Most
Lammaites must have noticed the two caribou sculptures in front of the
Bali Resort? They are the first pair for a life-sized Noah's Ark project,
which will include dinosaurs, even a T. Rex, for Alastair's
anti-evolutionist client. Still little-known locally, Al's done some
amazing
work over the years.
I've pulled some of his best works
from his scrapbooks and proudly present them to you in a virtual art
gallery below.
Alastair's
main work as a commercial artist - working on commission only - means
he'll basically sculpt anything the client wants. But this multi-talented,
cheerful artist is also doing murals, designs, props & models, even
graffiti & oil paintings. Stop by his chaotic studio just besides Hans the
Vet!
Recently
he's been sculpting a weird moose-mountie genetic hybrid (see left),
designed for Canada Day by Lamma's very own Harry Harrison. People could
stick their head through and take pictures in Lan Kwai Fong last June
30/July 1st.
Instead of
the usual "Artist's Statement" Alastair sent me the following email.
It gives deep (almost too deep)
insight into his arduous and tough life of self-sacrifice as a Lamma-based
"Bohemian Artist". If you're one of the steadily increasing number of
"suits" on Lamma, no serious offense is intended, only light mockery:
Alastair:
WORKING ON LAMMA - The PASSING OF SUITS
The PASSING OF
SUITS on my 4-min-54-sec journey to breakfast before I commence
rolling up to work would bring a faint pang of corporate jealousy
to any self-employed person with a job that they love. Who could blame
me for not wanting to join those Kennedy School kids every morning on
my way to my computer screen?
Being
self-employed is SHIT, and don't let anyone tell you differently!
I often take my dog for mid-afternoon trips to the beach and torture
myself for my not being a team-member, not knowing just how exciting
it is playing Mindsweeper without getting caught by your boss.
Sorry, did I say "Mindsweeper"...
Once, while being a freelance art director for a
production company, I had to interview sixteen female models and
photograph their naked torsos, so that the ad agency could choose
one for their commercial.
And GET THIS: the job was cancelled after I had
completed this arduous task. How soul-destroying. So, next time you
pass me on your way to your metropolis bliss, save a thought for some
a little less fortunate than yourself.
Cheers, Al.
P.S. I live above the library i.e. the closest
house to the ferry that I don't catch. The first sentence above means
all those people dressed in suits that I pass without a smile on
their faces.
(click to enlarge)
SCULPTURES: Caribou outside the future bakery in Bali resort
2 caribous for a Noah's Ark in a Mainland property development
Moose sculpture w/proud artist a few years ago
Harry's caricature of Canada clichés for a Canada Day ad
Harry's caricature given form by Alastair (head), set up in Lan Kwai Fong for Canada Day, July 1st
Lucky Chinese gods lined up outside Y2K
Lamp modeled from the artist's own hands
Offices of TNT Broadcasting
Ancient Chinese armour model
One of many crests
Fancy lighting
Crest collection
Hong Kong - City of Glass
Life-size sculpture of a drunk - bar decoration
Close-up on the amazing detail
Japanese village houses
Friendly robot
Don't I look Artificially Intelligent?
Trilobite
PAINTINGS: Graffiti
Dolphins
Monk
Delightful backside
Wedding present, getting Alastair into trouble: "Doesn't she look like the bride!"
"Trompe l'oeuil" inside a restaurant. Windows and roof are just flat paintings.
Cows, clouds and bi-wing planes; idyllic, isn't it?
Space age painting for bar
To
send comments, get more info, get high-res files for printing, or to publish
your own Lamma-related photos & galleries on
Lamma.com.hk or in the
Lamma-zine:
email
Lamma-Gung.
All pictures and text may be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes
only,
but only with explicit permission from the author, photographer or artist.
Commercial enquiries are most welcome! Last update:
September 29, 2019 11:12 AM