Kiasma art museum, Helsinki



Kiasma art museum, Helsinki, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.

This building by Stephen Holl manages to be too big and cramped at the same time. Not only does it look like a Zeppelin hangar from almost all sides, the inside has surprisingly little actual hanging space. This is because a third of the floor space and the full height of the building is taken by the lobby and an oversized ramp. See video here: www.kiasma.fi/kiasmainfo

My next drawing of this square will include the tents of Occupy Helsinki. It was too cold to draw outside so I had to seek refuge in a café. Yes, the occupiers have been there all winter – at -25C and 50cm of snow.

This was my first field test of Neocolor II crayons. Here they are combined with Supracolor II pencils.

Advertisement

Ice fishing on the sea, early spring, Helsinki

It’s amazing to see them sitting there on the ice, immobile for hours on end. As it’s spring, the sea is melting fast, with more and more open water peeking through. But still they come to sit near a little hole to wait for a nibble. I hope they eat what they catch…

Tioman Island. The sea seen from the backyard at Nazri’s Place

Here is a view of the beach at Kampung Air Batang on Tioman island, to the east of mainland Malaysia.

We spent almost a week snorkling the wonderful reefs but of course did no underwater sketches.

Kuala Lumpur, seen from Chinatown towards the old railway station

We spent a month backpacking around Singapore and Malaysia. Despite all the excitement, I took the time to do a few sketches…

Here’s one of the wonderfully chaotic architecture of downtoen Kuala Lumpur. That’s Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in the foreground.

Shanghai sketches

Smoggy Shanghai, originally uploaded by Brin d’Acier.

I was in Shanghai for two weeks, working. I managed to do a few sketches.

The Cathay theatre, Shanghai
Great art deco movie theatre

Shanghai architecture, old town
Piece of retro architecture in the bazaars outside the old town. ‘Ye Olde Cathay’ – style

Pudong New Area, Shanghai
Sketched from the Bund on my first day. The Jetsons-looking tower is the Pearl of the Orient Radio Tower.