Space Invader / Spreading The Florescence Part II

 Final samples By IAH 

Space Invader / Spreading the Florescence Part I

All work by liiah

Spreading The Florescence

Voila! The major project of autumn term in final year. (final year just sounded so definite, doesn't it?)  I had a good 8-week time for topic research, design development, sampling, and  finishing. In my opinion, this is one of the most experimental yet focused project I have done so far, and I am quite happy with how it all turned out eventually. There are a couple of themes within the project that are not fully explored, thus can be further developed in future projects. One of the most important thing I have learned is to have a continuous flow in the work. In order to do so, sometimes it is necessary to step aside briefly for a bigger, more logical, and creative picture. All previous projects taugh me to to practice generating interesting ideas into design development that ultimately leads to refreshing outcome. 

I have had really stressful moments throughout the first term, hopefully I can survive the next two terms safe and sound with a larger perspective of life in general.

All work by liiah

vague I: in betweenness

To get over, to move on, to overcome, to trust your own words, and to trust your receiver.

To get up from bed, to not stick to the schedule, to accomplish, to persevere,  to let go, to sink in, to feel nothingness, to cry, to huddle, to untangle, to allow mistakes, to screw up, to lead, to be fooled, and then come back to overcome the flaw. 

I am the solution to my problem; I am the problem to my solution. I am the only character on the stage. 

I found ______ in the present, I could only stay there for a brief moment. 

All work by liiah  

SEXY BACK

Work in progress

Paul Smith at Design Museum

HELLO SEXY

Super cute samples of the week

 PLUS

Carrot Bohemian jumper from Leutton Postle

Long Time No See, Southbank

It's been a while since I visited my favourite corner in London. After dissertation hand-in, I decided to give myself a day off before I dive back into project. The first half of the term is consists of four weeks of project + one week of thesis writing. This pattern will be repeated in the second half, then it comes the Christmas holiday. Every time I look back at myself, there are times when I think I could have done a better job in some tasks; and sometimes I am simply amazed by what I have achieved. Writing a nearly 5000 word dissertation draft is a lot of work. It requires questioning an issue, extensively reading, organising knowledge in your brain, and the ability to type them out to form a piece of writing that is meaningful. Even though academic writing cannot define you as a designer, however, it is a matter of personal achievement.  I am only half way through this term (that's how I view my life at the moment... term by term) It's about time for climax I reckon?

Photo taken by liiah

Don't Give Up

'And remember that your hometown will always need your wisdom, your talent, and your participation.' - By Desert Xuan

The vest I knitted for Xuan matches the lighting unexpectedly well. 
I hope she wears it one day.

The Games We Play Tour in Union Chapel.

人之所以為人

達文西語錄，如此現成，卻又如此珍貴。

在知識及資訊！！爆炸！！的時代中，揚起一面面讚揚感性的旗幟，因為維持理智成為更加困難的事情。

1、勤勞一日，可得一夜安眠，勤勞一生，可得幸福長眠。

2、有天資的人，當他們工作得最少的時候，實際上是他們工作得最多的時候。因為他們是在構思，並把想法醞釀成熟，這些想法隨後就通過他們的手表達出來。

3、無論掌握哪一種知識對智力都是有用的，它會把無用的東西拋開而把好的東西保留住。

4、趁年輕少壯去探求知識吧，它將彌補由於年老而帶來的虧損。智慧乃是老年的精神的養料，所以年輕時應該努力，這樣年老時才不至於空虛。

5、應當耐心聽取他人的意見，認真考慮指責你的人是否有理。如果他有理，你就修正自己的錯誤，如果他理虧，只當沒聽見。若他是一個你所敬重的人，那麼可以通討論提出他不正確的地方。

