56. Bruce Lee Camera + The Pinhole Camera City + 功夫茶 相 機
atelier ying, nyc.
Like many growing up for generations, I admire and emulate Bruce Lee. I didn't practice his flying kicks in my bedroom (as those of the generation before me had done, literally) but I've been influenced by his focus, perseverance and that he was a writer-innovator, not just a sports figure. I really love that he kept neat notebooks and created a system that uses everything that is useful, disregarding boundaries. That is also my philosophy, if this isn't clear by now to those of you who follow my work.
My homage is simple in intention. The camera however, is one of my more complex configurations although the type of camera I chose is simplicity itself. This style of contrasting elements suits Lee's work particularly well.
The intention is to make a gift of a stylized Hong Kong / San Francisco mythic asian city containing a set of 15 little pinhole cameras. Lee had dual citizenship and lived in those two cities.
Also, to bring further tranquility to Lee's romantic, spiritual, peaceful side I propose a Gongfu tea set in the style of the gigantic, grand tea tables from the Fujian province, which cost thousands of dollars, carved out of entire tree trunks. Mine is not as grand in size but the design has a few unique innovations:
1. a camera that functions as a working tea set
2. a camera with a courtyard inside it (although my recent homage to Mozart has both a courtyard and a colonnade inside, however, this detachable mini-courtyard camera is more portable).
3. a camera that stylizes an enclosed city (in the manner of the Longtangs of Shanghai).
4. a camera that is composed of 15 cameras connected by a city street system (alleyways)
5. a camera that splits apart into two twin halves for portability, for exercising (Lee would have attempted to use it as a weapon and it would not have worked well in this) and to illustrate the lush inner detailing of an extensive Asian alley. The sliding pinhole shutters are also replica neon signs of shops in HK.
6. Instead of EVF's and interior eyepieces, this camera has corridor views of alley life and architecture. It also has the view of flowing water as tea is served and runs along the alley paths like rain water in typhoon season (another first in camera design, a working water feature that replicates both flowing water and a natural disaster.
Bruce Lee can use this camera to shoot fight sequences (stationary positions only) to illustrate his notebooks and books. In an alternate world, Bruce Lee lives on to a peaceful retirement spent writing, teaching, and increasing his longevity by daily drinking healthy expensive teas with his friends and reminiscing of old Hong Kong.
This design is dedicated to my twin dragons, who both turned 6 months this day.
PS: I had to get this in on time for World Pinhole Camera Day, and consequently haven't been able to spend much time ruminating on Bruce Lee, which is regrettable. He was really great.
Design drawing and all related contents is copyright 2013 by David Lo
56. Bruce Lee Camera + The Pinhole Camera City + 功夫茶 相 機
atelier ying, nyc.
Like many growing up for generations, I admire and emulate Bruce Lee. I didn't practice his flying kicks in my bedroom (as those of the generation before me had done, literally) but I've been influenced by his focus, perseverance and that he was a writer-innovator, not just a sports figure. I really love that he kept neat notebooks and created a system that uses everything that is useful, disregarding boundaries. That is also my philosophy, if this isn't clear by now to those of you who follow my work.
My homage is simple in intention. The camera however, is one of my more complex configurations although the type of camera I chose is simplicity itself. This style of contrasting elements suits Lee's work particularly well.
The intention is to make a gift of a stylized Hong Kong / San Francisco mythic asian city containing a set of 15 little pinhole cameras. Lee had dual citizenship and lived in those two cities.
Also, to bring further tranquility to Lee's romantic, spiritual, peaceful side I propose a Gongfu tea set in the style of the gigantic, grand tea tables from the Fujian province, which cost thousands of dollars, carved out of entire tree trunks. Mine is not as grand in size but the design has a few unique innovations:
1. a camera that functions as a working tea set
2. a camera with a courtyard inside it (although my recent homage to Mozart has both a courtyard and a colonnade inside, however, this detachable mini-courtyard camera is more portable).
3. a camera that stylizes an enclosed city (in the manner of the Longtangs of Shanghai).
4. a camera that is composed of 15 cameras connected by a city street system (alleyways)
5. a camera that splits apart into two twin halves for portability, for exercising (Lee would have attempted to use it as a weapon and it would not have worked well in this) and to illustrate the lush inner detailing of an extensive Asian alley. The sliding pinhole shutters are also replica neon signs of shops in HK.
6. Instead of EVF's and interior eyepieces, this camera has corridor views of alley life and architecture. It also has the view of flowing water as tea is served and runs along the alley paths like rain water in typhoon season (another first in camera design, a working water feature that replicates both flowing water and a natural disaster.
Bruce Lee can use this camera to shoot fight sequences (stationary positions only) to illustrate his notebooks and books. In an alternate world, Bruce Lee lives on to a peaceful retirement spent writing, teaching, and increasing his longevity by daily drinking healthy expensive teas with his friends and reminiscing of old Hong Kong.
This design is dedicated to my twin dragons, who both turned 6 months this day.
PS: I had to get this in on time for World Pinhole Camera Day, and consequently haven't been able to spend much time ruminating on Bruce Lee, which is regrettable. He was really great.
Design drawing and all related contents is copyright 2013 by David Lo