HOPE June 8, 2009

Artist: George Frederic Watts

Title: Hope

Date: 1886

Media: Oil on canvas

Size: 1422 x 1118 mm

Presented to Tate by artist in 1897

I chose this image because it delivers a message that we cannot lose our hope even though we are in an extremity. It is one of Watts’ most unusual images. In the painting, a woman is blindfolded, sitting on the globe, on the world, desperately trying to make music on an instrument, a lyre, of which all the strings are broken except one – she did not give up playing music. The deep meaning of this picture is that we can not lose hope until the last minute although the world was broken by the war, is still full of hatred and suspicious feelings, and we are being tortured by various of illnesses and diseases and have to face the poverty, hanger and greedy. These all relate to my theme “hope”.

This painting has influenced Barack Obama for over a decade. In fact, “the audacity of hope ” was the comments of this painting made by Obama’s former pastor. No other art works have influenced him greatly like this painting.

http://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?workid=16034

HOPE June 8, 2009

 

Artist: Robert Indiana

Title: Hope

Date: 2008

Media: Stainless Steel

Size: 72 * 72 * 36 inches

I chose this piece of artwork because HOPE stands there and inspires us – with hope nothing would be feared. That is what I feel. The HOPE sculpture was designed by Robert Indiana who is the pop artist best known for his LOVE word sculpture in celebration of Barack Obama’s message of hope. In gestation for over a decade, HOPE was brought to fruition to help elect Barack Obama, and was a highly effective fundraiser for the Obama campaign. It was used as a visible tool in such important states as Pennsylvania, Indiana, Denver, Virginia and Maine. A Kempner gallery release said, “HOPE stands as perhaps one of the most important connections between art and politics ever conceived by an American artist. Most importantly, though, HOPE names the new generation, emblazing them with a positive catch-phase that has already circled the globe with stops at The Jon Stewart Show, Bill Maher, CBS-News, CNN, ABC-TV, MTV and numerous others.”

In the photo, the sculpture was displayed outside the Pepsi Center during of the Democratic National Convention in Denver. It was unveiled at Jim Kempner Fine Art, a Manhattan gallery in 15th Jan 2009.

http://acn.liveauctioneers.com/index.php/features/art/467-robert-indianas-hope-sculpture-debuts-at-new-york-gallery

HOPE June 8, 2009

Artist: Jahane Rumi

Title: Monument of the Selfless Heroes

Date: 2004

Media: Acrylic on canvas

Size: 120 x 150 cm

I included this piece in my selections because the light and a paper bird conveys “hope”. The light is coming on the monument against the darkness. A paper bird which symbolizes hope is placed on the monument. It seems to be used to calm people who lost their families. The work gives me the feeling of that although heroes died, they will be remembered forever; we won’t be sad as there is still hope.

HOPE June 8, 2009

Artist: Gerhard Richter

Title: Drei Kerze (Three Candles)

Date: 1982

Media: Oil on canvas

Size: 49 1/4 * 59 1/2  inches

I like this work because the lit candles are dynamic and vivid. Again it gave me the feeling of “hope” because of the light, so I included this painting in my selections. There are three lit candles against a dark background. The candles light the darkness and light the hope. Actually,the image cannot be read literally as a Still life. The image becomes the vehicle for a more interesting investigation into the veracity of “realistic images”, and an exploration into the role of light in painting.

HOPE June 8, 2009

Artist: Yu hailong

Titile: I want to study

Date: 1991

Media: White and Black Photograph

I was shocked when I looked at this photo – What big and  beautiful eyes. They are full of hope. It is the reason why I selected this image. “The Hope” revises the life. The girl with big and  beautiful eyes named Su Ming Juan was listening to teacher in classroom while the photographer captured this moment. Through her big eyes, you can see the aspiration for study. Later, this photo became the image of Chines Hope Project which was established on October 30 1989 by Chinese government to help the students who are from the poor family to complete their study. With the help of the Hope Project, the girl in photo finished her study successfully. She went to An Hui University in 2002 and graduated in 2005.

 

HOPE June 8, 2009

Artist: Li Xiaoguo

Title: Untitle

Date: 2008

Media: Photograph

When I looked at this photo, my eyes were full of tears. This photo was taken after Sichuan earthquake, China on May 13, 2008. A girl was buried in the ruins of earthquake. The reason I chose this photo is that it delivers me a message which is relevant to my theme “hope”. Look at the image, I can feel the girl was asking for help by stretching her one hand. She did not give up for survival although she was buried in the ruins. So people who are injured or suffering from illness, please insist on, keep clam and clear. Do not give up! Moving your fingers, arms and legs a little bit, using your strength to declare you are alive, you can earn the minute and opportunity to be saved. If you are alive, you have hope for saving.

HOPE June 8, 2009

Hope

By Emily Dickinson

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune–without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

Artist: Emily Dickinson

Media: Poem

Emily Dickinson’s poem about “hope” was one of my favorites. I chose this poem because Dickinson defines hope by comparing it to a bird that never stops singing, even during the most turbulent storms, and demands nothing from the one it encourages. In the present day when despair and doubts abound, this little poem from the past makes a welcome comeback. Yes,  “hope” is a feeling that is like a bird.

Dickinson.E. 1910. Poems by Emily Dickinson. UK: Little, Brown & co. (Digitized 10 Apr 2008)

I inserted the photo which was taken by my friend Allen Chen in 2008 in Auckland. I think it’s a fitting image to couple with Emily Dickinson’s poem. In the photo the bird is flying over the blue sky, flying toward to the brightness. It seems it is flying to the bright future. When I look at the image, I feel I have freedom and I have hope, the life is bright and everything would be fine.