Friday, June 22, 2012

Past Lives

"We have met in previous lives." Dan, my first host in Paris said to Philomène & me while we were having tea in the morning. "Perhaps this meeting of us was arranged by our souls in the dream."

"During one life I was a sick little German girl, You, an injured Russian soldier, and Philomène, a doctor. Our brief encounter was on the hospital beds." Dan continued, "Before this life, we were even one Vietnamese family: I the child, you the mother, and Philomène the father."

Regardless incarnation is true or not, I was fascinated by the idea of a soul reunion.  Since I didn't have much quality sleep camping for the art festival in cold & rainy Wales, my recovery time in Paris with OLD friends was exactly what I needed.  No rush, no plan, no stress, just good companies & delicious homey foods! Thanks to my warm hosts, Paris didn't give me the bitter aftertaste most tourists got. Instead, my heart was well rested and nurtured in this sparking cultural city.

I have been back to my 3rd home, Barcelona, for a week already. This time I'm settled in Sitges (45 mins from BCN).  The sun and beloved people continue to bring joy to my whole being. The artist residency in Poland will be an intensely creative period next.  My heart has been itching, and is more than ready to create from all the inspiration I received this past year.  But am I ready to say yet another goodbye to my love?

巴黎 - 很多人心目中的浪漫之都,但有不少朋友失望而回,投訴這個城市不友善,並不歡迎遊客。多得沙發客幾個素未謀面卻親切得驚人的東道主,舟車勞頓的我,經歷過在英國威爾斯Wales一個小型藝術節寒冷天氣下露營及車站過夜後,竟可以在聞名的文化大都會中從容不迫地閒逛、舒適自在地休息。

人與人之間微妙的關係輕輕觸動我的心,令到一個本來冰冷的旅遊景點變得真實有人情味,我等旅人在途上總會交上數之不盡的知己朋友,有些會在這幅畫上留下深刻的色彩,今次遇上偶然看到前世景像的Dan分享我倆過去的關連,還有接待我如多年老友的DidierBruno,可能,我們真的曾在另一個時空相親相愛、守望相助,生命之可能性,已超越一剎那的感動。

第四次再嘗巴塞的體溫,卻有截然不同的經歷,今次住在離市中心45分鐘車程的錫切斯Sitges於炎炎夏日瘋狂地開會、工作、愛、敘舊,熱得快失去自我,相信是時候為七八月波蘭藝術家駐場計劃準備心情,在新環境釀下一朵以生命綻放的花。

Free food on the street with Hen & Jess in London!
Look at your smile.  How can I not love you, my dearest Jess?
Trial run for Creative Alchemy, a blind-folded interactive performance. 
The tree house in Mellowcroft, Wales during CWM Festival.
Some participants going through their own blind-folded trip. 
A moment with you is more than a thousand words.
Beautiful light with gorgeous people.
A short hike near the camp site.
Spot light on the chosen land?
After first hitchhiking, I also had my first privilege to sleep in train station.  Yeah!  I DID it!
Last London family reunion before I took off.
Dan took me to his Butoh teacher, Ken's, dance performance right after I arrived Paris.  His little boy is so adorable. 
Cool centre for a variety of art.
Left: Philomène & Dan negotiation in process.  Right: STOP sign is heavy, man. 
Doesn't this labyrinth look like my upcycle magazine art, LOL?
The pearl of France.
FREE ME!
Exhausted...  Only have a few hours left.  Where to go?
Love this painted wall of fames in the museum of Modern Art.
The Eiffel Tower in the gate of peace.
Do those shining statues look fake or just me?
Daniel Buren's Monumenta 2012 in Grand Palais.  The space is magnificent, and the circles look fun, but is there more to it?
Nevertheless, it's the perfect public space to take your family & chill with friends.
The only group picture of Didier, Bruno, and me in the reflection.
"Les Deux Plateaux" by the same artist, Buren, at the main courtyard of the Palais-Royal, Paris. 
Such a bizarre juxtaposition of art and architectures.
Jazz on the street of Paris - exactly my cup of tea.
Cozy home of Didier & Bruno - where I regained my strength for more travel. 
The famous "Grande Arche" (Great Arch) in la Défense.
La Défense, the "new" town where all the skyscrapers are.
Looking at the "Arc de Triomphe" through art.
A super quick catch up with lovely friends within my 12 hour stopover in London.
Introducing my dear and the sky castle in Sitges.
Thanks to David, I finally visited an organic farm...
Iris's sculpture looked stunning in the performance, and Arnout did well as the MAN!
Linda & I got caught in the washing machine.
LinLin & Numi's first try of selling at the Lost & Found market.
What are you looking for, love?
I will be launching the Hong Kong school of Estudio Nomada Art Program in January 2013!  Check out the following site for details: 個旅程有另一個大收獲:我將會於2013年1月與位於巴塞隆納Estudio Nomada合作開香港分校!http://hongkong.estudio-nomada.com/