Nanjing here I come....

Cant believe the time is here but this will be my last blog post before travelling to China.

In the next few days I will begin my adventure in China where I will study the Chinese language,the Chinese economy, Confucianism, modern Chinese history, as well as Chinese customs and folklore.

My Travel Itinerary is as follows: 

Saturday the 9th of April I travel Glasgow to Dubai- Dubai to Shanghai- Shanghai to Nanjing.

I will spend most of my time in Nanjing which is in the Jiangsu province -one of China’s most economically vibrant provinces, benefiting from significant foreign investments such as Suzhou Industrial Park. Nanjing, as the capital of Jiangsu province, is situated in the lower

Yangtze River.

Together with Shanghai and 14 other cities, it forms the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone. It is one of China's most important historic cities along with Beijing and Xian and was the capital of the Republic of China till 1949.

Nanjing has also been a national hub of education, research, transportation and tourism throughout history. The population is over five million which is equal to that of Scotland.

The city still has the best kept city wall built by the first emperor of Ming dynasty in 14th century and I am so very interested to experance the worders Asia has to offer me.

I am currently unsure to what will be the best communication methods will be the best across there as whether as I know my daily photo blog - ARTnTHAT Daily Photo is banned due to its service being TUMBLR as well as such things as YouTube, Facebook and Wikipedia so fingers crossed that I will at least be able to access this blog to keep you up to date.

Howver my plan is to create a mailing list of people who may be interested in having an update with some photographs regularily throughout my trip.

If you would be interested please don’t hesitate to email me at

matt0805@hotmail.co.uk

I will leave you with this quote from the Chinese thinker and social philosopher - Confucius

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”

Byeeeeeee!!!!!  M x

Aberdeen Weavers Competition - Matt Russell - Winner

To my shock and great honour I was awarded 1st place in the Guild of Aberdeen weavers corporation competition.

Aberdeen can look back on a long and interesting history, especially from 1124 when, as a growing centre of trade and commerce, it became a Royal burgh and therefore won special distinction with other principal burghs in Scotland.

Much of that history stems from the actions of its early Burgesses, those responsible citizens who, appointed as freemen, were charged with guarding the burgh's laws and customs as well as the burgh itself. Their loyalty to King and community brought its own rewards by way of trading privileges as well as the general esteem in which they were held. It was  a massive honour to be given a position in the weavers guild competition. For this we had to Create a woven collection of materials along with our research(seen below) which I gained from New Lanark Woolen mill as well as The tartan mill and exhibition in Edinburgh. This went along with the colour and texture research I gained from the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow. All textiles students were given the opportunity to enter the competition and there was entries from Second (my year), Third and Fourth year students as well as applicants from various external weavers from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.

Tartan Weaving Mill and Exhibition

I visited the Tartan weaving mill to as part of my research for the Aberdeen Weavers Competition.

The Tartan Weaving Mill occupies the building which used to be the Castle Hill reservoir, The main water supply for the occupants of the Royal Mile.

     

The mill is surprisingly large inside with five storeys to explore. Now run by Geoffrey Tailor Kiltmaker, the mill exhibition shows the whole process involved in tartan production from shearing sheep, to making a kilt.

There are working looms and the atmosphere of a busy factory which was extremely  interesting to see in comparison to the smaller (but just as mighty) machines we use at Gray's School of Art. 

Study China Program

Nanjing at night

Shocked does not describe how I feel at the moment.... I cant believe it but I have been chosen to go and study in China in April for 3 weeks.!!

I was awarded a place out of 2000 applicants so rather honoured to be given a spot.
I have been awarded a place in Nanjing where I will be given a chance to form a long-lasting relationship with

China, during my trip I will also be learning the language with over 40 hours of Mandarin lessons, the trip will also be packed with exciting and interesting activities. It is designed to give you a realistic experience of what life is like in China and to enable you to meet Chinese people. Previous programmes have included amongst other things: - Tai Chi, calligraphy and kite making classes, weekends away in Shanghai in a mountain village, work experience on an archaeological dig, Beijing Opera, amazing acrobatics shows and tea house/museum visits.

Nanjing  南京 Jiangsu Province

Nanjing University

Jiangsu is one of China’s most economically vibrant

provinces, benefiting from significant foreign

investments such as Suzhou Industrial Park. Nanjing, as

the capital of Jiangsu province, is situated in the lower

Yangtze River.  Together with Shanghai and 14 other

cities, it forms the Yangtze River Delta Economic Zone.

It is one of China's most important historic cities along

with Beijing and Xian and was the capital of the

Republic of China till 1949.  Nanjing has also been a

national hub of education, research, transportation and

tourism throughout history. The population is over five

million.  The city still has the best kept city wall built by

the first emperor of Ming dynasty in 14th century

Nanjing High-street.

I'm so pleased that my application for the program has been such as success, and I can already imagine the influence this trip of a lifetime will impact my work and viewpoint on life.

Nanjing with its population of 5 million roughly the same as the population of Scotland will no doubt be a complete culture shock to me, however in my work I intend to focus on the way in which the East culture can perhaps be mixed with that of the west.

Excited and utterly nervous at the same time...Just imagine the photos and textiles resarch I will gather.

Motif -ated

Back into full swing of things at Art School again...feels like I have never left.

We have began making motifs that I plan to use for printing onto materials, there is eleven different ways to organise a repeat print - completely changing the way the motif looks each time.

For this project we  have to complete (due 18th October):

•  2 Colour Story Boards (one Autumn/Winter and one Spring/Summer).
• 11 A3 repeat structures in full Spring/Summer colours.
• 11 A3 repeat structures in full Autumn/Winter colours.
• All of the above has to be spray mounted on A3 white mount board.
• Presentation is very important

Below is the a few of the motifs that I have chosen to use for my repeat pattern ...

I took these prints and patterns from drawings that I completed for my summer project.

 

This is only a few that I have completed but it gives you an idea of the patterns and colours that I am using. 

Had an induction for the print studio -where we will be printing the our materials -I have to admit I got SOO excited to get back printing again...something I haven't done since I completed my master-class at the Glasgow Print Studio a couple years back...Cant wait!

Edinburgh Fesival.

Decided to go home this weekend to Wishaw and took a last minute  trip with the family to the Edinburgh festival.

While I was there I met up with my friend Holly and we took a walk around taking in the range of culture and atmosphere our capital has to offer.

We are soo lucky to have something as wonderful as the Edinburgh festival in Scotland, the range of shows,exibitions and acts are just unbelievable to be happening in the one city!

I wonder how many Scots really take the time to experience the culture their country has to offer at the Edinburgh festival which is something I instantly noticed not hearing one Scottish accent in the crowd

RIGHT: The worlds most pierced woman...only one of the more peculiar aspects of the festival on the walk of the Royal Mile.

 An excellent day out, would recommend it to anyone!

Daily Photo Blog

Thats me been taking a daily photograph for 82 days now.

I've found it so very interesting yet challenging at the same time, its often difficult to to think of something or somewhere to photograph (especially a lazy Sunday) but I've realised by undertaking this personal project that I have really started looking at things very differently, its often the things that we become complacent and oblivious to that are the most interesting if we take the time to notice.

As the saying goes "Take time to smell the roses"

I defiantly plan in continuing this project and look forward to looking back in a years time at how my photograph  and life has evolved a every day.

Check out my Daily Photo Blog!