#artspeakinterns

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These pebbles may seem unreal, just photoshopped or a trick of the light. That is, if you don’t consider Korean artist Hwang Samyong. 

Hwang Samyong is most famous for the technique displayed in this piece shown above. Using the “cutting-up” technique, he is able to lacquer and inlay pieces with thin strips of mother-of-pearl. By using different color mother-of-pearl, he is able to create this visual masterpiece, guiding the viewer’s eye all around the stone. But of course, these works aren’t “quick and dirty” with each stone taking around 220 hours each! Luckily we’ll be able to see him and his assistant on Korea Day making their next piece. Can’t wait!

[artspeakinterns-blog]

Identity

Who am I? I always find it difficult to put words on describing myself. I could possibly describe what i see in myself when I look in a mirror. I could even think about characteristics that I possess. But, to join all of these various, tangentially related qualities, would require a single word that sums me up. Frankly, I don’t think there is one. I am just Ahab. When I think of myself, physically or emotionally, all I can really say is that I’m Ahab. 

But when people see me, they can probably put names on the characteristics they see in me. With friends, I might be the overly-talkative, sarcastic individual. With family, I might be seen as sincere. To a stranger on the street, I may seem unruly (with my curly hair) and Indian. And, in a sense, none of these people is wrong. I am talkative, sarcastic, occasionally unruly, Indian, sincere and many more. But really, I am Ahab. 

[artspeakinterns-blog]

$Labels

Labels are quite possibly the best and worst of societies inventions. 

Of course, at first thought, labels are horrible. They reinforce certain characteristics, encourage racial profiling, and strengthen “society’s” power over the people. For example, when labeled as “Indian”, people are superficially assumed to always eat curry and to smell like garlic. Although this is a somewhat silly example, it clearly demonstrates the problems labeling has.

At the same time, labels (in some circumstances) actually create unity. The idea of nationalism is all based on labels. Being proud of who you are is a pride of the labels you have associated with you. For example, if people think you are a good soccer player, you might swell with pride because the label allows you to revel in the possibilities of being a famous soccer player or athlete. 

Doing away with labels in society is literally impossible, so it is better to embrace the good of them, and to dispel the bad.