6、運動是一切生命的源泉。

7、真理祇有一個，它不在宗教中，而是在科學中。

8、水若停滯即失其純潔，心不活動精氣立消。

9、所有傷害都會在記憶中留下痛苦，而最大的傷害——死亡並非如此，死亡在終結生命的同時也抹去了記憶。

10、太陽升得越高，它所投放到屋頂上的光越暗。（注意角度問題，）

11、智慧是經濟的女兒。

12、美貌的青年穿戴過分折損了他們的美，山村婦女穿著樸素無華的衣服反比盛裝的婦女美得多。

13、真理是時間的女兒。

14、愚昧將使你達不到任何成果，並在失望和憂鬱之中自暴自棄。

15、熱愛實踐而又不講求科學的人，就好像一個水手進了一隻沒有舵或羅盤的船，他從來不肯定他往哪裡走。

16、人的美德的榮譽比他的財富的榮譽不知大多少倍。古今有多少帝王公侯，可是卻沒有在我們記憶中留下一絲痕迹，就因為他們只想用莊園和財富留名後世。豈不見多少人在錢財上一貧如洗，但在美德上卻是富豪呢？

17、人的智慧不用就會枯萎。

18、你如果要做一個藝術家，你要牢記：必須開拓你的胸襟，務使心如明鏡，能夠照見一切事物，一切色彩。

19、榮譽在於勞動的雙手。

20、人的確是禽獸之王，他的殘暴勝於所有的動物。我們靠其它生靈的死而生活。我們都是墳墓。我在很小的時候就發誓再不吃肉了。總有一天，人們將視殺生如同殺人。（稍微了解達·文西的人都知道他從小就拒絕吃肉且不肯說出原因，被祖父安樂尼奧視為不祥）

21、不是數學家請不要讀我的基本著作。（一根線條在達·文西眼中被理解成一個點在平面或空間中的運動軌跡，乃至解析幾何中的一個方程式所界定的點的**，線條無寬度也無厚度。因此對於生活在文藝復興以後或接受過文藝復興思想的西方人，對於線條的理解是基於幾何學和數學）

22、鳥類之外無蝙蝠。

23、那些遙遠的過往依舊曆歷在目，反倒是近日種種模糊如前塵韶光。

24、眼睛是心靈的窗戶。

25、交配的行為和交配的器官是如此醜陋，以至於如果不是有美麗的臉龐、漂亮的衣著和行事時的衝動，人類早在大自然中絕種了。

26、人的肌肉不應該被畫成一袋核桃或者一捆胡蘿卜一樣的東西。

27、牆上的斑點也是一道美麗的風景。

28、人類不斷地以歡樂的心情期待著每個新春、每個新夏，期待著新月和新年，總覺得他們所期待的事情姍姍來遲，他們卻沒想到，他們所焦急盼望著的正是自己的死亡。

29、不懲罰犯罪的人就是下令犯罪。

30、一幅畫中最白的地方要像寶石那樣可貴。

31、欣賞——這就是為著一件事務本身而愛好它，不為旁的理由。

32、限制產生力量，自由導向死亡。

33、人類具有說話的偉大能力，但是他們所說的大多既無實際意義又荒謬無理，然而動物說話的能力儘管微乎其微，但是它們所說的有用而真實。

34、對某事物的愛好產生於對該事物的理解，理解越透徹，愛得越熾熱。

35、微少的知識使人驕傲，豐富的知識使人謙虛。所以空心的禾穗高傲地仰頭向天，而充實的禾穗則低頭向著大地，向著他的母親。

36、引發行動的力量，是所有生命的起因。

37、經驗，作為天性和人類種族之間的翻譯者，傳遞著天性是如何在凡夫俗子間行動；又是如何受限制的需求，非得以理性行動不可，理性身為它的舵手，行使她的命令。

38、給予他人的人不會保留。

39、最不幸的事情就是你的思想超前於你的工作。

40、恐懼祇是起於瞬間。

41、言論若是不符合聆聽著的口味，就會讓他感到厭倦、惱火，而這種徵兆是可以從聆聽者的哈欠連連中看出來的；這時，在人前說話希望的是得到善意的回應，但是當你發現這種非預期的疲乏現象，就要改變你的言談內容；若是反其道而行，那麼你將得到的回應不是原本的讚許與認同，而是厭惡和敵意了。

