Bodleian Quadrangle Facade

Here's a detailed elevation drawing of the Bodleian Quadrangle facade. 

Oxford

 

 My weekend involved a visit to Oxford to survey buildings. It's one handsome city and walking around the centre I admire that anywhere you look is historical. It's almost as if you can see how people in that era used to live. It can be a little creepy in the evening and I won't even be surprised if the city is haunted. haha. Other than that, the architecture is just marvellous. 

The  second photo above is the Radcliffe Library which is originally known as the Radcliffe Camera originated with a bequest of £40,000 by Dr. John Radcliffe, for the building of a new library situated close to the Bodleian. Unfortunately, I couldn't come in to the library as only members are allowed to go in to use the library. 

This is the entrance for the Bodleian Library and to Divinity School within the Bodleian Quadrangle. Oxford University was not a wealthy institution and did not have the resources to build up a collection of new printed books to replace the ones that was dispersed, Sir Thomas Bodley rescued the Library and it was opened in 1602. After Bodley died in 1613, they started working on building the spacious quadrangle of buildings to the east of the Library. The buildings were designed to house lecture and examination rooms.

The Sheldonian Theatre designed by Sir Christopher Wren in 1664-1668. Its purpose was to provide an appropriate venue for meetings and public ceremonies of the University, and this remains its purpose today. It is also available to hire for recitals of music and other similar functions.

The Exeter College, this really reminded me of being in Hogwarts in a way. It's a huge site for students including the halls where they live, lecture rooms, a chapel and a dining hall where they all eat their dinner/lunch together surrounded with oil paintings of head teacher of the college. I actually wish I went to college here. Ha, as if I'm smart enough!

What I have noticed is that they like to preserve old things, which makes the city really unique. 

For example the Oxford Castle, the Malmaison hotel which used to be a prison. Going in you can imagine how prisoners used to live in their cell. It totally reminded me of the film Shawshank Redemption, it's incredible what they have done to this place. It's a little bit creepy, it's dark and the doors creeked. However, I admire the transformation, putting something modern into something old. 

It was a good trip. :)

Korean Eye 2012 in Saatchi Gallery

Saatchi Gallery located in Sloane Square, London is one of my favourite gallery containing contemporary pieces of art such as;

Yoo Myun Gyun, Korean artist (above) made a big structure made out of ink on newspapers, supposedly a floating world. From what I understood in this piece is that the artist is trying to show his own version of the world showing the connection of nature and human society. The newspapers are always filled with real stories about people all around the world. Therefore, the whole concept of this piece is creating a vision that simply explains that our world today is built around the society. 

Kim Byoungho.

This is one of the beautiful pieces I have seen. The artist created a stunning sound sculpture, which gives an impression of an exploding star.

Kim Hyuen Jun

This is the most interesting piece I have seen. The idea behind it is very well executed. The artist created furnitures and sculptures out of the cardboard boxes which makes us think about what we value and why. In a society dominated by shopping, his works deliberately focus not on the prized object but on the packaging in which it comes and one of the few things in society which is freely given but instantly thrown away.

Harry Potter

One of the best day out ever!!! My friends and I went to the Harry Potter Studios and once I got off the tour bus I got really excited and started running towards the doors like a child. I can understand the humiliation I have caused to my friends chasing after me telling me to calm down. But I didn't care, I am too big of a fan to calm down. Screw Disneyland, this the happiest place in the world for me. I have been a fan since my mother bought me the very first book (Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone) because she thought I would like and I did. I fell in love with it. And she bought every book for me.

I grew up reading the books and watching the films. JK Rowling did a great job, creating a magical world for everyone to expand their imagination and to escape from reality. Here are some of the photos I have taken around the studio. Seeing the things they have created made me realise even more that this is what I want to do in the future. Design something amazing and see it on a big screen. I was in total awe looking at every detail of the set, props and costumes.

The design team did a great job for creating what we imagine from reading the books into reality. Seeing it in real life you can tell a lot of effort was put into it. Every detail of either the structure, texture, surface and materials was thought about thoroughly.

And yes, being a geek I bought Voldemort's collectible wand. I need to get the others now so I can complete the collection (oh dear). 

"...Hogwarts is always there to welcome you home." - J.K. Rowling

Damien Hirst

This definitely was the exhibition of the year. Damien Hirst, English artist born in Bristol showed a series of his work in Tate Modern over the summer. I loved it so much I went there three times. Ha. The exhibition provides an opportunity to trace the development of his career and to experience some of his iconic works.

Most of the things I have seen relates to death or cycle of life. The pieces were incredible and shocking. Showing some gruesome pieces explaining life, death and survival in a beautiful but twisted kind of way. 

The show was brilliant. Yes, even though there were no actors or dancers performing, Damien Hirst really did put on a show!