我有空的时候再加中文翻译。
Artistic interpretation is really a reflection of yourself rather than the artist sometimes. Most people who watched this felt my video was humourous. I didn’t feel that way when I was watching or editing it. Well, not if you’ve done this (as in housework) hundreds of times.
Hua Tian Cuo by Wang Leehom was about the contrast of two worlds, one attracts him more than the other. If you haven’t watched my video above, it is about about me fitting a wannabe musician and a housewife together. Me trying to record the singing and the flute parts in the morning in between chores, and me trying to play the bass guitar and other instruments in the afternoon, fitting them inbetween chores again. One reality is definately more attractive than another. I think I appear as a happy musician, but who smiles when doing household chores right?
But than again, though there are no smiles or laughter when doing chores, I think there is a beauty to household work. A quiet, persevering and sacrificial kind of beauty. Ok whatever. Back to the point – the contrasting of realities.
Here are some minor contrasts I included into the video. I will provide some written description, but the interpretation of these is up to you.
In the video: dangling of keys
Description: Two sets of keys dangling. Pink one on the left are keys to my home in Sg. The one on the right are keys to my home in NYC. Two different worlds, both are me. The order of percussion is Sg → NYC → Sg.
Pair of chopsticks with symbolic indentations of marital bliss
In the video: Cheap Chopstick vs Expensive T & Co Crystal Vase
Description: The chopstick is part of a pair that has symbolic indentations of a dragon, a pheonix, and chinese words of marital bliss inscribed onto it. The flower vase is an expensive Tiffany and Co gift from my sister-in-law for last year’s christmas.
The crystal clear “ding!” sound you hear in the vid is made of one part chopstick of marital bliss, and other part crystal vase that has never held flowers.
Between Videos: Washing Machine Coin Slots vs Opera Percussion
Description: In the interim of the song where the erhu wails a beautiful solo, Wang Leehom’s version is accompanied by traditional chinese percussion. Mine is accompanied by the percussive sounds of slotting coins into the washing machine.
In the video: Right vs Wrong side of the guzheng
Description: (Top) The right side of the guzheng is the correct and typical area to play music. (Bottom) The wrong side of the guzheng is typically used as a pitch modulator ( it is not usually used for music itself, but occasionally it can be used to ornate neo-classical songs like 《战台风》. ). In my video, I played both the right side and the wrong side (which produces a dull twangy sound) to add a contradictory sound to the music.
I played 223535 (re- re-mi-so-mi-so) on the wrong side, you can hear it more often from 03:15 onwards. The sound clashes with the right side of the guzheng, because the pitch is about a third of a semitone lower. You don’t have to be an audiophile to be able to tell.
In the video: Poor vs Good eating habits
Description: Above you see me eating lunch (a quick-fix) at the computer table while watching Wang Leehom’s vids. Below you see me scooping nutritious painstakingly prepared food for a family dinner at the dining table.
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People need company no matter what, whether it is the company of family and friends over dinner, or lunching with the company of the internet if you have an lonesome occupation. Not sure if any one can identify with the pictures above, or whether it makes any sense. But then again, it’s art. What you think is more important than what I think.
Love,
Seren
I think it is more important that I bring Akucinta 1 to the Guitar Centre for servicing. So that’s gonna cost me some. I don’t know if he’s ever been serviced since the time he was bought from a store. I got some “inlay stickers” for Akucinta 1, and will probably apply them after he has been serviced. And finally, here’s what he would probably look like:
Happy National Day Singapore!
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