42、對無用的人說好話和對高尚的人道惡語都是巨大的錯誤。

43、有誰想了解靈魂是如何棲居於體內的，就讓他觀察這個軀體如何進行日常的生活，若他的住所雜亂無章，那麼這個靈魂也會使得身體雜亂。

44、在河流中，你接觸到的流水是流過的最後部分，流來的最前部分。時間的流逝亦是如此，不浪費時光的生命是長久的。

45、為使軀體健康，不妨礙精神的健全，畫家和素描家應當保持孤獨，再致力研究思索，不斷展現眼前的事物以便為記憶儲藏，提供材料時尤當如此。當你單獨時，你全部是自己的，有了一個伴，只剩半個自己，並且做伴的品行愈差，所剩愈少。同伴越多，麻煩就越大。

46、人的名字在不同的國家會有不同的表達和寫法，但是他的形象卻不會改變，除非被毀滅。

47、那些作畫時單憑實踐和肉眼的判斷，而不運用理性的畫家，只會抄襲擺在眼前的一切東西，卻對它們一無所知。

48、畫家應當獨身靜處，思索所見的一切，親自斟酌，從中提取精華。他的作為應當像鏡子那樣，如實的安放在鏡前的各物體的多種色彩。做到這一點，他彷彿就是第二自然。

49、我從親身經歷中發現，若在黑暗中卧在床上，將研究過的物體的輪廓或其他經深思而理解的事物，運用想像回憶一遍時，我感到受益匪淺——這是一種值得讚許的方法，有助於將事物更加深刻地牢記。

50、我知道，許多人認為這著作是毫無用處的，……人們要求的只不過是物質財富，而且極其缺乏理智，理智是精神食糧，是唯一的真正的精神財富。正如靈魂遠比軀體高尚，靈魂的財富遠比軀體的財富更高貴。每當我看到這些人中的某個人手捧此著作．連鼻子也未曾靠近，就像猴子那樣．或者問我，這是不是好吃的東西，對此，我感到異常驚奇。

51、謊言是如此可恥的，拿謊言來讚美上帝，上帝的恩惠也會受損實話如此美好，卑微的事物受到實話的讚美，也顯得高尚起來。 毫無疑問，實話與謊言的關係就像光明與黑暗一樣，實話本就十分美好，實話即使停留在卑微的事物中也比謊言附在高尚事物上無比祟高。即使我們認為謊言屬於第五元素，對於事物的實話仍然是高級智慧的主要營養品．而不是欺矇哄騙才智的營養品。

52、我們因未曾虛度光陰而感到欣慰，儘管不受到讚揚，不出類拔萃，只要不虛度一生，就該感到愉快。

53、你，沉睡呀！什麼是睡眠?睡眠就像死。啊，你為什麼不勤奮工作，以便死後留下完美的生命形象，而寧願在睡夢中虛度一生。

54、抱負不凡的人既不滿足於生活的歡樂，也不滿足於世間的美好，他來到人世間，生活祇是贖罪的苦行，他們既不佔有幸福，也不佔有人世間的美。正如日子在甜睡中飛逝，生命總在死亡中度過。

55、每個災難都在記憶中留下苦楚，唯有死亡這個最大的災難使記憶中的苦楚與生命一同毀滅。

56、人們錯誤地嘆息時光的流逝．責備時間過得太快，不認為時間是充裕的，自然賜給我們以好的記憶，使一切事物經歷的時間比實際存在的時間還要長久。

57、我們對於不同時期出現的事物的判斷，常常沒按照事物原本的順序，許多發生在早年的事彷彿就在眼前，許多新近的事卻又像是發生在很早很早，遙遠的年青時代。眼睛觀察事物也會發生類似情況，受陽光照射的遠物好像近在眼前，而近物卻顯得遠。

