red

Orange

Yellow

Green

Blue and Indigo

Violet

Conclusion:
Blue and indigo are two unhealthy colors.

Happy eating.
-Kevin

more art?

Last quarter, I was brave (dumb) enough to take 3 studio classes. One of them is beginner sculpture. Here is one of my projects.

I call it "The Sushi of Life."

Sushi of Life

Ingredients: Birth (yellow), age (blue), sickness (green), and death (white).

I can also remove the insides.

Just the "rice" and the "seaweed."

It's made out of wood, lots and lots of it. It hurts to carry, I guess life is really heavy.

Hope you liked it.

-Kevin

Quarter is over (sort of)

My final projects were all turned in last week and early this week, while others are just beginning their finals. I'm not lucky, I just suffered earlier.

Anyway, since my quarter is sort of over (I still have to revise a paper before turning it in online), I think I will update my blog. I'm going to post some of my paintings.
I tried oil for the first time this quarter, and here are the results:

Chinese Stone Lion

Cubist Cao Cao: Chinese Opera Meets Cubism

I'm Blue

Study on Cezanne's Self Portrait

Self Portrait with Cezanne Influence

It was a great class, I learned a great deal. Love the arts.

-Kevin Han-Chia Chen