Topic: “The problem of Language in Cross-cultural studies” by Lydia H. Liu in relation with Artist Yeo Shihyun’s works.
Translation is a word that seems to have an answer to a problem when we don’t understand another language, usually through the help of a translator. But do we, would we normally wonder if the translator is accurate? From my understanding of the reading by Lydia H. Liu, this is because one problem with translation is that it can never be the purest representation of the ‘guest’ as it is represented by the ‘guest’ him/herself, in this case the translator. This is because translation is a motivated process in which it is made ‘more complicated’ by the existence of ‘impure’ culture, mainly coming from the translator’s own values or prior knowledge. Also, Translation is always trying to make sense of the guest culture by comparing between two cultures and finding an equivalence. But in turn results in the creation of something new. And this new does not exist in either the original ‘pure’ source or in the guest culture.
Making connections of my findings from the reading with Art works, I would like to refer to Yeo Shihyun’s latest series of works ‘in the raw’, especially the pieces painted on wood. Oddly, she was inspired by with Frank Gehry Knoll Cross Check Chair. Maybe because of his architectural background, she has produced marking lines on surfaces that are more geometric than usual, edgy and even rigid. Colors are limited to only black and white as she felt they are ‘colourless’, thus allowing the natural material color to stand out. Maybe even the use of wood could have been a little tribute the innovate architect. Overall, I feel Shihyun’s translation inspired by a designer Chair is a new perspective towards her progress in defining her style. I can only say this is this is my interpretation of her compromise of two (or more) different styles coming together.
Reference:
Yeo Shihyun’s ‘in the raw’ series of works
http://www.instinc.com/sy_try02.shtml
http://www.slide.com/s/WuKhMCzG5T-pxTW9Pf2i1eeu257DdjHK
Frank Gehry Knoll Chair(Cross Check)
http://www.knoll.com/products/brochures/Crosscheck.pdf
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2 comments:
In the first paragraph, you gave us a good summary of your understanding of Liu's arguments, emphasing the creation of new meanings in translation. However, your analysis of the artist's works does not really address this point (creation of new meanings). You might want to look more broadly at the possible sources of ideas of Yeo's works, rather than just focus on a single work by Gehry.
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