58、請注意，人們要回故鄉的希望和意願，要返回天地末開的渾沌世界，就像飛蛾撲火那樣急切。你看到，人類不斷地以歡樂的心情期待著每個新春、每個新夏，期待著新月和新年，總覺得他們所期待的事情姍姍來遲，他們卻沒想到，他們所焦急盼望著的正是自己的死亡。這個渴望就像禁錮在人類軀體內的靈魂，是自然的本質，是元素的靈魂，它急欲回到派遣它來的地方去。我提醒你，這渴望就是自然固有的本質，而人是自然的一種類型。

59、此規則有利於保持健康： 飲食適量，少飲。 煮熟，細嚼，粗茶淡飯。 求醫是失策的。 息怒，樂觀。 起立身站直。 中午別睡覺。 少量低度酒，飲酒勿空腹。 坐姿端正。 鍛煉適當。 不挺肚，不低頭。 晚上蓋好被。 頭腦清醒．精神愉快。 避免浪費．注意限定飲食。

60、我以為，習慣不良的粗魯人和理智不清的人不應有思想高尚能力強的人所具備的那麼精細的器官和種類繁多的機構，他們只不過是一個接納食物的袋子，食物由此通過。實際上，祇能把他們看做是食物的通道，而不是別的任何東西。因為，在我看來，除了聲音和形體外，他們沒有什麼東西與人類有任何共同之處。他們的一切都不如禽獸。

61、對某事物的愛好產生於對該事物的理解。理解越透徹，愛好越熱烈。理解的透徹性來源於對事物各組成部分的全面認識，事物的各組成部分本應受到重視的

節錄自 http://zh.wikiquote.org/zh-tw/達文西

醒來了，開始重建，一點一滴。黑夜與白日。

Photographed by Anson Chen

Image manipulation by liiah

Late Night Laboratory

Redemption of my very existence.

All work by liiah

自投羅網

希望不是網子洞太大，情太小。
鬼靈精怪地溜來溜去。
而是掙扎中盪出滔天浪花，
一瞬同時迸出純白，透明，七彩，和許多無法說明的色澤。
啊，好浪漫嘎。 

coloured net by liiah

Evaporated Week

I have had quite a bizarre week- there are loads on the to-do list, such as thesis draft, space invader project development, research on MA programs. But at the same time, there were immeasurable emotion and thought that occupy my mind. As it turns out, I could not get things done with this kind of mentality. I can only crawl through time in a funny posture accompanied by my distorted shadow, wishing that tomorrow will be a better day. 

My desk at the moment

我們一生直到死亡前才感受生命的急迫。
多數時刻，我們揮霍時間，好像它是無窮無盡的寶盒。
我們的人生總在等待，
那麼眷戀又那麼害怕改變，一步路也跨不出去。
每一次動念，我們都得和靈魂交換一點猶豫，
直到某一天降臨。
我們後悔了，但又已太遲了。

文出自 陳文茜

FANTASY GIRLS NEVER LET YOU DOWN

When The Night from Ill-Studio on Vimeo.

ZZZZZZ * ZZZZZZ

Latest update - 立刻反悔！
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As a final year student, I often ask or get asked by people about my plan after graduation. People usually think that creative students have their goals towards their career or future plan. Comparing my final year at Chelsea and my final year in NCCU back in 2009, I am going to graduate with a very different condition- I have done my hard work during BA studies in London (am still working hard), I have done industry related placements, and I am living in the centre of fashion textile industry. As a result, I should be very clear about what is going to happen next. Yes, I do feel more confident with myself and my ability, but only one thing is visible at this moment- that future is uncertain to every humankind. I get confused and frighten like everyone else, regardless of my age and experience. 

