Figure 1 : The Mature Bride lino-cut by Ben Lau
Figure 2: Comparing The Bride with The Mature Bride
Figure 3: Comparing The Bride with The Mature Bride in black and white
” The Bride“from the last chapter was merely intended as a demonstration piece. I have deliberately left it unfinished. I have not called it a “million dollar job” because it really isn’t.
Now start eyeballing “The Mature Bride” and its former version in order to make a visual comparison–to see how the newly planted white strokes representing a drapery have caused the original composition to achieve a different harmony, assume greater dynamic, thereby allowing the left wing of the work to integrate more fully with its right, thus attaining the ultimate goal of SMR, or Supreme Mathematical relationship in the new composition!
Thus we can see for ourselves how just one or two strokes can have the magical effect of altering the playing field of the composition and make a world of difference between “The Bride” and “The Mature Bride.”
Comparing the two again on a black and white diagram the significance of those strokes tend to become even more obvious.
Through it all, “The Bride” seems to stutter and stammer awkwardly, struggling to communicate with the viewer. On the contrary, “The Mature Bride” sings of smooth, sweet music, whispering lightheartedly and natively into the inner chamber of your soul!
As you see, the neglect entertained in the absence of a few seemingly casual strokes can have the potential of making so great a difference,– now imagine the vast sea of mediocre illustrations that the post modernists are currently selling to the world: with their complete ignorance and consequent disdain for formal beauty… . Imagine THAT and the way the charlatans and their accomplices (i.e. the art dealers,museum curators, auction houses, art historians, art school professors or art gurus–all comrades-in-arms in the crime of imposture!) package them as “great art” to be sold in the auction houses!
So the “Alpha Seer” is a book written with the aim of providing an alternative of perspective in looking at art, a much desired alternative as the artistic genius is quickly becoming an endangered species. Thanks to the great support of my friends, among them the great master Knox Martin; my great friends, the beautiful Ana and her husband, the C.E.O. of Tennant, Chris Killingstad, my longtime pal Henry Woo; my great friend Billy Zhou, Leander Hughes; my brother Paul Lou; my good friend William Au; as well as my own beloved Kate and her beautiful sisters,Powah and Kitwah; the book is gradually becoming a reality! I am confident that it will see the light of day soon!
The Alpha Seer