A peculiar view from the basement car park of my friends upwards to the Condominiums 
Upon arrival, we were greeted by this beautiful building of SAM...
SAM was formerly a La Salle school...
Looking at the statue reminded me of my secondary school at Ipoh, Perak - St. Michael's Institution. Yes, I was a Lassalian
Beautiful architecture
Why there were these 4 things sitting on the bench at the right hand corner of the SAM building. I thought they were some discarded garbage (Ha, Ha, I am not implying you, Wilson) but was told these are actually art pieces created by some artists. There is only a thin line between art and trash and somehow, I felt the latter applies to this case. Fortunately, we were saved by seeing some real serious art pieces next, here goes...
To me, I am more impressed with and appreciate Alberto Giacometti's sculptures than his sketches.
The "famous" Striding Man
Head of a man - Diego.
Guessed Alberto focus a lot on the eye expression of his sculpture. The eyes looked real and intense, as if these eyes came with real vision. One would certainly felt the sculpture was looking back when one looks at it.
Sketches of Diego Giacometti, Alberto Giacometti's brother. See how much attention is paid by Alberto on the eyes, even on his sketches!
"Nude" - Sketches of Annette, Alberto's wife
Diego, Alberto's brother played a prominent character in Alberto's works. The above is another Alberto's work with Diego in it.
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Next, we went to see the works of Xu Beihong
Xu Beihong is recognised as the founder of China’s art education in the realist tradition and the father of Chinese modern painting. He had an immense influence on the development of Chinese painting in the 20th century. As one of the first Chinese painters to study in the West, Xu became a master of both the art of traditional ink painting and western oil painting. Xu spent several years in Southeast Asia and India between 1939 to1941. Besides painting, he also participated in many social activities. He developed close relations with personalities like R. Tagore, M. Gandhi, Sir Thomas Shenton and Lim Bo Seng, and painted compelling portraits of these individuals.
The exhibition explored Xu’s journey in Southeast Asia and India.
One of the masterpiece of Xu Beihong is the <愚公移山图> "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains" (1940). The painting is a 4.2-meter-wide, or almost 18-foot-wide, ink painting based on the Chinese legend of a man who persisted in trying to move a mountain that was in his way, arguing that if he did not finish the task his children, and then his grandchildren, would eventually have to do so. "It was his way to demonstrate the determination and persistence of the Chinese people in the face of adversity (i.e. Japanese occupation).
A detailed glimpse of part of "The Foolish Old Man Who Removed the Mountains"
I was hoping to see the above painting <田横五百士> in the exhibition but it was not there. <田横五百士> is another masterpiece from Xu Beihong
This is one of my favorite - <放下你的皮鞭>"Put Down Your Whip" (1939). Xu painted this painting in Singapore after having witnessed the staging of a patriotic street drama about a father and his daughter in wartime exile, illustrated his passion and patriotism. This painting was sold at auction for a record 72 million Hong Kong dollars, or about $9.25 million.
- Portrait of a Lady -
Xu strongly felt that painting should be real and should be understood by people. Notice the lighting effect featured in the above picture? So real.
- A Young Lady -
This painting is considered remarkable and innovative because of its attention to details and the lack of white space left on the paper
- A galloping Horse -
Xu is well known for his horses and his ability to express his feeling through this animal.
A galloping horse full of energy and freedom expresses the way the painter felt after China won a particular battle
The ink and color "Lion and Snake" (1938) is a direct reference to the war between China and Japan. Other oils paintings that I like but not featured at the exhibition includes the following
- Tree -
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Light shades at the SAM
A courtyard with fountain at SAM. The atmosphere gave me a Granada feel
Beyond the locked gate is a freer world, is it or isn't it not?
Ah Beng and Ah Chong eating beside the road. That reminds us to takesome lunch although it was more like a tea time meal
A tell sign that a person is hungry... just keep quite and pay attention to eating food... Like the two in the photo
Potato salad
Some Nachos
Grilled chicken with herbs... I am feeling hungry by looking at the picture
Some Gelato to complete a satisfactory meal?
Next, on my way to take a MRT to Woodland and then back home to Johor Bahru, we dropped by "The Chijmes"
Chijmes pronounced "chimes" was once a convent school (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) and an orphanage. We visited the Chijmes Hall, which was once a chapel, equiped with beautiful stained glass windows
A wedding dinner was on itsway
I end this posting by saying God Bless
