Hayoon Joe

Day 1: the lume 

On our first day in Melbourne, we visited The Lume and examined art of Monet and French Impressionism. Though I don't consider art as my hobby, this exhibition was one of my favorites because I've always enjoyed the synthesis of colors, scenery, and sensations that Monet's drawings conveyed. After visiting the gallery and checking in at the hotel, our group had free time at Elizabeth Street. While exploring, I figured that Melbourne's environment closely resembled Boston, while its victorian architecture often reminded me of Paris and London. I was jetlagged and exhausted by the end of the day, but I was content I'd already made precious memories with friends.  

Day 2: graffiti street + st Kilda Beach

The next day consisted of us visiting Graffiti streets and creating our own piece of art with spray paint. Our tour guide, being a professional street artist, helped interpret various street art and took us to famous alleys in Melbourne. I was surprised by the creativity and uniqueness of individual street artists, and their struggle for survival as paintings got replaced by other artists if they weren't as well crafted or interesting. After lunch, we worked on stencil art ( a form of graffiti), where we drew anything we wanted and colored it using spray paint —unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of my art (I drew the Simpsons and finalized my work using yellow, blue and orange paint). We finished day 2 at Saint Kilda Beach, where there happened to be an ongoing music festival. My friends and I visited some free music concerts but soon got overwhelmed by the scorching Australian sun — we ended up resting on the wooden floors. Regardless, the Australian heat did not stop me from loving Melbourne!

Day 3: kayaking + photography workshop

Early in the morning, we went kayaking for a few hours on Yarra River. At inception, my friend and I struggled a lot because I lacked the strength to keep the kayak moving. The instructor soon paired me up with a different student, who helped immensely in making my first kayaking experience successful. One thing I found interesting was how there were bottles of alcohol on the insides of the bridge, and the level of pollution of the river water. After changing our clothes, we headed to RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and participated in a smartphone photography workshop. We used an app called Snapseed to edit the exposure, clarity, warmth and other features of photos. As someone who's very distant with photo editing, I was engaged with how tweaking seemingly insignificant elements can drastically enhance photo quality. 

Day 4: puppetry + theater + ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

The fourth day started off with a tour of The Arts Centre Melbourne. Our tour guide took us to places like various backstage waiting rooms and the Playhouse theater, all of which were constructed with care and passion for art. After lunch, we then went to a puppetry workshop and worked on making a paper puppet and creating a storyline that we performed later. The workshop was a great opportunity for me to involve myself in theater and learn to interact with the audience as the plot ascended.  Lastly, we visited the Alexander McQueen exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria. There were many interesting photos and outfits that immediately brought my attention!

Day 5: healesville + chocolate factory

On day 5, our group visited the Healesville Sanctuary and saw exotic Australian birds and kangaroos. It was a pleasant experience to leave the city and visit somewhere with fewer tall buildings and more nature. After having lunch at the Beechworth Bakery, we headed to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and bought chocolate for our friends and family in Singapore. Moreover, I found the scene of outstretched clouds and trees beautiful — it was something I don't often witness in Singapore's bustling areas. My experience in Healesville strengthened my appreciation for nature and leisure. 

Day 6: australian art & culture

On our sixth day in Melbourne, we re-visited the National Gallery of Victoria and looked at Australian and European paintings, jewelry, and other artifacts. My favorite painting was the one with the girl holding a violin (photo above), because I could easily relate to her in pursuing music as a strong hobby. In addition to European artwork, our group examined art done by indigenous Australians, and learned further about Australia's tribal culture and legacy. Although I don't have any photos, the best part of the day was watching Mary Poppins the Musical! I was enthralled with the variety of sets, actors, and storylines. the musical was simply amazing, and I would easily say that it was the eminent highlight of my stay in Melbourne. 

Day 7: nida + overnight cinema 

In the morning of day 7, our group joined an improv workshop with NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art). I first found it daunting (since I don't consider myself a theater person), but everyone was incredibly inclusive and respectful of each other's work. which prompted me to participate actively. After having some free time, we went to the Moonlight Cinema in Melbourne and watched Avatar: The Way of Water. The movie itself wasn't that interesting to me, but I enjoyed the feeling of staying outdoors until midnight and interacting with friends. I suffered from sleep deprivation afterwards, but was still glad to end interim on a good note.