Tonight, I have made up my mind- I am going to apply for MA fashion knitwear ( most likely). It is totally horrifying to climb this mountain, I know I am not ready, but I will never be, right?  So, h e r e  w e  g o  ZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Megumi from Nodame Cantabile

Failed in Delivery

Image by liiah

Distracted Delivery

liiah as the Muffin Woman
Photo by Chiachui Liao

Rick Owens SS14

A salient point that needed to be made - 'These steppers were mostly black, not of the "ideal" body size that fashion puts on its runways, in its advertising, editorials and generally consider to be attractive and they looked vicious - they're not conventional "beauties". A plaintive statement of diversity, that is sorely lacking in fashion across all areas - media, models and designers.' Quote from Style Bubble. Indeed, I find the fierceness on steppers' faces is the inner face I put on when I face battle in life. Only when I was engaging in swimming or dancing competition that I allow myself to show the viciousness in appearance. This performance shaken my senses while I was simply looking for 'beautiful, interesting garments' that are happening in Paris fashion week. Body language is a mean to reinforces us, as well as clothing. We all have the right to go for it, we just need courage - even is to look different.

Internship at Leutton Postle SS 2014

- started from the end of July, and finished the week after London fashion week. This is by far, one of the most challenging work I have ever done! I am proud that I completed this mission I gave myself for this summer. Regardless of the miserable times I endeavoured, I learnt loads and made some good friends. Special thanks to Chiahui Liao, who generously lent me her flat that is much closer to the studio, and fed me some comfort food.

In 8 weeks, the whole team includes two designers (as well as the founders of the brand) and 5-8 interns made the whole SS14 collection. I was lucky enough to join the team at the stage of design development. The process is similar to what I have been doing at Uni- you start with a brief, mood board,  colour palette, and potential yarns. Sam and Jenny were encouraging in terms of allowing interns to propose samples. Therefore, after a week or two of sampling, one of my knitted samples were selected to be made into a jumper! The great thing about a small studio is that you get to see what's happening in every discipline, such as pattern cutting group, embroidery group, knitting group and some bits of administration work. Soon after design development stage, we went into production stage, when we finalise samples, cut out fabrics, garment construction and finishing. This is the longest and the most tiring process throughout, because there were so many details to be considered. The fact that Leutton Postle is still quite a new brand, there are many technical things that needed to be test out, and at times it is almost impossible to avoid mistakes. 

When it was closer and closer to LFW, both of my mental and physical endurance were reaching limit, but now that I look back, I have no regrets what so ever. However, as an intern, I understand that this is the kind of job we do, the experience we need. What's next then? What do we do once we graduate? When we cannot survive without income? How do we cope with the creative process that we love so much within the sick system in fashion industry? Nothing is solved, but something for sure- besides talent, think smart work smart, passion and hardship is what contribute to success.

Photos taken by liiah

Snap shot at film presentation and exhibition at Somerset House

 Photos taken by Adrien Chen

Photos taken by liiah

Internship for Apu Jan SS14

I first participated at an early stage of the spring summer 2014 collection, including creating mood board, fabric samples and some garment illustration. Most of the design did not go into the collection, perhaps it's due to the fact that I was putting most of my time and effort for Leutton Postle during summer holiday while Apu was in Taiwan making the collection. Besides, the samples I made are highly hand-crafted, there's (might be) a gap between my design and production. Or simply because Apu did not want to have those elements in the collection(!?) As a result, the next time when I was really engaged with the collection was when the collection was about to be shown! 

In fact, the show went really well, although the night before all the dressers were a bit tensed about getting our assigned model dressed in time for the second look. (There are total of 20 looks with 10 models) To compare this run way experience to the previous season, I think the pressure on the team was lessened, yet the performance seemed to be more professional- reflected by how details are considered. I guess it shows that as a company it is learning and emerging. Hopefully I get to participate another show for APU JAN.